Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - 1950s lakefront chalet... Tear down or save?

meteotrade · 04-11-2007, 01:23 PM

Thanks for the great responses all.

DMJR I agree, nothing we hate to see more than an old cottage getting wiped out and replaced by a vinyl sided mansion, but that's not the intent in our case. I didn't realize the tax consequences of a tear down vs renovation either, thanks JS.

Al, the house is well back from the 50' buffer, but it is a very steep lot... not ledge but rocky. The house is elevated off the ground in the front by a good 6' or so, but level w/ the ground in the back. The original footprint is 24'x32' and the addition proposal is to come off the side, 1 and a half stories at 20'x20'.

For those of you that have seen this done, how do they "raise" the house temporarily? Is this aspect the major cost, or is the digging/pouring the bigger part of it? If we left the original section as a post/beam, is it still possible to winterize? We don't need a year round home but would like to use on occasion in the winter.

04-11-2007, 01:23 PM	#9
meteotrade Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Moultonboro Posts: 95 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 6 Posts	Thanks for the great responses all. DMJR I agree, nothing we hate to see more than an old cottage getting wiped out and replaced by a vinyl sided mansion, but that's not the intent in our case. I didn't realize the tax consequences of a tear down vs renovation either, thanks JS. Al, the house is well back from the 50' buffer, but it is a very steep lot... not ledge but rocky. The house is elevated off the ground in the front by a good 6' or so, but level w/ the ground in the back. The original footprint is 24'x32' and the addition proposal is to come off the side, 1 and a half stories at 20'x20'. For those of you that have seen this done, how do they "raise" the house temporarily? Is this aspect the major cost, or is the digging/pouring the bigger part of it? If we left the original section as a post/beam, is it still possible to winterize? We don't need a year round home but would like to use on occasion in the winter. Last edited by meteotrade; 04-13-2007 at 01:45 PM.