How can I build a barn shaped loft designed house?

Question

My husband and I would like to build an old hay barn style house. We want at least 3 bedrooms with one up top and 2 downstairs. We would like any help on how to get started on this and about how much it would cost. We are doing most of the work ourselves. Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

My suggestion is to start looking at "A" frame houses or chalets. They have great space for having a loft and a full size bath plus plenty of room to spare. The "A" frame is going to be probably the cheaper material wise and more efficient for the purposes your looking for. It would have helped if you mentioned what size house you were expecting to build but a fairly nice one and with you doing most of the work your still probably looking at $60 to $80,000 but it will be worth every penny of it and depending on location you could easily sell twice that and like I said depending on location you never know.Folks good luck in your endeavor and if I could be of some kind of advice get back with me and maybe we'll swap e-mails. Later

Answer 2

Stupidity and greed. Wood is cheaper than other materials therefore a builder will make a house at the cheapest price possible and make it faster. This allows the builder to sell their houses as soon as possible instead of waiting for a long time for a wealthy buyer. Since a wooden house is cheaper than a concrete house that is the same size, the buyer wil buy the wooden house and pay less. Usually a middle class buyer cannot afford a house that is not made of wood. If a buyer happens to be wealthy and can afford a house that is not made of wood, it will be located in an area where catastrophes never happen. To sum it all up, hurricane-prone areas are reserved for middle class residents who cannot afford a better home, while better homes are reserved for wealthy people in rich neighborhoods that are not catastrophe-prone.

Answer 3

I will leave the inspections and permits for another question.

You can draw plans or buy them, I would have excavation and foundation done by an experienced person. Plumbing, Electrical, heat and air are equally important. use 2x8 treated sill plates, 2x6 load bearing walls, purchase trusses for ease of installation and ease of squaring roof line. You do not necessarily need a crane to place them, depends on the help you can get and the weight.

Answer 4

in some places this is refurd to as a mansard......it makes great use of space..and can be adapted to almost any floor plan....believe it or not there are many simple design yr own houise diskette cd's availiable..as staples....try a yahoo search......i've got one stashed away that covers almost every aspect and it was rated as and in a toy dept special.....you canalso check wind loads and tornado or earth quake areas.........basement..?...dormers..these make great artist studios..too...and lend themselves to side hill conditions...if yr doin a basement ask and even soils check thegrounds...cements need different additives in acidic or sulphur conditions......if thers other building going on...the cement suppliers are already knowldged.......water/sewer/storm drainaige........trees.......that roof and style will only be as functional as all the lower work you have done,,,,permits...county or city regulations....if you come up with a different plan,,that is something they never seen....you may meet resistance....all this can be appeal;ed....finances? inspections..? go for it wish you we5re close by....i'd pitch right in

Answer 5

hire an architect. thats what you do first. you need to determine your budget for this project.

Answer 6

www.yankeebarnhomes.com/about/bibliography.php

I hope this helps