Serious answers please. I have what's left of a 2 story building on my property.2/3 of the roof is gone and

Question

there are 2 enclosed rooms downstairs being used for storage and workshop. The concrete slab it's on is still good. Would it be cheaper to remodel this into a workshop/garage or tear it down and just build a double carport and new 9x12 shop?The current 2 rooms are about 12x24 and 9x12. This used to be a house but there was a fire upstairs.

Answer 1

first of all you'll have to assess any damage from the fire and the water that put out the fire. Number one when a fire goes through a wooden structure it will made the wood brittle and the smell well good luck it is possible to get it out but it will still linger in the building materials. As far as what would be best depends on your finainces and how old is the building to start with. Renovations are usually a nightmare. In your case the roof is gone and there was a fire upstairs. This tells me that there is going to be things that will crop up that you do not for see.
The best advise i can give you is start from scratch then there is no hidden nightmares and you will know that you have a good sound structure, and there will be no hidden damage.
Putting all the money into something you want and not just making due with what is there will probably do you much better in the long run. Plus if you ever go to sell the place you will have all the right building codes in place. Much easier to deal with.
If money is a issue I would get a few reputable contractors in and get them to give you quotes on how much it would cost to build from scratch and qoutes on how much it will cost to fix what is already there. weigh these costs up. Another thing i would take into consideration is how much of the work can you do your self. Maybe get someone in to do the structure up untill lock up stage and you do the finishing yourself. sounds like it will be a big task so allow your self alot of time if your going to do the work yourself.

Answer 2

If you could afford it, my advise would be tare the whole thing down and start from scratch.
Here are the benefits I see in a new structure:
1. You do it not only the way you want it but also the way it should be
2. You eliminate maintenance costs of the old structure which, in the long run, turn out to be more than the original/remodeling costs.
3. With a new structure, you unquestionably increase the value of your property.

There are more pluses that I could suggest but the above three are the most important for you and your needs, as I can tell from your comments.

Good luck

Answer 3

To do most of the work yourself. That is the cheapest way in all honesty. There really is no difference in pricing from stick built to systems built homes. Also, you are on the right track building a 2 story instead of a ranch as most of your cost is eaten up in basement and roof trusses. You considerably cut down basement size and the amount of trusses with a 2 story. My advice, shop around. Get quotes and bids and do not jump into anything. Builders go over, most often, so be careful! Our builder went over 22k on our new house, it was a nightmare! Also, it is ok to cut corners on certain items. You do not need the most expensive tub surround, carpet or countertops. However well insulated windows are a good call. An appraisal will not judge your home by the brand name of the items in it, just that they are newer. Do not stick money in where you do not need to.

Answer 4

It would most likely be cheaper to rebuild if the rest of the structure is OK. Contact your local building department first to find out current codes for your situation. If you are hiring a contractor they should take care of all plans and permits. If you are doing it yourself you will need to pull a permit as owner/builder and submit plans. During the remodel the building department will make several inspections to check that things are being done to code.

Good luck
Doug

Answer 5

I would think it would be cheaper and more usable to remodel into a workshop/garage,all you would basically would be new roof trusses and roof once the top story is removed.Good luck.

Answer 6

I would tear down the structure and rebuild a garage or carport. It will add more value to your property.

Answer 7

I would tear it down and custom build a new workshop/garage.

Answer 8

tear it down fire often weakens wood and the smell is just about impossible to cover up

Answer 9

Turn it into a guest house.

Answer 10

just rent it out .