Lowe's Katrina Cottages...

[ruby_jane]

We were looking at the sales circulars this morning over coffee, and found this--

www.lowes.com/katrinacottage

I like the 2 BD, 1 BTH, two story one that can go from 900 +/- sq feet to nearly 1200 sq ft with the addition of a master bedroom and bath!

[michiganfarmer]

$55 per sq foot? seems pretty pricey to me.

[ruby_jane]

Originally Posted by michiganfarmer

$55 per sq foot? seems pretty pricey to me.

Yeah, I did see that but I think the plans are simple and easy--I think the cost quote is by using Lowe's materials, so I am sure you can tweak things...

DH is sitting at the table behind me as we speak daydreaming about building our own home...

[kesoaps]

I think they're cute!

[oz in SC]

Depending WHERE you are going to build you should be able to find a local who can do the job.

The guy who built our 'barn' will mmost likely build our house if/when we ever get it built....we may just end up living in a barn for the rest of our lives...

I like the overall design but they are quite small by todays standards.

However how much room do people REALLY need?

[FalconDance]

I like higher ceilings. Not only is it much cooler in the summer (and with ceiling fans, not a problem in the winter), but I could have bookcases much taller to hold all my books - which take up more space than anything else in our house!

All in all, quite decent plans. Sure, the McMansions which are all the "gotta-have" rage right now are nice to look at, but as Oz said, how much room do you really need?

Going to have husband look at these. Who knows, we may end up with a Katrina cottage in MO .

~Falcon

[Jolly]

$55/sq foot (if that includes labor) is cheap. Even if you double it for labor, $110 is not off the charts.

These houses are designed to be constructed quickly, which means a minimum of cuts and waste - that's a good thing. Any good builder can do the same, if you want to come up with a different design, and then tweak it.

[oz in SC]

Look around and you can probably find an architect who designs similar homes,the house we want to build is by a local company.

Alison Ramsey is the firm here in town.
http://www.allisonramseyarchitect.com/

This is our possible future home:

[chickenpie]

Originally Posted by ruby_jane

We were looking at the sales circulars this morning over coffee, and found this--

www.lowes.com/katrinacottage

I like the 2 BD, 1 BTH, two story one that can go from 900 +/- sq feet to nearly 1200 sq ft with the addition of a master bedroom and bath!

I was surprised at how inexpensive these buildings seem to be. I am looking at using their structure to build a barn using local slab wood. The paper brochure package tells more than the website.

[longshadowfarms]

Originally Posted by oz in SC

I like the overall design but they are quite small by todays standards.

However how much room do people REALLY need?

Having lived in a 3,000 sq farm house for about 20 yrs I find that there are only about 2 rooms that we REALLY use. If this house were laid out better we could easily do with about 1/2 the space even with 5 people. I suspect we're going to start seeing a return to reality as things continue to increase in price. People will start backing out of these McMansions soon. It's an 'eck of a lot of work to keep up with them (at least the old farm house variety but I suspect those McMansions are similar)!

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by longshadowfarms

Having lived in a 3,000 sq farm house for about 20 yrs I find that there are only about 2 rooms that we REALLY use. If this house were laid out better we could easily do with about 1/2 the space even with 5 people. I suspect we're going to start seeing a return to reality as things continue to increase in price. People will start backing out of these McMansions soon. It's an 'eck of a lot of work to keep up with them (at least the old farm house variety but I suspect those McMansions are similar)!

Actually it seems to be going the other way,the new big thing is to have even bigger homes for two people.

Like 5000 square feet for two people.

None of my business and people can do what they want...

We have just under 1800 square feet and to be honest use less than half for anything other than junk storage.

[michiganfarmer]

Originally Posted by Jolly

$55/sq foot (if that includes labor) is cheap. Even if you double it for labor, $110 is not off the charts.

These houses are designed to be constructed quickly, which means a minimum of cuts and waste - that's a good thing. Any good builder can do the same, if you want to come up with a different design, and then tweak it.

I dont want to hear about how modern high prices are cheap, and "oh my , you should be greatfull for get a roof over your head for that price" while the builders all have $40,000 pick up trucks. That isnt cheap, Its a rip off!!

I built a 20x26 basement with a 2 story house on top for $25,000. That is $16 per sq foot. This was in 1997. That was total dollar cost. excavating, block laying, rough framing, wireing, plumbing, siding, drywalling, and roofing.

I found people who knew how to do the things I didint know how to to. I traded my labor as a mechanic to them to show me how to frame, and lay block, and other things I didnt know how to do. I did an awfull lot of the contruction myself. I worked like a dog for many months. I only paid one person money for their work. that was the excavator. I was going to dig the basement by hand, but I wanted to get the house weatherproofed by winter, and I was told I couldnt meet that deadline if I hand dug the basement.

People dont need to hire it done. People dont need that much leisure time every evening. People need to work 12 hour days then come home, tend animals, and build their own house.


ok, so that is being pushy, and jugemental. I shouldnt say that, but,$55 per sq foot is still to much money

[michiganfarmer]

Originally Posted by oz in SC

Depending WHERE you are going to build you should be able to find a local who can do the job.

The guy who built our 'barn' will mmost likely build our house if/when we ever get it built....we may just end up living in a barn for the rest of our lives...

I like the overall design but they are quite small by todays standards.

However how much room do people REALLY need?

Oz, if you are building next may I will give you a hand. We can bust our rear ends for a couple days a get a bunch done. I know how to build a house.

I told you in PM that Im comming to NC next memorial day.

[Piney Woods]

michiganfarmer, I agree with you to a certain extent, but some of us are not physically able to do the hard labor ourselves.

I have the plan for the Builder's Cottage from www.countryplans.com. At 336 square feet - it's almost identical to the original Katrina Cottage. I plan to have it built but do as much as I can - painting, cleaning, etc. You also have a lot of support and advice from the architect and other people who have built their own homes at countryplans.

For me - one person - it's perfect. Bathroom with shower, toilet, vanity. Kitchen with range, sink, refrigerator and counter and cabinet space. Open room with a closet, day bed, desk/bookshelves, wood stove, small table and chairs and a comfy rocker recliner. It also has a nice front porch.

It's expandable, should I decide I need more space. I plan to have a yard barn or garage also built which will be where I store stuff I don't need and have a crafts work space. No reason to heat and cool space I don't use very often, and pay utilities on storage items.

[spectre]

Originally Posted by michiganfarmer

I dont want to hear about how modern high prices are cheap, and "oh my , you should be greatfull for get a roof over your head for that price" while the builders all have $40,000 pick up trucks. That isnt cheap, Its a rip off!!

I built a 20x26 basement with a 2 story house on top for $25,000. That is $16 per sq foot. This was in 1997. That was total dollar cost. excavating, block laying, rough framing, wireing, plumbing, siding, drywalling, and roofing.

I am currenty in the middle of doing very much what you have described but have to address one big issue. Over the last 10 years cost on building materials have gone through the roof...

I know this for a fact because I worked in a hardware store for 9 years around the time you quote and know how much things like plywood and dimensional lumber cost then vs. now. In most cases it has gone up double to triple the cost from teh late 90's and some things like copper pipe, fittings, and electrical wire are even higher than that.

I believe that you probably did build what you say for 25K, but those days are gone...

The addition I am working on is almost the same size as you specify above and I have spent more $$ than you quote to get it closed in and get it weather tight. No finish work, no windows, no fixtures, no electrical, no plumbing, no insulation, ...etc. And what I am using for materials is nothing fancy, just kiln dried studs, plywood, shingles, ...etc.

So before anyone thinks they can build a house for $16 a square foot I would suggest they check out prices for materials first.

And don't even get me started on the cost of labor

[Boleyz]

I may be building a small house near Richmond KY at this time next year. My wife's residual income from her Arbonne business is almost large enough to cover our current house payment, and my daughter will be going to college in Richmond next year.

I figure that instead of flushing my money down a toilet by renting room and board on the campus, we'll buy a lot or small acreage near Richmond, build a small 2 bedroom house, and let her live in it until she's through with college.

After she's done and moves on with her life/career, we'll either rent it out or sell it and recoup her living expenses.

One of these cottages would fill the bill very well for her and a room-mate. I'll let her roomie pay me per month and that will also save on the payment I have to make.

Sound like a good plan?

[FolioMark]

I have to admit I think the Katrina cottages are a nice solution, but I find it hard to give their creater, Ms. Cusato, much credit. This type and plan of house has been built for years and years. They are basic I plan or shotgun houses and they are a dime a dozen all over the south and midwest. Sure wish I had thought of marketing an old house type like that. She has gotten a good deal of press and I bet she made a pot of money when she gave Lowe's the rights to market the plan, but I wonder how many have actually been built as replacements for houses destroyed by Katrina. They are just a bit too twee for refugee housing.

55 dollars a sqft is cheap if someone else is doing the work, but I dare say that any sunday carpenter could build one of these houses for considerably less than that. It couldnt be simpler.

[coalroadcabin]

Originally Posted by spectre

I am currenty in the middle of doing very much what you have described but have to address one big issue. Over the last 10 years cost on building materials have gone through the roof...

I know this for a fact because I worked in a hardware store for 9 years around the time you quote and know how much things like plywood and dimensional lumber cost then vs. now. In most cases it has gone up double to triple the cost from teh late 90's and some things like copper pipe, fittings, and electrical wire are even higher than that.

I believe that you probably did build what you say for 25K, but those days are gone...

The addition I am working on is almost the same size as you specify above and I have spent more $$ than you quote to get it closed in and get it weather tight. No finish work, no windows, no fixtures, no electrical, no plumbing, no insulation, ...etc. And what I am using for materials is nothing fancy, just kiln dried studs, plywood, shingles, ...etc.

So before anyone thinks they can build a house for $16 a square foot I would suggest they check out prices for materials first.

And don't even get me started on the cost of labor

Currently building as well and I have to give a big old "DITTO" to what you just said!!! Matter-of-fact, if you count in the cost of land, putting in a well & septic and paying for building permits; I'd say that you would be darn lucky to build a house for $55/sq ft. in today's market. Anybody priced a 2X6 recently? or a sheet of plywood? the prices are outrageous!!

[Jolly]

Originally Posted by michiganfarmer

I dont want to hear about how modern high prices are cheap, and "oh my , you should be greatfull for get a roof over your head for that price" while the builders all have $40,000 pick up trucks. That isnt cheap, Its a rip off!!

I built a 20x26 basement with a 2 story house on top for $25,000. That is $16 per sq foot. This was in 1997. That was total dollar cost. excavating, block laying, rough framing, wireing, plumbing, siding, drywalling, and roofing.

I found people who knew how to do the things I didint know how to to. I traded my labor as a mechanic to them to show me how to frame, and lay block, and other things I didnt know how to do. I did an awfull lot of the contruction myself. I worked like a dog for many months. I only paid one person money for their work. that was the excavator. I was going to dig the basement by hand, but I wanted to get the house weatherproofed by winter, and I was told I couldnt meet that deadline if I hand dug the basement.

People dont need to hire it done. People dont need that much leisure time every evening. People need to work 12 hour days then come home, tend animals, and build their own house.


ok, so that is being pushy, and jugemental. I shouldnt say that, but,$55 per sq foot is still to much money

Yep. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt...except I cut my own logs and helped mill my own lumber.

But that ain't most people....

[Boleyz]

I finished this 2 years ago...2400 sq. feet. 3 big bedrooms, 3 full baths, lots of stonework, beadboard ceiling on main (middle) floor. Laminate floors top to bottom, home-made interior doors (z-brace plank doors).

I did it with the help of 1 framing carpenter and 2 hired-hands. I paid the boys $10 per hour (they had some skills) and the lead carpenter $15 per hour.

My labor (I did a lot of the framing, drywall and all the stone) was free.

I hired the footer dug and paid a guy to lay the blocks that would hold the slab. My house has no crawlspace. Built it on a concrete slab.

The house cost $52.50 per sq. foot.

Add in the 4.5 acres and it comes to $56.00 [er sq. foot.