Cheap efficient DIY home?

[Tilly]

Hubby and I have been so excited about our 2year plan to get a real homestead. We had settled on a log home kit, but now have decided to try to go cheaper, as financing everything just goes against what we are trying to accomplish. We will end up financing the prop to start out, and then hopefully build with our own money. We both have much construction background and lots of able bodies to help if needed. What have you all done to build your homestead? We are looking at cheap possibilties, maybe a repo trailer and adding on, or a concrete block house, an earth berm house( although I'm not very familiar with them) or a steel building converted to a house with storage. So, what is cheap and effective?

[just_sawing]

Really depends on your zoning.
Here in Middle TN Cannon county I can build a home right off my sawmill. I have patterns that you can move in with approx. 20K total. THese are two or three bedrooms nice homes. Yes the wall paneling is wood aith the outside is board and batten.

[highlands]

Check out what we're doing:

http://sugarmtnfarm.com/blog/labels/Tiny%20Cottage.html

We have not yet spent $7,000 on materials. All labor is from our family over the past year. We moved in to our Tiny Cottage on Christmas eve. Still a bit to do on it next year but it is mostly there and very livable. It is inexpensive, doable yourself, low maintenance, extremely energy efficient and beautiful.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/blog/
http://HollyGraphicArt.com/
http://NoNAIS.org

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by just_sawing

Really depends on your zoning.
Here in Middle TN Cannon county I can build a home right off my sawmill. I have patterns that you can move in with approx. 20K total. THese are two or three bedrooms nice homes. Yes the wall paneling is wood aith the outside is board and batten.

Yeah, I gotta agree. Zoning/Building codes are a major issue.

We are gonna build Underground in about three years.....
It's basically a foundation with a solid roof. We are planing to have all the walls be concrete to keep down on moisture issues. The cost of construction doing it yourself can be quite cheap....... Think foundation with a few extra walls.......and rebar and pan for the roof. We have a simple floor plan if you wish to see it just PM.

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by highlands

Check out what we're doing:

http://sugarmtnfarm.com/blog/labels/Tiny%20Cottage.html

We have not yet spent $7,000 on materials. All labor is from our family over the past year. We moved in to our Tiny Cottage on Christmas eve. Still a bit to do on it next year but it is mostly there and very livable. It is inexpensive, doable yourself, low maintenance, extremely energy efficient and beautiful.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/blog/
http://HollyGraphicArt.com/
http://NoNAIS.org

Hey, Highlands.
How did the supports you put up work out for that roof? Did you just make it solid then put another coat for structure? I looked at your site a while back. Just wondering on progress.

[georgec]

How about a nice big tent. You don't have to worry about zoning issues because it is not a permanent structure. They have canvas that will last at least 15 years.

[Gercarson]

There are houses that need to be moved. There are houses that need to be razed. Recycle if you can. I've never liked the idea or the looks (not your concern) of a trailer that has been added on. I don't even like the idea of a trailer. Find a small house that can be had for moving it. Then - insulate and add on to it.

[shellbug]

earthship! earthship! that is what you should build! we were planning to build one when our backs gave out. if you have the manpower, it is the way to go!

[Tilly]

Yeah, my hubby doesn't wnt a trailer. We are renting a doublewide on 3.4 acres right now, and the property is what we like, not the house, although it is 2000 ft2!!! Walter, we loved your site, very fun!! and the zoning issues.... we are looking at the county neighboring us, and they pretty much don't care what you build, as long as it is ok with your lender( hopefully won't be needed) and you have actual water rights to use the water on your prop.

[Tilly]

Looked at earthships, they scare my hubby!!!!! I would like to do one, without the black water systems, poop needs to go in a septic tank!!

[Nevada]

I built a 2-story cabin in about 4 months for $5000.



It isn't wired or plumed yet and I still have to do a kitchen & bathroom, but it's finished enough to move in and be warm.

We won't be doing a septic until spring so we are using a chemical toilet for the time being. Believe it or not, chemical toilets actually satisfactory. Not quite as pleasant as a conventional toilet, but satisfactory. I got mine at WalMart for $70.

I posted a thread on my cabin project in General Chat a while back. You might want to browse that thread.

http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=217458

[comfortablynumb]

most important tip;

figure out how much you think you need it insulated.
then double that figure.

Have you given a "A" frame house a thought?

[PD-Riverman]

I am with Just_sawing. Wanting to be able to build cheap--I bought a good used Woodmizer sawmill and used it in my spare time to saw for people and made a few thousand dollars to help on paying for it and while I was doing that I also started collecting all the pine tree's I could find free and sawed and stacked the lumber, now the mill is payed for and I have 1000's and 10's of 1000's BF of lumber sawed and when I build anything, I don't have to buy any lumber-----thats cheap building. I built a big tractor shed for just the cost of the nails and tin on top. Fixing to build a 24x60ft cook house, I will not have to buy any wood. I have had a chance to sell the sawmill for about what I paid for it------naw can not sell "My Toy". I just keep my eyes open for another free tree to saw.

[dahliaqueen]

My next home will be delivered to me in two large boxes-

check out...

www.yurts.com


The 30' diameter model, with windows all around, french doors, insulation, water cachement, stainless hardware, etc, etc. will be around 20k, shipping from Oregon included.


BTW, great house, Nevada- congrats.

[TNHermit]

Originally Posted by Tilly

Yeah, my hubby doesn't wnt a trailer. We are renting a doublewide on 3.4 acres right now, and the property is what we like, not the house, although it is 2000 ft2!!! Walter, we loved your site, very fun!! and the zoning issues.... we are looking at the county neighboring us, and they pretty much don't care what you build, as long as it is ok with your lender( hopefully won't be needed) and you have actual water rights to use the water on your prop.

Depends on what you want. If you want to move in the best thing is a prefab ( NOT A TRAILER) If you got the time then Just Sawing has a good idea or that other guy. IF you use green wood you get special things to consider. There is NO stick built house that will match a prefab dollar for dollar. The bad part of a prefab is the trim package. But most people don't know the difference. If you do it yourself you get to pat yourself on the back and spend a lot of time with little things. Rarely do owner builts ever get finished! Not a bad thing just that its yours and you built it.. Some don't mind and some do

[Maura]

If you can have a wood basement, that will save you money. If you make a high basement, you can use it for living.

You might want to start with a model dreamhouse. Build your ideal kitchen, and one large room off the kitchen to act as dining/living/bedroom. One small bathroom. You will have to have a bedroom, per code, but you can later turn the small bedroom into a closet or pantry. When you can afford to, you add on the bedroom of your dreams and a real nice bathroom. Add on a nice entry/foyer to the front with a nice covered porch. Just make sure you have a wall opening where the new will meet the old- like a pair of French doors leading onto a deck. If you plan this way, you will have the roof set correctly for expansion.

[Sand Flat Bob]

Don't know where you are in Western Colorado, but have had relatives in Western Colorado since 1900. A distant cousin of mine built a strawbale house up in Glade Park on the Colorado Monument a couple years ago. Very reasonable and good insulation, it does get cold there.

Bob

[MikesMate]

We converted our pole barn into a house. The barn origianlly cost $6000, we then spent a little under $15000 to convert it, we've been in it for four years, love it!

[Gercarson]

Originally Posted by MikesMate

We converted our pole barn into a house. The barn origianlly cost $6000, we then spent a little under $15000 to convert it, we've been in it for four years, love it!

I would luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuvvvvvvvvvvvvvve to see pictures of this!!! Pole barn conversiion?