about ready for step 1

lamoncha lover · #1 09/03/09, 09:44 PM

ok. Seems financially we are never going to be able to rreally build on our acreage.I do have enough stashed to put up a pole building. I am thinking about putting up a metal pole barn...and as we can add windows and cement flooring etc..to make it in to a nice cabin/ possible house. I have hopes of getting electricity and septic/water soon .Any advice or any ideas really appreciated. Is this a dumb idea?

oldcj5guy · #2 09/03/09, 11:37 PM

We have given serious thought along the same lines. Our idea was to start a year or so in advance and get our hands on some good oak logs 12-16' and have them milled into large lumber for a timber frame and build a smaller timber frame setup on property in filled with cordwood. We figure with no pressure and a place to stack it out back we could get the timbers milled and stacked properly to dry.

If you have a big enough city nearby, go to a habitat to humanity store and price windows and doors along with other fixtures that you might find useful to stock up on as you can afford them. We have family in Denver and the habitat store there is full of brand new energy efficient windows of all sizes for less than half of new.

Just get a plan together for what you want to accomplish and start budgeting in pieces as you can find them. Craigslist comes in handy from time to time as does the thrifty nickel. My neighbor just bought 14 trusses for a new barn off of craigslist for $10 each.

Never be afraid to start small. If you can, build your pole barn and find a cheap travel trailer so you can move out there to get your bills down to put more money into building.

lamoncha lover · #3 09/08/09, 10:36 AM

thanks:>) I so want to get rolling even if its a tiny step. Dreaming only goes so far.

fransean · #4 09/09/09, 08:10 AM

Please make sure to check if there are any zoning regulations in your area regarding pole barns. We wanted to put up a pole barn and basically split it in half and use half for our house and the other half for a garage/workshop. Well the township requires that is all be build to residential code so that idea went out the window.

lamoncha lover · #5 09/09/09, 10:17 AM

The zoning is not a problem. homes must be stick built with appropriate foundations and thats it.There is no real zoning in this county.Don't even have to apply for a building pernit.
A guy came reccommended by a friend. He will put up a 30x50 with rat guard, entirely bubble wrapped, post 6x6 spaced 10' and trusses every 5' it will have a rollup insulated door and 1 walk in door.#1 metal. It also has a 10' wide "Porch" along the 50 foot side. He will erect for 12,400. Gutters would be another 450-500. Is this a reasonable prioe? He at least seems on the ball.most other folks don't bother to call back.
questions..is 10' spacing ok? I see some places advertise every 8 ft. would 4x6 or 4x4 posts be better..easier to finsish?anything else ijportant for me to know? thanks

lamoncha lover · #6 09/09/09, 10:20 AM

oldjcguy...there is a habitat for humanity not far away. When we fet ready to add windows I plan on getting stuff there. I bought a bathroom light fixture and a hanging lamp at a garage sale.nice for 30.00.
oh the above quote does not include flooring.l I think we are going to try and lay a wood floor vs comcrete.it may make plumbing easier? !2,400 will pretty much take up all the cash i had for the building.

Rick · #7 09/09/09, 08:08 PM

Is having water from a well a deal breaker for you?

You might at least get an old timer to water witch it , if you trust that.

You'll be able to catch thousands of gallons of water from that roof if you get good rain.

D Lynn · #8 09/09/09, 08:36 PM

What about a stackwall house?

Does your acreage have trees? If so, you can do this.
This is my dream. Here's a cool sight I just found, I hope you have high speed these videos are neat! If not ~ you get the idea, there is lots of stuff out there on stack wall (cordwood) houses.

Hope this link works ~

http://nikorb.wordpress.com/2009/05/...woodstackwall/

lamoncha lover · #9 09/09/09, 10:02 PM

rick I would love to have a well, but its one added expense we cannot do right now.we do have water(city) on the property..about 14 acres away from where we will be building. eventually we will trench though and get it to the back acreage.I think initially we will be using it as a cabin. So hauling water will be ok.I like the idea of getting water off the roof. I am planning on a ventless fireplace or wood stove for heat, lots of propane lights. I will most likely gut the travel trailer we have and try and use the fridge and stove/oven.I haven't yet figured what to do when its hot in the summer. we do have a generator so maybe that would run some small air conditioners.This is going to be a long project. Thats ok because it may be awhile before we can move. but surely it will be so nice to have some comfortable housing there.I want to insulate it really well and have heard of folks putting in up to r-30.
dlynn thanks for the link. we have some wood on our property. I think I will prob just take the plunge an dlet someone else erect something. Otherwise hubby will be overwhelmed and nothing will get started,
hoping with in a few days to get a deal sealed

mom25kiddles · #10 09/09/09, 10:02 PM

We just purchased a home in Idaho... pole barn steel building turned residence. Not the most attractive home around, but very affordable and built like a tank. It will *homey* up very nicely with time and a little creativity. One thing that we noticed right away was nice thick walls since the drywall is over those large post beams (??) it was built with... filled with tons of super efficient blown in insulation. We were in Idaho house shopping during a heat wave toward the end of July... well into the 90's and that house felt like it was air conditioned, even upstairs. If we had not found a home to purchase, our plan was to purchase property, live in a travel trailer and build a pole barn w/ the upstairs for living area and the downstairs for shop space.

Carmen

Rick · #11 09/10/09, 08:43 AM

City Water as an option is good, just don't hook up unless you have to. I have heard (in some towns) once they hook you up they can try to tell you whether or not you can even use a well.

As far as generators powering A/C - I would talk in terms of running a single small unit, and even then it will mean going for / storing lots of gas, noise, fumes and more frequent genny maintenance.

We would have to generate our own power for A/C - and I could see us doing it as a last resort - if the temps were above 100 deg F for several days running.

There is always the option of spending 10 to 3 PM in a shaded hundred gallon stock tank at the top of the garden.

lamoncha lover · #12 09/10/09, 08:02 PM

i have already had the water tap in and us eit to water my automatic horse trough .Will need to run the water WAY in tho to the home site.
lol i like the idea of a little down time each day in the trough. My grand kids soak in it when we go camping.