Barn with living quarters

[bucktaker]

I know a guy who has done what you are talking about. Built a 16 ft tall pole building, put a apartment in the upper 1/4 with workshop/man cave under it, regular garage type pole building in the rest. It works but it will never be a mansion. Think about it as a In-laws possible rental after you build a real house..

Also there is the couple on TV who have a metal sided house that is half pole building. Lee and tiffany the Crush Deer hunters

 

[Tororider]

Carl, I have been looking for land, the more the better. I already have a floor plan for a ranch I would like to build at some point in the future, and have a floor plan that I like for the living space over the 40x40 barn. I would like to have a pond dug so although it wouldn't be running if the a property didn't have a creek it would provide some water.

With four kids I suppose it would be possible to live in a small in law suite, but really hard to sell my wife and kids. 1600sq ft is comfortable and could be done easily for the indefinite future if necessary. Don't get me wrong, we just moved out of a 1450 sq ft house before our fourth child was born so we could do it, this situation would provide less living space because of the lack of a basement. I know I sound spoiled because many do with far less, and if it were just me I could too, but With the family to consider I think that would be my minimum.

 

[300UGUY]

Carl, I have been looking for land, the more the better. I already have a floor plan for a ranch I would like to build at some point in the future, and have a floor plan that I like for the living space over the 40x40 barn. I would like to have a pond dug so although it wouldn't be running if the a property didn't have a creek it would provide some water.

With four kids I suppose it would be possible to live in a small in law suite, but really hard to sell my wife and kids. 1600sq ft is comfortable and could be done easily for the indefinite future if necessary. Don't get me wrong, we just moved out of a 1450 sq ft house before our fourth child was born so we could do it, this situation would provide less living space because of the lack of a basement. I know I sound spoiled because many do with far less, and if it were just me I could too, but With the family to consider I think that would be my minimum.

I think that you might find this a tough sell with the building departments. Before you start construction of a home, they will require plans be submitted to the building department. I believe that in Michigan, a home must have foundation, going down 42 inches ( here in southern Michigan ). You will need professional plans, and will probably have to go before a review board of some sort. The real obstacle will be financing. Banks aren't interested in funding alternative structures. At the end of the day, I think a house would be cheaper, and easier to finance. Btw, most townships around here won't let you build a polebarn before you build the house, they have had too many folks try to game the system.

One other thing. 23 years ago, I built a 40x40 pole barn. Over the years, I added electric and a cement floor. I am looking at finishing the interior, and insulating. The cost of studding out the walls is pretty big. I might have been better off building a conventional frame sturcture.

 

[riptides]

There are barns, and then there are barns. A few minutes north of me are many well-to-do communities.

The barns there, put my house to shame. And they have animals in them.

You sink quality material in it, worksmanship and a good design, go for it!

 

[300UGUY]

There are barns, and then there are barns. A few minutes north of me are many well-to-do communities.

The barns there, put my house to shame. And they have animals in them.

You sink quality material in it, worksmanship and a good design, go for it!

A friend of mine has a "party barn". I look at it, I'd guess 500K. Built by Morton.

 

[BungeeII]

By the time you meet codes and all, I don't know if there'll be anything to gain.
When I see living quarters in a barn, it's usually one of these scenarios:

A modest space that families cram into while the house is being built.
or
A cabin-type space in the back (or front) of a barn which is also used for toys.
or
Limited (though sometimes extravagant) area of the barn used for in-laws, guests, offices and the like. This could be loft space, main floor or a combo.

The key to all 3 is that they are not primary residences and don't have to pass the same codes. The 3rd option I mention really brings to mind some of the structures where the budget was a secondary concern.

If I were to pursue it, I'd look at placing a high-pitched modular built structure. Would start with GHS in Bay City, then Look for Pinnacle (or whoever they became) or Crest. Design a pier system to place the house on, then wrap it in siding. You'll to be sensitive to the dimensions and siding choices (most definitely vertical siding: and the like. When it's done, you should be able to line the basement trusts with 2 sheets of 5/8 drywall and establish a firerated barrier between the floors.

This could be done, bu it's essentially redefining the basement.

 

[Carl_NH]

Carl, I have been looking for land, the more the better. I already have a floor plan for a ranch I would like to build at some point in the future, and have a floor plan that I like for the living space over the 40x40 barn. I would like to have a pond dug so although it wouldn't be running if the a property didn't have a creek it would provide some water.

With four kids I suppose it would be possible to live in a small in law suite, but really hard to sell my wife and kids. 1600sq ft is comfortable and could be done easily for the indefinite future if necessary. Don't get me wrong, we just moved out of a 1450 sq ft house before our fourth child was born so we could do it, this situation would provide less living space because of the lack of a basement. I know I sound spoiled because many do with far less, and if it were just me I could too, but With the family to consider I think that would be my minimum.

Tororider,

No you dont come off spolied at all - but you need to put a plan in place - IMHO have the cart ahead of the horse - set your sights on a site and region, then find the land, then scope out the zoning.

Once you have a site then the "work" begins - what I suggest is if you have the cash flow, get the land and then make a site plan, then invest the $ in infrastructure - driveway, electricity, well, THEN based on engineering, water flow, and a lot of factors you can plan and build your barn/house/garage.

It just takes time, and a lot of hard work.

Carl

 

[EddieWalker]

Let me try this differently. The cost can vary depending on what you want, how you want to finish it and how fast you plan on building it.

You can either set a budget and build it for that amount, or you can decide what you want and then figure out what that will cost and go about getting the money. So far, just giving square footage and an unknown style of barn isnt enough information to work with.

From what you've said, but not knowing your taste or requirements, I would think that for $100,000 you should be able to build the barn and a nice living area with soem work beind done by subs and some by you.

Eddie

 

[Tororider]

Eddie, fair enough. I think all the points made on here are fair, which is why I brought it here. I will have to think it out some more and figure out exactly what I want, what I can afford, and what I can sell the wife on.

 

[mjarrels]

Many years ago, I lived in a half barn that had been turned into a studio apartment. Extremely nice for two people. $110.00 a month including all utilities. Barn had no animals or feed inside the other half. Dang mice were something else, just couldn't get rid of them. Use to watch TV with a BB gun and shoot at them on top of the stove and counter tops. Mice, mice, mice every where.

mark