Barn with living quarters

[Tororider]

I currently live in a nice big house in a nice subdivision, read no yard and lots of neighbors. Don't get me wrong I have some great neighbors but I want my space. I have recently gotten the idea that we could downsize from a 3000+ sq ft two story to a 40x40 barn with living quarters above, so 1600 sq ft. Has anyone done this? Anyone have any idea ballpark how much it would cost to build? Obviously the floor of the barn would be cement, and I would want to have at least a small "bunker" type room for weather events or the like. Probably eleven foot ceilings on the first floor and nine foot above in the living area. Thoughts?

 

[RoyJackson]

I had a buddy of mine live in a loft apartment above a horse barn (this has been years ago). It was pretty rudimentary. Worst things were the smells and the flies.
So, I guess it depends what you intend to use the barn for...

There is a barn in Vermont (I was looking for real estate) that had the first floor converted to storage units (33 units, IIRC) and living quarters above. That was $400K plus...but it was being sold as a business.

 

[Tororider]

First floor would be for storage only. Tractor, mowers, maybe a space for the kids to play, etc. No animals in the barn. Maybe an outbuilding, but not inside the living barn.

 

[WilliamBos]

I say go for it! You only live once and country life rules!

 

[EddieWalker]

You have two numbers to figure out. First is the actual barn. Most are just a shell of a building that is weather tite. Price can vary considerably depending on materials, size, code, span and utilities. Next will be the living quarters. With the barn built, you don't have to think of the shell, but the real money in any house is the finish of it. Flooring, cabinets and all that. How much will you do yourself, how much do you have to hire out? I can build a nice brick house on an empty lot for $70 a square foot and build a REALLY nice house for $100 a square foot. My house was $30 a square foot to build, but I did all of it myself except pour the pad and install the HVAC. I don't have any codes and I do this for a living.

Eddie

 

[Tororider]

I will have codes to deal with so some will have to be hired out. My brother is a drywaller so I can help do that and cut costs. Painting, hanging cabinets, laying floor are all things I can do if I can carve out the time. Plumbing,hvac, electrical will all need to be hired out.

 

[RoyJackson]

Something else to consider...I know Tororider is enthusiastic...but how about your family? Think they'd be OK living in a barn?

 

[Tororider]

Roy, good point. I am pretty sure the kids would be all for it and my wife too. I want to get an idea on price before anything else.

 

[Carl_NH]

Tororider,

It sounds more like a 40x40 house with a ground floor equipment and workshop with a root cellar/tornado room and a "hobby room" for the kids etc.

If you can find a sloping site, do a concrete foundation and walls into the banking, and have southern exposure for the solar gain then have the one side for equipment and workshop and the other for kids/root cellar. Also 11' is a pretty tall ceiling height?

Then the living area suggest extending the roof line on two sides for covered porches (will create an overhang below the porch for outdoor storage )

And why not put a third floor room? With snow and such you would need to have enough pitch 6 or 8 / 12 so have two or three rooms in the top side.

Insulation sprayed on 1" then conventional inside that to save $$. Heating and AC - I would look at geo thermal unless you can get natural gas.

Probably $200K for 2000-2200SF living area depending on finish and interior detail.

 

[RoyJackson]

While you're planning...you may as well consider what you'll say if your kids leave an outside door open...
After all, "What's wrong with you...do you live in a barn???" ain't gonna work.