Barndominium....kind of

[RedRkr]

We have an existing 30x60 pole barn in the Sam Houston National Forrest and I've been thinking about a way to use it for nice but inexpensive living quarters. Our 225k home is paid off and my wife and I were thinking about renting it out and moving to the property for a couple of years. If we like it we'll stay, if not we can move back to our home. Anyway, the barn has a 60x12 lean to on one side with existing concrete slab. I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to extend that lean to out from 12' to about 30' or more and build under it....maybe a 40x30 box, 1 big bedroom and bathroom, 1 big living room and 1 big kitchen.....just enough for us. The lean to is the roof so no expense there except some added concrete. The concrete that is already there, if it's usable, wasn't built up at all......almost level with the grass. We'd side the box of the new home with the same metal as the barn....cheap. Rustic cabin DIY theme inside....cheap. So I'm wondering is this doable to just build a box under the lean to? Is it dumb, am I over looking something. I figure somewhere around 2 to 3 years of rent from our home would almost pay for the little cabin anyway. Any thoughts or better ideas are welcome. Thanks

 

[RNeumann]

The expense of making a place livable isn’t the cost of building the box. It’s the plumbing, sewer, electrical, cabinets etc.

If this is a temporary situation would you consider a 5th wheel parked under the lean to?

I know you wrote a lot but it has left more questions then answers.

 

[RedRkr]

We thought about a 5th wheel but would like more room. Our budget is between 40k and 50k. We're in the beginning stage of looking at options and at that budget the rent from our home would basically pay for the living quarters over 2 or 3 years. My main concern is the existing concrete, if it's to low or not and being able to fit everything into our budget. I'm just looking for others opinions on what can be done with that budget....I can do some of the work and can contract a lot out myself. We may or may not be there temporarily but permanent living quarters there would be nice.

 

[mike0000]

May not be much larger than a 5th wheel but how about a mobile home? My wife and I started out with one on the property we bought. It was an older used one, paid $5k for it. Stayed in it for two years saving up for our house build. Sold it after moving into the new house.

Mike

 

[RNeumann]

Your existing concrete is adding little value. Some of it will need to be removed to add plumbing for the kitchen, bath and laundry.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

If your budget is 40 to 50k and you are doing most of the work yourself I believe it is totally doable with money to spare unless you go extravagant.