Barndominium......kine of

[RedRkr]

Barndominium......kind of

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

 

[DaveOmak]

In the National Forest ??? Are you leasing the land from the government ???

 

[BLSXJ]

pull a travel trailer into the barn?

 

[Ken45101]

A BIG expense will be a septic system, around $30K here locally I understand. Also the cost of getting water and electric to the site if you don't already have them.

Also, what condition is the barn in? What will it be like in 10-20 years? Will it be good enough that you will still want your house attached to it?

 

[EddieWalker]

Yes, it's very doable. I built a one bedroom cabin out of a 12x40 lean to when I got divorced and moved out of my house. I put the living area in front and included the kitchenette area in the living area. Then a hallway to the right and a bathroom to the left. A stackable washer and dryer where next to the bathroom, and then the bedroom in the back. It wasn't very big, but open enough to not be crowded.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/33401-my-container-barn.html

This was back in 2004, so the pictures wont open automatically.

 

[Handloader109]

Re: Barndominium......kind of

Rent out a nice home with the intention of moving back into it? I'd not do that. Especially if you aren't going to be within 30 minutes of it. Expect in 2 yrs to have to replace carpet, refinish wood flooring, replace sheetrock damage and paint. And other stupid things renters do. Better to sell, build minimal building and save to buy new home. To rent out to expect to pay for the forest house is fools errand.