Corn bin home or build a small cabin?

[Firefighter912]

I have an old corn bin that hasn't been used in a long time. It is rusted on the inside and some on the outside, but seems to be still stable. I was debating about making it a tiny home.

But then I was thinking about just making a small cabin.

I figure the corn bin deal would cost more money, but it would be different.

The added benefit to the corn bin is that a power pool is next to it and the deep well is right behind it. The only downside is that it is less than 10' from the dirt road (but we are aiming to close the road and make it private).

The only possible thing in think the cabin would have is more room and i can build it anywhere

 

[Firefighter912]

 

[oosik]

If you have a wife - what does she think. Being unique & different might not be her idea of a great place to live.

Otherwise - the choice is yours.

 

[Diggin It]

I would think heat would be a huge issue. A giant tin can with no windows in Georgia is bound to get mighty warm inside. How would you handle ventilation? How far below the surface in the foundation? Think about digging under it for plumbing.

Different can be good if you can work out the mechanics. People are living in old missile silos for example.



On building a cabin, can you build one for less than buying one of those premade portable ones? People live in those too. Some are designed to be used as cottages or offices.

 

[B7510HSD]

It would be nice but as said would be terrible to heat and cool. I would opt for the cabin and turn the corn bin into a storage shed..

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I wouldn't want to be in there in a lightening storm! You might think about the ramifications of such things as mold residues from the corn, and also any varmints hanging around.

 

[Firefighter912]

I am young and single, not married. No kids.

Yeah, the heat and cold issue crossed my mind.

I was debating about insulating it and then build a small wall on the inside in hope it will keep the temperature maintained.

There is also space under the grate floors in it.


It may just be better to build a small cabin.

Here is the space below the floor in the corn bin.

 

[RNeumann]

It’s too small, too close to the road and will cost more time and money to make....everything will need to be custom made to match the curve, windows won’t look good etc. It sounds like you answered your own question.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

You might consider a steel building as a home; I have a 24X32 insulated shop that I built about 10 years ago, and with the slab, insulation and electricity it cost me about 18K.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'd do it just for the fun of doing it. You already have a foundation, power, walls and a roof. The rest is just finish work. Just like any other metal building, you will have to build interior walls for insulation and utilities. Round walls are not very difficult to build. You just use plywood for your sill plate and top plates. Add an awning over the windows and make sure you flash them really good and there wont be any weather issues. Should be too different then any other metal building.

As for the rust, that's not too hard to treat.

How tall is it? Can you make it two stories? Have the living area with kitchen, bathroom and tv watching area downstairs and a loft upstairs for sleeping.

Insulate with fiberglass to save money, or closed cell foam to max out your R value. I would probably do closed cell foam on the ceiling and fiberglass on the walls, but I would make sure that all the metal was totally air tight first.

Have fun with it!!!

 

[Diggin It]

I've seen these for $10K or less. Sometimes they even have Repos for less.

Basically ready to move in once they deliver, set and level. Some have bathrooms and kitchens. Not sure how your electric utility would want to connect though. I suppose some areas might have building or occupancy codes that would be a problem.

 

[EddieWalker]

I saw this and thought it might be useful. This Grain Silo Guesthouse is Every Country Girl's Dream

 

[ovrszd]

Build or buy a small cabin to live in. Convert the bin to this. Would be a great party place for you to have guests over and meet your new wife!!! Also can be seasonally decorated.

 

[Diggin It]

Kinda cool. Use the removed sections for something else, or sell them.

 

[ovrszd]

I sold them as scrap iron.

His bin is bigger than mine and would work even better.

 

[zzvyb6]

Cool Factor is enormous...

 

[ovrszd]

I suspect those are structures built to look like grain bins rather than bins converted to a house.

 

[zzvyb6]

I suspect those are structures built to look like grain bins rather than bins converted to a house.

I suspect you have not looked at any of the dozens of YouTube videos showing grain bins ('silos') converted to tiny homes. Take a good look.

 

[ovrszd]

I suspect you have not looked at any of the dozens of YouTube videos showing grain bins ('silos') converted to tiny homes. Take a good look.

I'm basing this on the corrugated metal and roof metal design. Secondly, on the surrounding landscape. Not growing any grain there.

 

[zzvyb6]

Here's a steeple from a mid 60's KFC restaurant. Guess what it's going to be...