Barn with living quarters

bucktaker · Jul 17, 2012

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 · Jul 17, 2012

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 · Jul 17, 2012

Tororider said:
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 · Jul 17, 2012

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 · Jul 17, 2012

riptides said:
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 · Jul 17, 2012

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 · Jul 17, 2012

Tororider said:
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 · Jul 17, 2012

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 · Jul 17, 2012

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.

MarkV · Jul 18, 2012

I see a couple of problems, some of which have been mentioned. With 11' ceilings on the ground floor and 9' ceilings on the second you are talking about a 20' high barn. That is taller than most and is going to really drive the price up. If you want the ground floor to be open without interior supports I don't know of anyway your are going to do a second floor with out using steel beams, expensive. If you are building in an area that has codes they are going to make you build it to residential code which is way different than non residential pole barn code. Even if you build another house your barn is always going to be taxed as a residence. Insurance and financing is going to be a real challenge. Neither care for unconventional builds. I have a feeling when you look into it it would end up cheaper to get the land, build the house and add a pole barn later. Good luck.

MarkV

robbridgland · Jul 18, 2012

Hi

I've been living in barn for 10Years plus

Animals below on concrete floor

We live on mezzanine floor above. Built most of it myself with some subcontractors

Great for keeping eye on animals foaling or calving

Very easy to build

Go for it

Rob

WM75Guy · Jul 18, 2012

If you do living quarters above you will have to span 40' for floor joists. This will mean columns on the bottom floor as spanning 40' without columns would be very expensive and involve large span members. How about a 40' X 60' with a 20' X 40' 2 story living quarters and 40' X 40' shop/barn? Same square footage living quarters, lower building height - 18' if you use 8' walls in the living quarters and 12" floor/ceiling joists (16' if your bedrooms upstairs have a sloped ceiling next to the outside wall) and your shop/barn area would not have columns. The shop/barn could have 12' or 14' tall doors and wall mounted exhaust fans up high.

JamesHW · Jul 18, 2012

We purchased a old mid-1800's barn over 10 years ago, had it dismantled and stacked on pallets on our property. The guy we are working with to turn this into a hom estimates 200k for foundation, additional beams (some of the original beams need to be replaced) HVAC, metal roof and SIP panels, windows, hardiboard, etc. Nothing fancy. This is not for dual use, but I thought it might be informative. I will still need a barn.

Personally, I would consider after finding your dream property just plunking down a double wide and building a pole barn if the the budget allows. Also some shipping containers could provide equipment storage while you get up and running. Eventually the manufactured house could be replaced by a nicer home to your liking. I knew a family up the road from our place who started building their home (late 50's) and after the basement was in, they lived there until they finished the second floor which they built themselves. Not sure that would be allowed these days though.

RoyJackson · Jul 18, 2012

Tororider said:
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.

You know your wife...and I'm thinking it might be better to get her in the concept/planning stage. If she's part of the planning, she may be more accepting...

ford farm boy · Jul 18, 2012

I don't know how old you are or how long you will live there but you may not want the up stairs later on in life . This is a picture of my dads place in the summer just a little apartment he went south in the winters.

brin · Jul 18, 2012

Tororider said:
Long term goal would be to live in the top of the barn for several years cheaper than we are now. With the benefit of living on land and being able to do things like have a big garden, chickens, pond, hunt in the backyard, etc. then if we decided down the road we could build the 2400 sq ft ranch I would really want and have the living space above as an apartment for the kids, guest space, or an in law suite.

Eventually then you would build a ranch house....but have you considered if you or a family member became incapacitated by health or accident and could not walk up stairs...what you would do ? In a two story house you could move your bedroom to the first floor but in a barn...not so easy...just a thought...

boggen · Jul 18, 2012

if you are thinking of just using metal sheeting instead of siding for the outside walls, ok, if you are thinking of using metal sheeting for a roof vs shingles ok. there is exception metal sheeting on a roof can make rain sound like very large hail hitting the roof. you can reduce this noise, by putting in some hard board insulation between metal sheeting and top of the rafters. and then insulating between the cavites of the rafters. to act like a sound barrier and insulate at same time.

as far as living quarters above and barn below. personally not a fan of this idea. i need "height" as in 12 to 20 feet of height for my garage. so i can bring in larger size equipment through larger side and wider garage door openings. it is also easier to "light" a given area when ceiling is higher above you.

personally would prefer a attached garaged type of situation. were 1/2 of floor space = single story shed, and then other 1/2 living space that is 2 stories or single story with basement.

some older folks near by me. i like there setup. they have large shed for parking vehicles and general shop work area you first go through. then the other half is living space. with a bathroom right there between shed and living space. plywood about 8 to 12 feet on bottom walls in the shed for internal panelling, then upper sides of shed walls = metal sheeting.

on other hand not a real big fan having live stock, real close to my living quarters. had a cow lot 50 feet from house for years. and it would bring mice, that you never really could keep under control, to FLYS! ughs flys by the millions it seemed. not to mention animal noises (mowing, oinking, clucking, etc....) not to mention the smelling of crap from the animals. and then smelling of crap, when you wanted to go some place nice.

i am willing to walk 100 to few hundred feet to a shed that is away from the house that will house live stock. it is not like we are in the olden days, that did not have indoor plumbing, and no electricty. and only way you got fed, was going out to get the eggs, and milk from the animals.

Deerherd · Jul 18, 2012

I saw one of these engineered barn kits that turned out pretty sweet. If not for anything it's a good place for ideas.

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