Barndominium/Shop or "real" House?

[ETD66SS]

Always a good idea to incorporate flexibility to allow for easy changes in use as our interests evolve in life.

If you were ever in a wheelchair (hopefully not), why would you want to go somewhere else instead of staying at the property you worked so hard to have?

I'm project/hobby orientated. If I was in a wheechair this property would no longer facilitate that. In fact it would be rather taunting IMO.

 

[2manyrocks]

I believe you are smart enough to figure a way when no one else could.

 

[ETD66SS]

I believe you are smart enough to figure a way when no one else could.

I suppose worst comes to worst I would park a mobile home, connect power water and septic to it if I became incapacitated to the point I can't go up some stairs.

 

[2manyrocks]

You obviously have the talent to design your space today in a way to make it easier to adapt in the future if your interests or needs change.

 

[ETD66SS]

You obviously have the talent to design your space today in a way to make it easier to adapt in the future if your interests or needs change.

Honestly I'd rather plan to so something like this:

Id rather not have to compromise on my Barndo design now for something that may never happen. I'd have the space and utilities hookups available if I needed to do this. Then rent out the other living space or something.

And having that space available for a future house could make the property more marketable if I was forced to sell for some reason.

 

[JasperFrank]

So like, this wouldn't work if you extended in to two bays? If that roof line of the garage was southern, you have both the solar and the water collection cistern solved. I have no connection to this company... Contemporary Style House Plan - 3 Beds 2 Baths 1427 Sq/Ft Plan #48-1056 - Houseplans.com.

 

[ETD66SS]

So like, this wouldn't work if you extended in to two bays? If that roof line of the garage was southern, you have both the solar and the water collection cistern solved.
View attachment 786672

That thing is probably more expensive than my stick frame design.

One builder I was talking to gave me a copy of a contract he just signed in Jan 2022.

It was a 1200 sq-ft ranch with a 400 sq-ft garage. A simple gable roof along the entire structure, no valleys. Standard forced hot air heat, formica countertops etc. $324,000...

That design would be in the $400k range easy. I'm hoping my Barndo is under $300k price tag.

I did find one plan that I somewhat liked: 94015

Except I wanted to add a basement. I was told it would be around $450k. That's about when I seriously started to design a Barndo.

 

[JasperFrank]

Okay.. Know that you determine what things cost overall. In a time and material situation, you get to pick out what gets bought and used and not the contractor. For instance, a dual tub stainless steel sink is $400 new. Its a stainless steel sink set you can get any day used, for $10 and clean up to look like new in an hour. Modern Style House Plan - 4 Beds 2.5 Baths 2160 Sq/Ft Plan #1064-18 - Houseplans.com

 

[ETD66SS]

Okay... Modern Style House Plan - 4 Beds 2.5 Baths 2160 Sq/Ft Plan #1064-18 - Houseplans.com

I mean, I would just go with my own barndo design then? Also, 2160 sq-ft would crush me in taxes, and for one person that's a lot of living space. But that is similar yes.

Only other house plan out of the 20 years browsing I liked was this one:

Contemporary Style House Plan - 3 Beds 2 Baths 1298 Sq/Ft Plan #312-602 - Houseplans.com

 

[JasperFrank]

There was one called the Duckworth, on this site - long ago, but it seems to have been removed. If I was to do a spec house.... that would have been the plan used. 321-602 looks to be a very solid and usable configuration.

I'm saying, I would not build a Barno for safety and getting older issues. But you could get the Barno into your cost set, if you wanted to. You just have to be the General Contractor and make the materials purchases.