Learn me: Pre-fab steel building as a house?

Insurance may be an issue also. Insurers frown on having flammables in your living space.

I am seeing more and more companies that build the metal-sided garages offering houses.  These are more the post and beam type builders though, not totally steel. 

SVreX said:

If you do it, do it because you love it, not because it's cheap. It is unlikely that it will be cheap.

This.

SWMBO and I have been seriously looking into this. I made a budget for building a 40x80 barn/house using a metal building. It wasn't cheap. But we haven't ditched the idea yet.

If you want spend some time getting excited about doing it, go here.

in fact there are a lot of examples of steel buildings as a house and people a satisfied a lot 

poopshovel again said:

We're selling our traditional home and eventually building on the "family farm."

I'll need a shop, and will likely be using the place around the corner that sells and "installs" pre-fab metal buildings.

...which got my wheels turning. The wife and I are very much into modern/funky architecture, versus the "cookie-cutter vinyl-sided" home we're in now.

The idea of no wood (no rotting, no termites, etc,) is very appealing to me, as is a simple design, polished concrete floors, very little maintenance(?) etc. Also, I was shocked by how cheap these things are.

What concerns me: Would we be living in a giant oven that would cost a godzillion dollars to cool in the summer? Any other "unknown variables(?)"

What say you, hive mind? I'll post pics of the design I'm looking at when I have time.

Steel is really effective at transmitting heat. Having spent a couple of summers in the Tonkin Gulf on a steel aircraft carrier.  
If you don't want to spend much for Air conditioning. Build your home out of Foam. 
 
Two ways to do that. SIP's ( Structural  Insulated Panels) or ICF's.  ( Insulated Concrete Forms)   
Both you can build to any shape you wanted. Modern  or Traditional.   
 

Yes there is a slight premium in building that way. But there are real advantages mainly in saving money on cooling and heating.  
 I used both. My house is super efficient.  cooling cost is less than $100 for the whole summer. Neighbors on either side in regular stick built houses spend an average of $300 a month. 
 Heating is more expensive here in the frozen North  where temps often get  to 20 below zero and at least once or twice a year drop to 40 below.   But My house costs about $200 a month less to heat than theirs. 
I have 105 windows in my house to take advantage of the wonderful views.  Without so many windows I could cool my house with a bag of ice a month in the summer and heat it with a small candle in the winter. ( a slight exaggeration) 

Glad the presummed spammer brought this up.

I've been thinking about a metal building for my vehicles and a small home inside.  My thoughts are 60x100 clear span inside. That'll give me a 800 sq ft house, 12 10x20 parking spots, 2 15x20 working areas, and a 20x30 "shop" area.  I currently have 13 vehicles and really only see me getting rid of one, maybe two, of them. 

What besides a metal building can do this?  I think the clear span 60 feet wide pretty much eliminates everything else. 

frenchyd said:

poopshovel again said:

We're selling our traditional home and eventually building on the "family farm."

I'll need a shop, and will likely be using the place around the corner that sells and "installs" pre-fab metal buildings.

...which got my wheels turning. The wife and I are very much into modern/funky architecture, versus the "cookie-cutter vinyl-sided" home we're in now.

The idea of no wood (no rotting, no termites, etc,) is very appealing to me, as is a simple design, polished concrete floors, very little maintenance(?) etc. Also, I was shocked by how cheap these things are.

What concerns me: Would we be living in a giant oven that would cost a godzillion dollars to cool in the summer? Any other "unknown variables(?)"

What say you, hive mind? I'll post pics of the design I'm looking at when I have time.

Steel is really effective at transmitting heat. Having spent a couple of summers in the Tonkin Gulf on a steel aircraft carrier.  
If you don't want to spend much for Air conditioning. Build your home out of Foam. 
 
Two ways to do that. SIP's ( Structural  Insulated Panels) or ICF's.  ( Insulated Concrete Forms)   
Both you can build to any shape you wanted. Modern  or Traditional.   
 

Yes there is a slight premium in building that way. But there are real advantages mainly in saving money on cooling and heating.  
 I used both my house is super efficient cooling cost is less than $100 for the whole summer. Neighbors on either side in regular stick built houses spend an average of $300 a month. 
 Heating is more expensive here in the frozen North  where temps often get  to 20 below zero and at least once or twice a year drop to 40 below.   But My house costs about $200 a month less to heat than theirs. 
I have 105 windows in my house to take advantage of the wonderful views.  Without so many windows I could cool my house with a bag of ice a month in the summer and heat it with a small candle in the winter. ( a slight exaggeration) 

Frenchy, there is a house made of polyurethane foam out near Minnetrista, google “enscultptic” it should come up. Was built in the late 60’s. I doubt that’s the type of foam you are talking about but it does make me wonder why foam isn’t utilized more. Surprisingly mobile aka manufactured houses, at least the ones here in the north, have been using foam insulation more than traditional stick built structures. That baffles me. 

Another form of building that is arguably pretty efficient for heating and cooling here in the north, is earth bermed houses. My parents looked into this very seriously in the early 80’s and did a bunch of research then. I’m pretty certain they would have built one if a little thing like a divorce didn’t get in the way.

drainoil said:

frenchyd said:

poopshovel again said:

We're selling our traditional home and eventually building on the "family farm."

I'll need a shop, and will likely be using the place around the corner that sells and "installs" pre-fab metal buildings.

...which got my wheels turning. The wife and I are very much into modern/funky architecture, versus the "cookie-cutter vinyl-sided" home we're in now.

The idea of no wood (no rotting, no termites, etc,) is very appealing to me, as is a simple design, polished concrete floors, very little maintenance(?) etc. Also, I was shocked by how cheap these things are.

What concerns me: Would we be living in a giant oven that would cost a godzillion dollars to cool in the summer? Any other "unknown variables(?)"

What say you, hive mind? I'll post pics of the design I'm looking at when I have time.

Steel is really effective at transmitting heat. Having spent a couple of summers in the Tonkin Gulf on a steel aircraft carrier.  
If you don't want to spend much for Air conditioning. Build your home out of Foam. 
 
Two ways to do that. SIP's ( Structural  Insulated Panels) or ICF's.  ( Insulated Concrete Forms)   
Both you can build to any shape you wanted. Modern  or Traditional.   
 

Yes there is a slight premium in building that way. But there are real advantages mainly in saving money on cooling and heating.  
 I used both my house is super efficient cooling cost is less than $100 for the whole summer. Neighbors on either side in regular stick built houses spend an average of $300 a month. 
 Heating is more expensive here in the frozen North  where temps often get  to 20 below zero and at least once or twice a year drop to 40 below.   But My house costs about $200 a month less to heat than theirs. 
I have 105 windows in my house to take advantage of the wonderful views.  Without so many windows I could cool my house with a bag of ice a month in the summer and heat it with a small candle in the winter. ( a slight exaggeration) 

Frenchy, there is a house made of polyurethane foam out near Minnetrista, google “enscultptic” it should come up. Was built in the late 60’s. I doubt that’s the type of foam you are talking about but it does make me wonder why foam isn’t utilized more. Surprisingly mobile aka manufactured houses, at least the ones here in the north, have been using foam insulation more than traditional stick built structures. That baffles me. 

Another form of building that is arguably pretty efficient for heating and cooling here in the north, is earth bermed houses. My parents looked into this very seriously in the early 80’s and did a bunch of research then. I’m pretty certain they would have built one if a little thing like a divorce didn’t get in the way.

I remember seeing that home once.  I should explain the foam needs protection.  With SIP's it has plywood on the inside and outside of the foam. You can put siding on it directly or do as I did which is frame it between timbers.  White oak and Black walnut are both very high in tannins and decay resistant.  

ICF's you can screw sheetrock directly to it on the inside. For the outside apply a coating of "Stucco" , siding can be screwed on, or use masonry ( bricks and or stone)  

My walls I have a R 30 rating with borax in it for protection from insects and rodents.  The ceiling I have an R 50 rating and since there is no thermal bridging like normal construction  that's a net rating not a gross. 

I didn't read every entry, so, sorry if I am repeating something already said, but as someone who seriously considered this at one point, here you go:

Getting a loan on anything other than a stick built home can be a nightmare.

Wanna build a storage container house? You better own the land free and clear, as well as be able to pay for the whole house without a loan. 

Wanna build one of those cool modern prefab metal houses? Your bank will classify it as a trailer.

All this kind of stuff also stifles your ability to sell for the same reasons. Banks.

My rant is over. I hope this helps someone, and I feel your pain. 

I'm glad this got spammed to the top as well!

We're getting close to building (stick,) and the new dilemma is: We'll also be building our new shop on the property.

Option A: (Preferred...I think?) Build Ranch home to eliminate stairs (I plan on dying in this house...fingers-crossed, preferably as an old berkeleyer who doesn't need to fool around with stairs.)

Option B: Likely way more cost effective - Have a finished basement for shop with separate driveway & roll up door.

I need to start a new thread....

In reply to poopshovel again :

The space underneath can be unfinished, Then finished as budget and time allows. you're right in that space works efficiently. Anything under 5 feet you are in the 55 degree year around temp zone.  Assuming you have 2000 sq ft your shop will be 2000 sq ft. Now maybe if you are planning a smaller house you can put your deck over part of your shop space.  
Using a slopped hillside you can save on the digging costs and the price of land. 

The space can’t be fully unfinished. You will need a 1 hr fire rated ceiling. 

In reply to frenchyd :

It is sloped, so yeah, it's kinda the perfect setup. Will need to be completely finished out, climate controlled, etc, as we're handling fine art.

*perfect except I'd like the shop separate from the house, but that's separate foundation, HVAC, plumbing, etc etc etc

In reply to poopshovel again :
My house is on a slopped lot. The shop underneath the house above. The house is completely separated from the shop. I can play music and weld or paint without bothering them above. 

I’d never want my shop attached to the house. 

First, you absolutely want a ranch. At minimum, if it isn’t a ranch, you want 2 bedrooms and 2 toilets at a minimum on the first floor as well as laundry on the first floor. 

Second, my parents ranch has an attached 2 car garage and a detached 30x50ish shop. Detached is nice. Attached is nice. Do both. Seriously. Cheaper now than it will ever be. 

Third, in your shop you’ll want enough outlets that people think you’re running a grow shop. We think that was what the guy my parents bought there house from was doing in the shop when he built it. Even though everything is going to battery power, it’s insane how much use we get out of all the different outlets. 

I am curious about something related to this.  Let's say you have nastier hobbies than just twisting wrenches or even welding.  Think auto body and paint.

How would you create a vapor-proof barrier between the two uses?  Really good ventilation in the 'nasty' side and likely no passage doors between the living and work spaces for a start?

What else?

In reply to SVreX :

Some places you have no choice. Either attached or no shop. 
You isolate one from the other. while there is some venting going through it's completely sealed. The shop has a separate HVAC as well as through ventilation ( boathouse doors on the lake side, garage doors on the street side. ) 
That's the only area where coordination is required. In the summer if I'm doing say Fiberglas work I need to make sure the windows are all closed above before making a stink below. 

CJ said:

I am curious about something related to this.  Let's say you have nastier hobbies than just twisting wrenches or even welding.  Think auto body and paint.

How would you create a vapor-proof barrier between the two uses?  Really good ventilation in the 'nasty' side and likely no passage doors between the living and work spaces for a start?

What else?

Clearly I need access doors but they are well sealed fire doors between shop space and entrance to living spaces. 
I also have separate toilet facilities between shop and living spaces as well as floor drains so cars can have road salt washed off in the winter.  

CJ said:

I am curious about something related to this.  Let's say you have nastier hobbies than just twisting wrenches or even welding.  Think auto body and paint.

How would you create a vapor-proof barrier between the two uses?  Really good ventilation in the 'nasty' side and likely no passage doors between the living and work spaces for a start?

What else?

Attention to pressurized air flow.  You generally want your "nasty" space to be under negative pressure (exhaust fans) to the areas you want to keep bad air away from, typically with at least one room in between that serves as an air-lock.  However, depending on the ambient temps, this can get expensive on the energy side as you are pumping out conditioned (heat or A/C) air.  

If the budget can fit it, definitely do a detached shop. I love mine, 100 or so steps out the back door, far enough away that I can crank the music, run the impact wrench, and spray brake cleaner and not bother anybody but myself but close enough that I can pop in and out in just a minute's walk. A basement shop seems like the worst of both worlds, no way you're grinding on metal or cutting up a car at 2am without bothering somebody. At least it's close, warm, and a shop vs no shop, but otherwise no thanks.

Poopy, "Shop" can mean different things to different people. You mentioned "fine art", which knowing you I would assume involves betting on when a cat takes a E36 M3 and how long before your hired monkey takes said E36 M3 and throws it against a wall, but I could be mistaken. 

So what would be going on in your shop? E36 M3 flinging? Welding? Framing and matting?

dculberson said:

If the budget can fit it, definitely do a detached shop. I love mine, 100 or so steps out the back door, far enough away that I can crank the music, run the impact wrench, and spray brake cleaner and not bother anybody but myself but close enough that I can pop in and out in just a minute's walk. A basement shop seems like the worst of both worlds, no way you're grinding on metal or cutting up a car at 2am without bothering somebody. At least it's close, warm, and a shop vs no shop, but otherwise no thanks.

Depends on how your house is laid out and what sound attenuation you have.  I love the fact that my tools are one flight down and in sub zero temps I can wear my stocking feet or slippers  to go down there and work. 
My floors are 3 & 3/4 inch of solid hardwood.  followed by in floor radiant heat and then an inch of foam followed by 8 inches of insulation. 
That's the main floor, another floor ( built the same way)  up to the bedroom floor.  
The Art studio is above that but separated by 10 inches of foam and two 1/2 inch plywood.  Plus sheet rock. 
You can scream at the top of your lungs and not be heard 1 or two floors up.  ( I've tried it ) 

In reply to frenchyd :

I’ve been in construction for 42 years, and built in several countries. Frenchy, I’ve never seen a house as overbuilt as yours. That’s a bit of a compliment. 

Having said that, since there are very few houses built like yours, your house is not a good example. Sound and dust will absolutely travel through a normal house. 

Its also a big fire risk. I don’t want my children sleeping in the same structure I weld in, or make sawdust in without adequate fire resistance. In my opinion, adequate fire resistance can NOT be achieved in wood framed structures using residential construction techniques. 

In reply to mtn :

Poopy owns a custom frame shop. Fine art meant fine art.