Looking for Ideas- Living Quarters

[AlabamaGuy]

Long time lurker, first time poster.
I've been living in a 35 ft 5th wheel for almost 2 years now. I have had it parked under a 30x40x14 metal "building" that hasn't had sides put on, so basically a giant carport. I'm looking for ideas on my best options to build an apartment and close in the building.

All options revolve around a ~500 sq ft apartment being built inside the shop and a concrete floor being poured.

Option 1: Pull camper out, pour 30x40 slab with roughed in plumbing, close in a side and adjoining end, or 2 sides and back end. Start to build 2 story 16x16 apartment while living in camper parked on opposite side of shop from apartment. This is the best option if I don't run over budget and out of money before apartment is livable.

Option 2: Pour 40x16 pad on side opposite the camper with plumbing roughed in, build apartment to completion, then sell camper and pour the other half of the slab and finish closing in the building to completion.

Option 3: Build apartment on block foundation in back corner of shop, close in one side and one end, sell camper and pour concrete inside building, around apartment foundation blocks, then close in building.

Any thought or pitfalls on these options? I'm much more mechanically inclined than I am in construction. I have people to help me but you normally end up doing most things yourself.

 

[Voi]

My first thought was building on a curb would give you options for the apartment floor. Like a raised subfloor for utility access or maybe tinting the concrete for just the apartment area if you want a slab.

And since you mentioned budget it might be the best way to get the living quarters situated without being too concerned about money.

Before you get stuck with an apartment layout I'd look closely at access to the second story or consider putting the stairs outside the shop or at least outside of the apartment (and inside the shop).

I'm finishing up a 640 square foot cabin with a 100 square foot sleeping loft and stairs can really be awkward in small spaces.

 

[AlabamaGuy]

My first thought was building on a curb would give you options for the apartment floor. Like a raised subfloor for utility access or maybe tinting the concrete for just the apartment area if you want a slab.

And since you mentioned budget it might be the best way to get the living quarters situated without being too concerned about money.

Before you get stuck with an apartment layout I'd look closely at access to the second story or consider putting the stairs outside the shop or at least outside of the apartment (and inside the shop).

I'm finishing up a 640 square foot cabin with a 100 square foot sleeping loft and stairs can really be awkward in small spaces.

Edit: What do you mean by building on a curb?

That's correct, I am doing a ladder entry to second story from inside apartment and exterior staircase from shop. That way if I don't have any business on a ladder I can also get to bed via stairs. I've considered building bottom story at first and sleeping/living down there while I finish the upper level. It'll just be me (28yo) and I don't need a lot, been in a camper for years. Is it going to be a weird interior dynamic to have a block foundation room inside a concrete slab building? I almost feel like it would be worth the money to just go ahead and have the 16x16 laid as a pad with plumbing roughed in. That way it's all uniform.

I would gladly close in the shop completely with a full pad and live in the camper, then build an apartment over time but my camper hangs out the front a few inches. I'm not really looking to go any longer just for that to fit. to close in and insulate 3 sides of the shop and pour a 30x40 floor is going to put me very close to current budget as is. I'm looking for the first step in the process to be around $10,000, then to sell the camper and live in the apartment to pay that debt off, or significantly down. Which brings me back to stick building the room and pouring the remainder in concrete when I sell the camper and move o the apartment.

 

[Voi]

Edit: What do you mean by building on a curb?

Sorry, I was using that interchangeably with building on a layer of block like you mentioned.

Is it going to be a weird interior dynamic to have a block foundation room inside a concrete slab building? I almost feel like it would be worth the money to just go ahead and have the 16x16 laid as a pad with plumbing roughed in. That way it's all uniform.

I don't see why you'd even notice it once wall coverings and everything were up.

If I were in your situation I'd probably want the downstairs of the cabin to be a slab. That was the original plan with our cabin with the slab being stained but part of the cabin ended up being on a cantilevered wooden floor so we just covered everything with flooring to make it look seamless.

I would gladly close in the shop completely with a full pad and live in the camper, then build an apartment over time but my camper hangs out the front a few inches. I'm not really looking to go any longer just for that to fit. to close in and insulate 3 sides of the shop and pour a 30x40 floor is going to put me very close to current budget as is. I'm looking for the first step in the process to be around $10,000, then to sell the camper and live in the apartment to pay that debt off, or significantly down. Which brings me back to stick building the room and pouring the remainder in concrete when I sell the camper and move o the apartment.

Not sure how old your 5th wheel is but keep in mind the depreciation on them is brutal. The quicker you get the apartment done the more money you can get for the camper.

 

[AlabamaGuy]

I could definitely build the apartment right now on a block foundation, and that was my original idea. but closing in those two sides of the building without concrete isn't ideal. I could stick build all 4 walls, but once again I'd be saving money now to spend it later. I guess I'm enamored with the idea of finally having a real shop, and I feel like I'll have the $575 in building materials to stick build two walls and a floor pretty quickly compared to just pouring the slab. I have to option of living with a parent and selling the 5th wheel now but I would really rather stay independent.

 

[Voi]

I could definitely build the apartment right now on a block foundation, and that was my original idea. but closing in those two sides of the building without concrete isn't ideal.

I totally overlooked this. I agree, not ideal.

What kind of building is this exactly? Is it on footings or anything?

 

[AlabamaGuy]

I totally overlooked this. I agree, not ideal.

What kind of building is this exactly? Is it on footings or anything?

No, It's a square tube galvanized frame on 5ft centers with fabricated rafters. Set on compacted level ground with rebar driven into the ground and bolted to the base rail actually holding it down. My idea was to dig footers just inside the bottom rails, and then use 2x6 screwed to the uprights as the concrete form. Let concrete come an inch or so over the base rails and form over them.
Mind you, I have no concrete experience. Any help here would be appreciated.
I plan on digging the end footers where the exterior walls will fall, that way they can be bolted to the slab instead of being covered by it.

 

[Voi]

No, It's a square tube galvanized frame on 5ft centers with fabricated rafters. Set on compacted level ground with rebar driven into the ground and bolted to the base rail actually holding it down. My idea was to dig footers just inside the bottom rails, and then use 2x6 screwed to the uprights as the concrete form. Let concrete come an inch or so over the base rails and form over them.
Mind you, I have no concrete experience. Any help here would be appreciated.
I plan on digging the end footers where the exterior walls will fall, that way they can be bolted to the slab instead of being covered by it.

This is something I have no experience with. I saw a video about converting these types of buildings into cabins but I believe they were attaching the structure to a slab and not pouring a slab around the existing structure.

 

[Wpauley]

May want to start with the county to be sure that they sign off on any plans/Permits.
Septic system and well drilled? City Water? You may already have all of this but it is just a few things to consider.

 

[AlabamaGuy]

May want to start with the county to be sure that they sign off on any plans/Permits.
Septic system and well drilled? City Water? You may already have all of this but it is just a few things to consider.

Luckily I’m in one of the last counties that absolutely no kind of code. I have well water already ran and a septic tank put in. So basically I’m trying to build sometime g that’s going to be safe and last.