Corn/Grain bin home

[Sasquatch912]

We have an old corn bin we never use no more. Sitting on concrete. Rusting away.

I was wondering what you think about making a tiny home out of it?

Its in a perfect spot. 100' from my shop we're still...building...on.

 

[DaveIRL]

need pics but anything possible

 

[DaveIRL]

 

[73RR]

...what is smaller than 'tiny'.....?

 

[Richard Cranium]

Might be tough to put plumbing into the concrete floor.

 

[Bronson]

I have wanted to do exactly that, I just don't have the grain bin.....

 

[bdbecker]

All kinds of possibilities... guest house, mancave (I hate that term), gazebo... your imagination and budget are the only constraints.

My Dad turned one of our the old corn cribs by our pond into an awesome, screened in gazebo. The crib next to it was taken down and the pad is now an outdoor fire pit area. My folks pretty much live out there during the summer.

 

[Voi]

Saw this done on some TV show recently. I think it was Texas Flip and Move.

Don't think you'll learn much from it but if you have cable might be worth seeing if you can find it on re-run.

 

[Sasquatch912]

Mine could make two floors inside. I'll get some pictures

 

[Sasquatch912]

Here is a picture of it..

 

[AZ Pete]

I agree, it will make a great "tiny house"


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Bronson]

A friend of a friend converted a grain silo in Illinois to a home.

 

[Sasquatch912]

I'm thinking two floors.

Bottom will consist of a small lounge area and kitchen and one bathroom

Top floor will consist of a bedroom and bath/shower.

Will add balcony one top I am thinking....though I've seen most put it on the front of the bin.

Shouldn't cost a lot I am thinking. Insulation, wood framing, wiring, lights.

Probably drill a hole to allow the water lines to run through and septic tank.

I'm going to measure the inside tomorrow and height.

 

[jumbojak]

...what is smaller than 'tiny'.....?

Out.

 

[mcmlvif100]

Check out this one from Houzz website. Lots of pictures showing various details.

http://www.houzz.com/projects/652544/grain-bin-residence

Also, note the island which has a nice Garage Journal vibe.

 

[rburke65]

Of course it's going to cost.......he's building a house. All he has is a big can right now, but THAT would be WAY cool. I'd love a project like that. You would learn to think outside the box, for sure. Front porch down and a balcony up off the bedroom. Spray foam insulation. I'd love it! You could paint the outside like a Penzoil oil can.....or the product of your choice.

 

[Sasquatch912]

So you think spray foam is better than the regular insulation? what brand is best to get then?

 

[58Yeoman]

A friend of a friend converted a grain silo in Illinois to a home.

Does your friend live in Edwards? Or that area?

 

[555]

I'd do it!

 

[padroo]

I had that idea too, I was thinking one of those out of a large diameter silo on some scenic property with a view built partially built into a hillside.. it would have entry from the lower and upper level. The top would be raised up and a cantilever deck would go 360 around the top with either a bedroom or a glassed in room on the third level.

It has been done before I know.

 

[matt_i]

The rusting roof would have to be addressed somehow. Paint or new galvalume-style metal.

Also framers and finishers would need to have good mitersaws. Lots of angles! If you've watched the tiny house episodes I think you'd need to spend a lot of time planning and designing things, either old-school with a drawing board or newer electronic CAD-style. Maximizing the space needs a lot of little details to mesh perfectly.

Is there an electrical service you could move to a panel...or does this drive an entire set of inspections? I would think a heat pump would be needed for comfort at bare minimum, plus typical lights and outlets plus any other appliances you'd add.

Before investing any money I'd try to define the need, who is going to live there and what features do they need? Set a budget and then time to start sketching and planning.

 

[Richard Cranium]

If you do this please post pictures all along the way.

 

[DaveIRL]

think about lighthouses same basic conical shape

 

[cactiki]

Looks a little close to the road,,otherwise sounds like fun.

 

[Sasquatch912]

Looks a little close to the road,,otherwise sounds like fun.

Gonna try to close the road. Not many live on it

 

[NitroGarage]

Buy a protractor

 

[hh76]

I wouldn't expect it to be cheap. Realistically, all you would be avoiding is the cost of exterior cladding, and concrete base. You still need structural components, insulation, plumbing, electrical, roof help, interior finishing, flooring, etc.

Might be easier to take it down carefully, build a good structure, then reassemble the exterior around.

It could be awesome though.

 

[Bronson]

Does your friend live in Edwards? Or that area?

My friend lives near Marine and has a coin store there. I'm not sure where his friend lives that built the silo home, I will ask him.

 

[NoPressure]

Our neighborhood is surrounded by farm land. There are two old grain bins, about the size of the first picture you posted, beside our neighbors across the street. A few years ago they talked the land owner into selling them the small piece of land they are on. Now they use one of them as a shed. Not sure what they're doing with the other.

I think they look really cool. Im hoping we can buy the land that is behind our house someday (they won't sell it right now) and I'd like to build a small one and build a porch off of it.

I'll try to remember to get a picture of my neighbors this afternoon.

 

[kbs2244]

I has been done many times.
From just a metal tent to fancy.

Search you tube for "grain bin homes."

 

[jmarkwolf]

I used to work with a guy that was given a grain silo by a neighbor, 12ft diameter if I remember correctly.

He dismantled it, tile by tile, and re-erected it at his own place, decked it out inside with three floors. There was a ladder inside. Kinda like a single-wide on end.

He and his new wife lived in it while he built their new house.

The "plumbing" was adjacent in the new cinder block barn he had just built.

He was a "techie" type in the Navy in the late 60's. Was going to put a home-brew radio telescope in the top.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I'd do it.

I have been eyeing a neighboring farm that has a 4 or 5 of the concrete tile / metal band type silos abandoned. I've been tempted to ask them if they'd care if I took one for myself. I'm thinking just re-assemble about 2 stories worth for another barn / shed / outbuilding. I know they'll never farm again - the place has been turned into a dog training facility.

 

[kbs2244]

I love the you tube videos where they use those concrete silos for a target practice type demolition.
A great show of just how powerful modern ammo is.

 

[Sasquatch912]

Looks like it 18' wide and 22' or so high.

Here are some pics. Got to kill all the rust.

Cousin left some corn in it one time for awhile and thats where the rust came from.

 

[Bert_]

The County park by me is just about done building two cabins like this they put up new 36' X 7 ring bins and are finishing the inside they have sheetrocked walls, running water, heat and a/c. They are pretty nice but were not cheap. Some of the struggles were getting windows and doors in and sealing them, and there was a lot of time spent framing around the outside walls (circle).

Your 18' bin isn't going to give you much room

 

[LS6 Tommy]

My friend's brother in law converted a chicken coop into a guest house. It came out pretty cool. It's not quite the same, but I say go for it!

Tommy

 

[ambenz]

Some cool ideas out there.....

 

[Sasquatch912]

Well it may not be too big but I might stay in it from time to time. I have no kids. Its just me.

When i do decide to build a house..i guess it can be a guest house or since we lease land for hunting..it can be a place the hunters stat at.

324 sq ft each floor. I can possibly even get away with 3 floors in it.

Im thinking about a round balcony on top.

I can also add on to the side one day if I want a little bigger area.

 

[Bronson]

Does your friend live in Edwards? Or that area?

My friends friend built his silo home 3 miles ne of Marine , Ill.

 

[58Yeoman]

Different person. In/near Edwards is a very tall grain elevator with a set of sliding glass doors maybe 3/4 the way up. Next time I'm in that area, I'll try to get a pic.