Pros/con living in a metal shop.

[free07110]

Planning on buying land at the lake and building 30x60x12 metal shop(steel frame) pole barn style shop. Wanting to make 1100 sqft for living and other for boat and toy storage. Curious what people would recommend from past experience of dos/donts. Spray foam? More insulation? More windows?
Taller ceilings? Any input would help.

I currently have a 30x36 pole barn at home and every year fight bugs and ants due to wood in the ground and they finding places to come in. That’s why I rather do a steel frame on a slab this time and but get the building off the ground with concrete slab.

 

[MattRMagnum]

I'd say start by making sure it's something you can get insured.

I wanted to do similar at my old property (demo existing house, have large stick-built garage with house above it), and while the county was onboard with our plans, my insurance company, and another which I spoke to, said that under their rules, it didn't qualify as a house.

I know the midwest is a bit more laissez faire about such things, but I'd make sure that both the insurance company and county are onboard before you build it.

(and if you've already done all this, then my apologies for thinking you might not have)

 

[sberry]

50% or double the space before you start if you are going to store anything in it. My cousin just built a little pole barn,,, he comes from the burbs where 24x32 is huge but its so tiny.

 

[free07110]

I will double check on insurance. Thanks.

I feel like 1100sqft should be a good size for 3 bed and open living and kitchen. It won’t be a permanent residents, only weekend lake trips so bedrooms just need for sleeping. Under sqft for be for the garage and boat storage.

 

[sberry]

The house is plenty, more than enough, garage too small.

 

[free07110]

Garage will just be for boat storage. This will only be occupied during summer weekends so won’t be the garage all the time. Have all my hobbies in my shop at the house.

 

[tfb]

I understand your issues with insects and wood, and like the durability of steel. However when I planned my build I seriously considered both steel siding and a steel roof, but I couldn't get past the issues of Wi-Fi, satellite, and cell service.


It may seem insignificant now, but everything is going in the wireless direction, and steel structures are not compatible.

 

[My Old Tools]

I did exactly that and lived in it 10 years. I had the red iron frame insulated when it was sheeted. You need a floor plan like a house to get the plumbing and windows placed right. I. built a stud frame inside the metal shell and insulated it like a house. I did everything except the shell myself, wired, plumbed, framed, sheetrock, cabinets, etc. It was a quiet, energy efficient place to live. Inside it was just like any other house. I did add 20 feet to the shop pretty quickly making it 30x80 overall with 1140 sf of living area, 2 bedroom, 1 bath. I sold it on 11 acres for $225,000 a couple of years ago. I hadn't lived in it for over 5 years at that time.

Cell service was 5 bars in mine as I had plenty of windows. Wifi and satellite are just like any other house.

 

[bluegoose972]

You can get really creative with the steel structures. There is one that is close to me that has a large steeped roof with a loft in that area for a play room and the bottom floor has lots of windows looking out over a pretty ravine. Then they had river stone put around the bottom 3 ft all the way around. Definitely a departure from the square box look of a normal metal building. A good building manufacture can give you a design fairly cheaply, so let your imagination run.

 

[free07110]

The loft would be nice for the kids for the weekend trips.

 

[tez929rr]

We built a 30 by 80 steel bulking a few years ago that includes living quarters - 880 sq ft, two bedroom, two full bath apartment. Other than a suspended ceiling, it’s indistinguishable on the inside from typical stick construction. If you plan on keeping vehicles inside the same structure you might need to do something as a vapor barrier. One advantage to the outside looking like a typical steel box is that tax man can’t tell what’s in it (here they can’t come in to the building without permission). We have another 40 by 60 plain steel shop and the two are taxed at exactly the same rate. Here is my thread on the building: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394988

 

[Fix Until Broke]

I'd go a minimum of 16' tall and insulate it like an igloo cooler. Also price it for a 40' width instead of 30' - might not be much more $$.

Consider where/how you will add on to it in the future.

They have cellular antennas that you can mount on the roof and run inside - they will re-broadcast the signals so whatever reception you have outside, you'll have inside. Works for most all signals - tv, radio, cellular, etc. They run ~$800 if I remember for a building this size. Well worth it in my opinion to be able to put steel on the inside/outside and basically never have to do any maintenance.

 

[tomtomgt356]

Consider 16' walls. This will allow you to go 2-story for the living area allowing more space in either living area or garage or a smaller footprint structure.

 

[Cryptic1911]

yeah make it taller and live upstairs

 

[Skunkape]

I have a 30x50x12 and couldn't imagine 1100sf of living quarters... it would eat up all the space. As others have stated, it's cheaper to go up, than out. Have you considered a loft for living quarters?

 

[free07110]

Planning on 30x38 of the shop living quarters. 3 bed, 2 bath. Loft above the bedrooms is the plan. Need to figure out lay out and bedroom size. They will just be for sleeping on the weekends so I feel like I could squeeze them down a bit. I want to make sure I have a big enough area for living room and kitchen as that will be the main hang out inside.

 

[bigdav160]

I think I could live in this one. lol

Listed on our CL for 40k - never erected

 

[NUTTSGT]

How about a porch across the front ? It's nice to sit under if the rain moves in or that you can place an older wood stove under (vent pipe through the roof) for the cooler evenings.

 

[free07110]

Yes a porch will be on there. At least 10ft coverage.

Trying to understand best way to insulate. Plan was get the white foam double bubble stuff they offer on steel building and then on my wall and ceiling stick frame inside I would insulated like a house. Other option is spray foam but really don’t like how spray foam looks in the garage part. If I insulation like stated above would I run into condensation issues or anything? Would I need a vapor barrier and is so on what side of the wall?

 

[Fix Until Broke]

From outside to inside...

Ribbed steel outer surface
Foil faced foam sheet - at least 1/2" thick
Vapor barrier
Steel building
Spray foam full thickness of wall/ceiling
Ribbed steel inner surface

 

[mrpizza]

I live in a 1000 ft sq pole barn house. 10 ft ceilings, 2 bed 1 bath. I dont have space for a third bedroom.

I am going to add a room in the garage and turn the smaller bedroom into a bathroom and walk in closet.

 

[scofo]

I think I could live in this one. lol

Listed on our CL for 40k - never erected

Any other pics or floorplan details on this building?
That looks similar to what I see in my mindseye for a shop/hangout/storm shelter.
The two story side would be set into a hillside for the shelter part.