Looking for info on building a house

I want to build a small house for my family. Does anyone have any experience with building around a 400 sq ft house or know where some good info on completed examples? I see lots of posts of people in progress on stuff and books about building, but I'm hoping for a real world complete example. How much did it cost? How many people could build it? I want to do it mostly myself. How long did it take?

Thanks.

 

location, location, location.

Techniques and requirements for your survivability depend on location.

this is an interesting concept .. and you can build the shell of your home in less than a day.
Safe T Home

 

400 square feet is a very small house for a family. A typical modern hotel room with 2 queen beds is in the ballpark of 250-300 square feet including bath and closets. You probably will want as open of floor plan as possible to reduce footage being wasted on corridor space to get around and to keep it from feeling too tiny and closed in. Maybe even to the extreme of the only walls being for the bath and a few closets (may slow down the family size expanding :-( ) Ditto comment about checking building codes. The county I live in has very few code restrictions but the next county north has boat loads of requirements including a minimum of 1200 square feet for any new construction.

Don't know the construction materials/methods you have in mind. Concrete with insulated forms is nice for a SHTF shelter but the cost of a pumper will be a little heavy for only 400 sq ft. If you go typical stick (2x4, 2x6) walls consider things that will drive the energy efficiency up. One is on top of the sheathing add a layer of 3/4 inch thick extruded polystyrene with 1x4s nailed flat around the framed window and door openings for a nailing surface. That 3/4 inch makes a big difference because it breaks all the thermal bridges created by the studs to the outside walls. It's like adding 2-3 inches of wall thickness and insulation. Window and door jams need to be 3/4 deeper than typical but Anderson and various firms have lots of thickness options for windows and doors.

Good luck
AT

 

First. Where do you plan on building?

 

Heres some you could finish the inside on.

Side Porch Cabin - Graceland Portable Buildings 888-GRACE-04

You can google "micro homes" small house plans, small homes seem to be the future.

If you don't need permits and a fancy foundation it would be simple to build a 400 sq foot house

 

were r u building it n for how many people

 

Shipping containers?

Shipping Container Homes

Sense and Simplicity: Shipping Container Homes - 6 Inspiring Plans

 

BTW, shipping container homes can beat a lot of code requirments. #1. That of "No used homes to be moved in." #2 Must be at least half walled of no burnable material. But be aware that you need a concrete pad and a lot of insulation. I'd do one of I did not live in what I already built.

 

Down side insulation would eat up living space, hotter than crap or colder than....

 

Insulation of sprayed in foam is space efficent. I used it in the house and will on the Shop when I have more money saved.

 

This will be in Texas. I can't find anything to indicate there are building codes / permits there - it's in the country. It needs to be big enough for 2 adults and two small kids. I think I will do a loft big enough for two rooms. Then most of the main floor is for living/kitchen/bath. Indoor plumbing is a must. I do want to put a little extra effort into energy efficiency.

 

Face the roof to have southern exposure, and you could do well with solar panels.

 

Also check for covenants, "An agreement, contract, or written promise between two individuals that frequently constitutes a pledge to do or refrain from doing something." I hear a lot off complaints about deed restrictions and codes. ME? I'm not likely to be neighborly to sombody who buys the place (anyplace, anytime) next to me and then start a FEED LOT OPERATION. And that folks is a real good reson to insure what you are buying and from whom. Each state varies and some covenants/deed restrictions have different renewel or time limits.

CODES? Well codes are more flexiable than some suggest. In this I mean the codes are there for a reason and do have some adjustment factors if you know what you are doing, and that, for the most part, is to prevent you waking up in the run off from your neighbor's cess pool or worse, your place on fire because he used 14 gauge wire when he should have used 12 gauge and to boot he used a 30 amp breaker. Most areas will let the owner do the work themself if they learn and follow the code. Not a bad deal because this also makes the owner more aware even if they give up and have to have the work hired out. And remember, nothing is covered until the inspector signs off. Inspectors will, let you know if you have screwed up with out doing more than making you do it right, this is my experience. ME? I had the septic done, my way, that with 2 tanks and a y field line. All else I completed and you should have seen the amazement of the inspector when he found all the wiring sized correctly and in proper sized conduit with breakers loaded to only half the requiement. Mice are a real hazard and conduit slows them down a mite.

It does matter what you know and how to do it. Learn the whys and leave the bitchin' to the angry uninformed.

 

Deals like this are all over the place sometimes even free.

1986 14' x 52' mobile home

 

Would go with a used mobile home if only wanting 400 sq. ft. and tight on money--like we all are. Set it up and then build your home at your leisure. Like BT stated---check with your local building code enforcement people. Some are lax but some areas are very stringent and tightly enforced. Best to be on their good side and check first. Most areas still allow owner installs of wiring/plumbing/mech but with professional licensed inspections. Some with only inspectors approval. Find out first before beginning work--then get their name and date of conversation/plans so if they change their codes during the building time you have a "leg to stand on"--not that it will do much good--lol.

 

A co-worker's friend is doing this.
Build Your Own House | Indiegogo
It could be interesting. I have Lamar's ebook on the 14x14ft cabin and I thought about building two of those together. This could be another option. Plus it's also in Texas, even though climate might be a bit different, it's close.

I like the spray insulation, but when I've looked at the cost, it has been insane compared to standard pink stuff.

The woman and I talked about a used mobile home. I've lived in a few when I was a kid and they are all over Texas. She is concerned about getting a used one with problems. And when momma ain't happy.... Would be super cheap and fast though.

 

And temporary. Then resale, when you are done with it.

 

Have any of you bought and sold a mobile home? My concern with it was getting one and not being able to get rid of it. To be worth it, it would have to be cheap. The cheap ones are old and not in great shape. The few family members living on the land would not appreciate it, and probably wouldn't help any of the neighbors like us. It's in an area of older people where not much changes. I could probably get away with a year max before they decide I junked it up.