Anyone live in a steel home?

[makenzie71]

We're considering buying a trailer house but, as someone who's lived in several, I'm afraid of buying a new one for fear of what it'll be worth and like in 20 years.  Houses in our area are thin and the available homes aren't anywhere near large enough for what we need.  We considered modular type homes where they build eveything somewhere else and then ship it all in, but the quality of work in them isn't up to what I think is par for cost.

I'm considering an all steel home because the cost per square foot is actually lower than a mobil home.  We can get a 45X65 steel building with a 50 year warranty on all the material for $15,000 including a slab/servicespace.  If we bargain-buy all the interior construction materials, we can build the inside up for less than $45,000, or we can just get everything at like lowes/home depot for closer to $60,000...either way we end up with the home we want, around 2500sq/ft, for $60~75k.  The mobil homes we want in this range are $85~105k.

Thing is I've never lived in, built, or worked on a steel home, so I don't know if there are any problems they're prone to or anything.  So does anyone here have experience with them?

[Dwn4whadever]

Its all about what you want, and the area you live in. When we started looking for house we thought about a trailor. You get alot more house for the money. Then we looked into Modulars which was a bit more but it was stick build and would still do ok if we every decide to sell. Now with the trailor. You can get a huge/nice one for alot less then a real house but it all depends on if you dont mind it dropping in value.  . When it all comes down to it do what you gotta do. If the trailor is more practical due to size and price i say go for it.

[The Buddha]

There is a company that turns the shipping containers into houses. Check that out, I dont remember the exact links. but even Bob Vila had a show on it. You can do it yourself too I think.
Cool.
Srinath.

[makenzie71]

YEah srinath I saw that bit with Vila...I actually want to get a few 40' containers and make my super-garage out of them haha.

It's not a matter of which is practical.  A trailer is practical now, but in 15 years it's not.  By the time it's paid off, it'll be nearly worthless.  this is why I want to build a home instead of buying a modular/trailer...primarily for the plumbing.  Everytime you get a trailer's floor wet, it melts a little.

[Crucialval]

Trailers are like cars they are worth less evey day.

Modular homes are almost real homes and there value goes up. If you but one on your land you will make the most equity. For example I've seen people buy modulars for around 125k and put them on there own property and it apraised for 300K with land scaping. and finishing the upstairs.

  Stick build houses are always the best bet as far as long term value.

With the way reality is going around here, I'm planning on getting a modular by the end of the year, and then renting my current home.

[Jughead]

Yes a Stick Built House is the way to go.For the $100,000 one casts nowyou can Buy,rent,Borrow ETC. a Camping Trailer to live in while Building a House and still have Less than 1/2 in it while still having a Sturdier,Nicer House than what you will get with a Mobile/Double Wide Home.That is if you do the Work yourself.If you have to get a Contractor the Price will Double and you still don't know what you are Getting Completely.
Being a Carpenter/Handyman by trade I always Pick Houses Apart to find whats wrong with them.My Cousin and her Family Moved back from NC back in the Fall and Instead of Living in a house that She Owned and Fix it up a Little she went in Debt $100,000 for a New Double Wide.When they Delivered it I made the Mistake of Picking out the Faults in Front of Her. It still hasn't got any Guttering or Pillars Under the Sliding Glass Windows and the Siding is Waaaaaaaavy.In the $108,000 final Price they still had to call in a Plumber to hook up the Water and Sewer,Hook up all of the Phone Lines and do the Final Grading around it to keep the water from running underneath.

[makenzie71]

That's one of the reasons I'm wanting to avoid a trailer...I can build a bigger home on a real foundation for less money.  I can do the work myself and I do have two other experienced men who can help so it's not going to be too time consuming...if we got on the ball I estimate like 4 months to make it live-in-able.

Plus, after I was gone for the weekend, I come home to find an inch of water in my house.  Water line slipped off a fitting at the water heater because they don't do real plumbing in trailer houses...they putting these puss ass clamps on that wiggle off over time.  Anyone want to guess what happens to trailer house floors when they get wet?  They melt.

I'm not familiar with the "stick built" term...I'll look that up.~found it...a made on site home.  That's what I want.

So...as for the original question...any experienc with metal homes?

[Susuki_Jah]

MAK building a steel home is the way to go. all to many times people over look how much better a steel home really is. they last longer and are built better. with the new building codes and material that they use in conventional houses these days , they will only last 15-20 years without major repair. you get a steel home and you are set. look at how long steel buildings last!

here in VA when I have a house built it will be a steel home.  not a pre-fab though. Im doing the drafting and design myself. but its so much cheeper to build.  and talk about garage add ons.... HECK YEA

[makenzie71]

I hate all the pre-fabs.  One of the reasons I like the idea of building my own is to get bigger bedrooms...especially a bigger master bed/bath...but all the pre-fabs, even on 2500 sq ft plans, the bedrooms are all tiny.  I can see a nursery being 10X10 but what kind of teenager can deal with that?

[Susuki_Jah]

I hate all the pre-fabs.  One of the reasons I like the idea of building my own is to get bigger bedrooms...especially a bigger master bed/bath...but all the pre-fabs, even on 2500 sq ft plans, the bedrooms are all tiny.  I can see a nursery being 10X10 but what kind of teenager can deal with that?

another good thing about a steel home in TX is the dry air. talk about lasting forever.  its crazy that it cost more to build a cheeper house these days and less to build a better house.

[Gisser]

A steel home?   Do you mean steel siding--like a commercial warehouse?  I've seen steel roofs on residential houses; they ain't too pretty but should hold up well.  If you don't like painting you could do a stick-built with aluminum siding, I suppose.    Seriously, what's the diff? 

[makenzie71]

The difference is that the entire supporting structure is made of steel.  It's stronger, cheaper, more resistant to the weather, and easier to assemble.  You can build a 45 X 65 steel building for less than $15,000, including a 24" slab.  All you have to do from there is build the inside.  As said I'm looking at building a 2500+ sq ft home and I'll be able to do it for under $70,000 and it'll last forever.  Also, as Susuki said, after it's built, it'll triple in value.

[RVertigo]

I lived in a VW bus with two other people for a while...

That's made out of steel.   

[Susuki_Jah]

I lived in a VW bus with two other people for a while...

That's made out of steel.   

did you really now? lol freeken hippie

[natedawg120]

yeah anything with a foundation is better than a trailor, they depreciate like cars.  I hope to get a house to move into after my lease is up august after next.

[The Buddha]

A steel building ... OK how does it pass code, as a house or a shop type of thing. Also how would you insulate it Inquiring minds want to build one of them freaking things and live in it ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Susuki_Jah]

A steel building ... OK how does it pass code, as a house or a shop type of thing. Also how would you insulate it Inquiring minds want to build one of them freaking things and live in it ...
Cool.
Srinath.

http://www.kodiaksteelhomes.com/index.aspx

build it just like a wood house but with real materials not all that fake wood crap they build houses out of these days .

[makenzie71]

Yeah srinath...it gets insulated just like a wood home.  The insides are finnished like other homes...drywall and all that.  The only thing about a steel home that's really different is that the outside walls are the only load bearing walls and the entire exterior and supporting structure is made out of steel.

[The Buddha]

I managed to google and find that Kodiak site.
Now I'd need a contractor to build one right. I mean its as complicated as a regular house.
Maybe I should call them tommorow. They had a plan that my wife thought will be good too.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Kasumi]

You goin into prison mate? Steel home and all?


I like modulars, there is a company in germany (can't recall name at the moment) but they were on a program called Grand designs. They built the walls of the house and the roof including electric, plumbing, windows with glass, all already installed. It took a day for them to put the whole house together. Just basically stood the walls up, bolted them together and dropped the roof on done and dusted. Then you just put in the fixtures and fittings, they even came with painted walls etc...

Fantastic to watch it done.