My wife and I are considering a steel home kit to build ourselves. Anyone ever built a kit home? I guess my main questions is, how much more should we expect to spend to finish it? I project about 50% of the cost of the shell as an estimate, not including the slab, basement or whatever holds it all together.

-- Chris Tomlinson (tomlinsonchris@netscape.net), May 09, 2001

Answers

Response to Home kits

Check the archives. This has been discussed at least a couple of times recently (since the first of the year). Have you done a search on the WEB for steel homes? I would think the inside would cost 4 to 5 times the cost of the outside shell.

-- Lynn Goltz (lynngoltz@aol.com), May 09, 2001.

Response to Home kits

I take it that the kit includes the plumbing, electric, heat?? I've never looked into steel homes.

Generally, the foundation is the biggest expense, with the 'arteries' running second. Depending on materials used, the frame and outer walls are a pretty minor expense.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), May 09, 2001.

Check out www.metalbldg.com Click on the button for residences. I dont't know if they sell kits, or build the house for you, but you can get about 1000 sq. feet for about $14,000.

-- John Fritz (aeon30@hotmail.com), May 10, 2001.

We built a house 10 tears ago but it was wood framed. I still have the blueprints and instruction book. We did it oursleves except for the foundation, rough-in plumbing, air-conditiong and heating. My husband did the finish pluming, insulation, roofing, sheet rock and painting.All of that was included along with the cost of the septic, the well was already in and power was hooked up.We paid 19,000 for the land and 34,000 for the house. WE bought our own plumbing fixtures, floor coverings, cabinets as it was cheaper than what they supplied, better quality also as we shopped around. The steel homes are better due to safety issues involing fire, termites, hail. Most companies give you an option of just the shell or finish items. The cost depends on the style you want and sq ft. I will send you a web site this week with more information

-- Sharon Rossiter (slr1217@yahoo.com), June 17, 2001.