I purchases a steelmaster barn to construct on my place and then ended up re-locating. Now I have a really big barn and a small house so I plan to put up the steelmaster barn and finish the inside for living. Any ideas, advice or experience?

-- Norah A Johnson (rockinhorse@knoxy.net), August 22, 2001

Answers

Not sure what a steelmaster barn is but I have been a barn dweller before.What we did was build a regular 2 story barn,pole barn style 48'x24' with an attached shed addition 12'x48.Inside we sectioned off 20'x24' and made a 2 bedroom apartment.The building being 2 stories allowed us to put the bedrooms upstairs,and a full galley kitchen,bath and living area downstairs.We lived in it for 2 years while we were restoring the Old house.One thing about it,the heating bills were dirt cheap.It also has a front porch that we still use alot.Infact we are thinking of turning it into a Bed&Breakfast in the future.

-- Steve in Ohio (stevenb@ohiohills.com), August 23, 2001.

To steve in Ohio Although your barn dwelling sounds fantastic and economical the steelmaster building is made of arches that are fastened together in a series. It is erected on two footers the length of the barn and then endwalls are put up.Mine is 25 x 48 so the inside area will be about 1200 sq ft. The sides are straight as are the roof panels but it comes to a curved peak that will be about 12 ft from floor to roof inside. Thanks, It's raining here in Missouri today, yeah!!

-- Norah Johnson (Rockinhorse@knoxy.net), August 23, 2001.

My nephew bought a steelmaster barn and decided to make it into a effiency apartment. He just built the barn and started on the inside putting up 2x4's and in about 2 months he had a 2 bed bath and a half, living room, kitchenette/dining room apartment. He's went on to build his dream house but still rents the steelmaster to help defray the mortage on his brick home. He's told that tale on the building so many times that I feel safe to say if you can look at the steelmaster as the ugly shell You want find it to hard to get creative on the inside "beautyfied" living quarters.

One tip he sends "No skylights" If you want windows put them in the ends like the set-up manual shows.

As far as I can see your 2/3 done with your housing needs.

Good Luck and may the creativity be with you. :o)

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), August 23, 2001.