Anyone live in a metal "shed"? (house, water heater)

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by GLS

I would like to thank everyone for the valuable info. It's kind of funny. I started this thread about a year ago as part of my retirement planning. After a year of the stock market crash and plummeting home values, now I'll be lucky to save enough money to live in a metal shed.

I have the same problem... a tin shack sounds more inviting every day!

I can deal with my home value dropping, cuz I didn't really lose anything there... but the stock market took my retirement with it.

[AQHA]

Originally Posted by Reziac

... but the stock market took my retirement with it.

That sucks. I saw a lot of people making good money in the 90's but I put my money in real estate. I'm glad I did or I'd be living in my barn.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by AQHA

That sucks. I saw a lot of people making good money in the 90's but I put my money in real estate. I'm glad I did or I'd be living in my barn.

I've had these same stocks since about 1980. Never been anything but steady even when the markets weren't plush. Who knew they'd all make like lemmings??

Tellya, when they do go back up (which they probably will, but not soon) once they get back to where they were, I'm selling and finding something else to put my money into.

Oh, and a lot of people who put their money in real estate in the past 5 years are even worse off. Imagine the poor suckers who bought during the RE frenzy, and now owe 3x or more what their house is worth?!

[adkmtbob]

In Polebridge there is a man who lives in a metal shipping container. His name is Jack. They call him "Jack in the box"

[anr_black]

My brother and sister in law have been living in a machine shed for the past 4 or 5 years. They bought it with the land they wanted--around 80 acres--and planned on building a house there eventually. The previous owners had converted the shed to a home, and after my brother and his family moved in, they liked it so much they decided to scrap the plans for the house. Their "home" is probably 2/3 of the shed. It has regular ceiling heights (not valuted) to conserve heat, with insulalation tacked on above the ceiling, below the shed's roof. All the interior walls are drywall. Heated concrete floor, three beds, two baths, living room, kitchen and laundrey room. From the inside, you would never know it's not a house! The only difference, I guess, is they have patio doors at one end of the LR and a window on the same wall in the kitchen. That's it--no other windows. They heat it with a corn furnace. They live in IL though, so not sure how you would fare in Montana's climate. They have a patio with outdoor fireplace and general garage area for the rest of the space inside the shed. It's actually quite nice!

[AQHA]

Originally Posted by adkmtbob

In Polebridge there is a man who lives in a metal shipping container. His name is Jack. They call him "Jack in the box"

What would they call Jack if he got kicked off that property?

[wahmom]

Hi All,

I know this thread is a little out of date but I found this site by searching for some information about converting a metal building into a home. All of the replies were so good I thought I'd post my question in hopes that someone can help me.

We have a 30X40 existing metal building, on a concrete slab with sewage and water lines and electricity in one corner of the building already, on our land along with a very small cottage type house. We are currently living in the house but would like to convert the metal shop into our home.

I've read all of the wonderful advice about how to insulate it. Currently there is rolled insulation in the ceiling and that's all. The problem is that there are 2 large roll up doors, one on each end of the building.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do with the doors if we convert it? Is it even possible?

If I've done it correctly, I've attached a picture of the building below.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by wahmom

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do with the doors if we convert it? Is it even possible?

I'm sure you could panel over them and insulate it just as if it were a regular wall, or put windows in there if you wish. Or pop the doors out and insert wall panels instead (frame, insulation, etc). If you'll never again need rollup doors (and most houses don't, unless you run a drive-in living room! there's no particular reason to retain them as part of the structure.

[ElkHunter]

Is your building a Regular Gert or Turn Gert?

Regular Gert is 2X6 on the outside of the post laying flat against the post. Regular gert will have odd spacing between gerts.

Turn Gert is 2X6 between the posts laying horizontal.
Turn Gert will have the 2X6 at even 24inch on center.

The reason I ask is because a regular gert building won't hold up to being a home without putting in a lot of money. Where as a turn gert building can be converted very easily.

As to closing up the doors, that shouldn't be a problem. You'll have to put a post in the middle of the opening but it does not need to be a load bareing post. Just something to hold the gerts. Then put your steel on the outside the same way it is on the rest of the building. I'd advise it would be a good place for a picture window. Possibly sliding glass door.

Another thing. Were the posts tamped in with dirt or were the posts set in concrete?

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

The reason I ask is because a regular gert building won't hold up to being a home without putting in a lot of money. Where as a turn gert building can be converted very easily.
Another thing. Were the posts tamped in with dirt or were the posts set in concrete?

Now those are some super good points to remember when putting in a steel building!!

A lot of 'em put in the concrete after the fact, might not be so good for the long haul as a house, where you care if the corners stay square.