That's funny. I thought about shipping crates, they're cheap here but I don't know how heating and cooling in a metal house would go. You'd think there would be condensation issues???

Sawmill homes that were built for sawmill employees. They are a modified slave house with different dimensions.

I suggest dimensions that are multiples of available lumber to reduce waste.

Don't skimp on insulation. Consider 2X6 exterior studs to allow more insulation. Fuel will not likely become cheaper in our lives. Insulation is not where you want to cut corners.

What will be your heat and air conditioning selections?

Wood/coal. I'm hoping if insulated good I won't need AC. If I do, a window unit, no central air.

2x6 is a total waste....use 2x4 and closed cell spray foam...=R21, and sealed TITE..as far as size, 24'x30' is really good...layout as you wish

Hi Catch. That house is what is referred to in the South as a shotgun shack. Hang a window air-conditioner out of the front room window and a satellite dish on the roof and you're good to go.
They can be neat little houses for 2 people. [/quote]
I like that house Catch
But I would do at least a half basement for storms.

I would talk to the utility serving you directly. Talk to the engineer himself not a office person. If your planning on living on a Rural Electric Coop some still run power to a dwelling you're going to live in full time for nothing. You may have to buy the meter loop or underground pedestal depending on if you go overhead meter pole or ug secondary service. You also want to ask price on overhead primary vs underground primary as underground use to be 3 times the cost of overhead. Don't give up as we know everything changes daily.

Whatever design has the least or no hallway space, which is wasted living space. So open living concept for living room/kitchen with bedroom access/doorway off the living room and bath off the kitchen.

I am not a fan of airtight.Especially a smaller place.

If you build one air tight you best invest in carbon monoxide detectors and count on having to draw outside combustion air as well. Some of those shotgun shacks look like a small version of the WW II barracks at Fort Lost in the woods Misery.

I would disagree. Maybe one of the most energy efficient, but not the cheapest. The cost of concrete alone for the floor and side/rear walls makes it less affordable than a stick frame on a slab.

Probably buying a 30x30 pole barn kit from mendard's for $10,000, having it erected for $3,000, and finishing off however many square feet of living space you need would be one of the cheapest and most functional ways to go. Pour a 20x30 slab floor, insulate and frame exterior walls and partition walls for a 600 SF living space, and then still have a 300 SF enclosed shop/garage area. Excluding land cost, you could probably complete this project for $40,000 to $50,000.

ol'dad

Thanks everyone, y'all are awesome! Some great ideas and I appreciate it!

You're welcome.

Shipping crates ain't what they used to be. This was back in the late 70's/early 80's. Crates were all wood, and custom built the machine it enclosed.