Saturday, March 10, 2012

Need a Guest House? Consider Steel Buildings

Guest houses used to be far more popular than they are today, but it may be time for them to make a comeback. Pre-fabricated steel buildings bring the cost of a small guest house within easy reach of most homeowners. If you frequently have house guests or are facing the prospect of a long-term “visit” from a parent or adult child, a steel building guest house could make it more fun and easier on everyone concerned.

Couch-surfing has become a way of life for people who tour for a living – and many people in various cities regularly make their couches and spare bedrooms available for visiting poets, musicians and convention goers. Adult kids returning from college can be both annoyed and an annoyance when they try to fit their new grownup ways into the household routine, and older adults are often far more comfortable having an aging parent living nearby without living in the house. Even if your intent is to rent out the room for a little extra income, there are a lot of advantages to basing your guest house project on highly customizable steel buildings.

Getting a Permit Will Likely Be Simpler

If you’re building a residential structure, you’ll will very likely need permits from the city or county before you can start building. When your guest house is a steel building, the permitting process is simpler. The building engineer will work to ensure that your building plans meet all permitting requirements for your local zoning board. And because most steel buildings don’t require a dug foundation, the permitting process generally works more quickly and easily than if you were building a standard building.

Steel Buildings Are Cheaper and Faster

Once you’ve prepared your property for construction, your steel building will go up very quickly. If you contract with a professional, your guest house may go from packed on the pallet to ready-to-finish in the course of a day or two. In most cases, it’s advisable to let a pro tackle the poured foundation, but you can save construction costs by doing the actual construction of a pre-fab steel building kit with your friends or a few neighbors. Even the process of wiring and plubming is easier with steel buildings. Your metal building components can be pre-drilled for electrical conduits and plumbing pipes so your plumber or contractor doesn’t have to do it.

A steel guest house may be more expensive than the typical small steel building, but it will be far less costly than a full addition to your home. If you’re considering adding living space to your property, take a serious look at the advantages offered by steel buildings as free-standing guest houses.

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