California - Cost

This was supposed to be a low cost house, but for numerous reasons it turned out not to be anywhere near that, even though we decided to do most of the finish work ourselves.  First, we're out in the middle of nowhere, and an expensive remote place as well.  Second, the local building codes are not really any more lax than in the city, in fact they're probably more strict than most places in the country since California is a highly regulated state.  Third, we ended up building more square feet than we originally envisioned, and we designed a more complex building as well.

Then there was $15k to "improve" our road, and $25k for a septic system, and another like $15k for well upgrades and utility work--even though I did a bunch of the utility work--there was just a lot of digging involved.  Even when you're careful, costs add up quick.  We did a fully insulated slab and a finished floor, so that's more form work and careful finish work.  We also recessed our windows and door to make it look like a masonry building (which makes framing the windows much more complex), and due to fire reasons and aesthetics, all the exterior exposed wood is 4x6 rafter tails and 2x6 T&G decking. That's a couple of weeks of extra work and quite a bit more added cost.  And so it went on many things.  The final cost is still unknown, but it will end up being in the neighborhood of $275/SF (that includes all the site work costs).

The good news is that at the time I'm writing this we're 3/4 done, and we actually came in right on budget even though we added details as we went.

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Originally, the idea had been to do everything rustic, under the idea that rustic would be lower cost than the polished look that is common in custom construction.  While I still believe that to be true, the effect is not as great as I thought.  Our choice of Mexican rustic further increased costs (although those costs are mostly our labor) because that style is very detailed.  We could have chosen a Ranch or Cabin style, and that would have been cheaper.

It probably should have been obvious that tract homes are cheaper because they use products that are produced on industrial scales.  Alas, these products tend to use the less environmentally friendly ones.  I keep thinking there is a better alternative..

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Although costs were typical for our area of California, they were so high that it violates my idea of being a reproducible model.  Partially this is my fault because my leaning is toward buildings that last a hundred years and have rich detailing.  I'm sure you could build this same house a lot cheaper in other places, and I'm sure you could simplify it a bunch and make it cheaper yet, without sacrificing on the basic "green" features.  I never thought of myself as having "upscale" taste (ie no jet tubs or that sort of thing for me), but then I find other ways to make it expensive, so I guess I have to fess up.

To atone for my sins, someday I want to try to build a passable house for $10k.  That means the materials will have to mostly be salvage, the labor will mostly have to be free, and the house will probably have to be less than 300SF, and the house probably won't meet code requirements.  But I think it can still be safe, warm, dry and inviting enough that even I could afford somewhat more, I'd still be happy living in it.