Posted: 6/24/2017 10:33:03 PM EDT
|
I would like to explore the possibility of building a house. My father and I have the experience and mechanical inclination to be able to build it. However, I would like to get an idea of what materials would cost to build the house. Are there any programs out there that I can use to input a house design or dimensions that will factor in the materials needed and provide me with a quantity of materials so I can do the math based on local material costs?
Edit: I know materials such as carpet/hardwood, kitchen cabinets etc. can affect the price. Primarily, what I am looking for is a way to get a fast and accurate pricing for framing materials, drywall and sub-flooring. I can do the math for plumbing, flooring, cabinets and other materials on my own. |
|
Depends on how you frame it... materials very a lot from one means to another.
I assume you mean framing and are not trying to do electrical, plumbing, or HVAC by yourself... without professional training you could be in for a lot of hurt. Although to be honest, I would not recommend a layman to try and frame a house themselves either. I use a program that cost several thousand dollars to buy, another few thousand to learn, and many many hours to set up with custom assemblies tailored to the way we build. Prior to this, I did take offs by hand using plans and a scaling tool plus a spreadsheet. The only real difference is speed and ease. Honestly if you are unsure of how to perform a take off from plans by hand you will probably get yourself into a lot of heart burn trying to build a house. |
|
Since each store and lumber yard generally has a different price for everything it is very difficult. Plus you can usually get a discount if your nice. If you figure the length of all your walls and use 1 stud per foot you will be close. Depends on what exterior sheathing you are using. Divide floor area by 32 and add 10% for decking. There are so many variables you almost need to sit down and do a detailed take off so you know how many of what you need. You really have no way of knowing how much waste your efforts will produce. I have designed and built a house that was so efficient all the scrap went into the back of a pickup. Others have needed weekly dumpster dumps. Trusses will need to be designed to give you an accurate price.
The short answer is no. If you use a cad program to design the house you still need to input prices. Try getting a price on an ac install. And don't forget the city/ county. They like to do things like charge 25K each for water and sewer taps, plus the cost of the permit. |
|
Quoted:
Call your local lumber company. They have people who do takeoffs for custom/production companies and will do them for free if you purchase materials from them or do them for a reasonable fee if you don't. |
| There are estimating programs out there. I know some builders use them, as I've had them do estimates from my blueprints. OP may also wish to look into pre-fab panel construction. There are several local companies that build panels in their factories and ship a whole building on a couple of flatbed semi-trailers. I've seen programs for estimating panel components. |