| If you are going to build your own home and | | | | and utilizing |
| want to get more for | | | | the same foundation walls. If both style homes |
| your money, consider a two story home. There | | | | have a full |
| are major parts of | | | | basement its easy to see that the ranch is going |
| the construction process that can save you | | | | to cost double |
| money over building a | | | | to pour a concrete floor. this cost is usually |
| ranch style home. The three major areas to cut | | | | figured by the |
| costs are | | | | square foot.The third major cost saving phase is |
| excavation, the foundation, and the roof.When | | | | the roof system. A two story |
| excavating for a ranch style home, you are | | | | home has half the roof. This means cutting the |
| digging a hole | | | | amount of lumber |
| for living space all on one floor. Let's say the | | | | in half. If the rafters for this structure are 2x10 |
| square footage | | | | or 2x12, this |
| of this ranch is 2,000 sq. ft. If this house has a | | | | can be quite a savings. Add in for the longer |
| full basement | | | | lumber lengths |
| that's a lot of dirt to be removed to accomodate | | | | needed for steeper pitched roofs like a 10/12 or |
| a foundation. A | | | | 12/12 and the |
| two story home such as a Colonial or Georgian | | | | savings become even more substantial. Also, |
| style with the same | | | | when building this |
| square footage will require half as much | | | | type of home, only half as much plywood is |
| excavation. These style | | | | needed to cover our |
| of homes usually have close to equal the amount | | | | framing. With the rising costs of lumber, this is |
| of square feet on | | | | another good |
| both floors. For this phase of construction a | | | | reason to go with a two story home. The |
| single story home | | | | roofing materials used |
| requires twice the labor and twice the material to | | | | is also affected. Again, only half the materials are |
| be removed for | | | | needed to do |
| the foundation. After backfilling the foundation, | | | | the job. This is another task that is figured by |
| any extra dirt | | | | the square foot.There are many ways to save |
| that can't be spread about the lot, has to be | | | | money when building your own home. |
| hauled away. This | | | | These three parts of constructing a home are |
| could be a sizable burden to your construction | | | | the major ways to |
| budget.The foundation is another place to save | | | | save. If you want more bang for your buck, |
| money on your | | | | consider a two story |
| construction costs. Using the same 2000 sq. ft. | | | | home.(c) Mike Merisko 2006 Merisko has been a |
| house as an | | | | carpenter for 26 years. Most of those years |
| example, footings and foundation walls must be | | | | were spent in the homebuilding and remodeling |
| poured to support | | | | industries. He was also in business as a carpentry |
| 2000 sq. ft. of deck for the living space. A two | | | | and general contractor. While that is his forte, he |
| story would only | | | | also has experience in bridge building, commercial |
| require enough walls and footings for a 1000 | | | | construction, and exhibit building which is how he |
| sq.ft. as the second | | | | earns his living these days. |
| floor would be stacked on top of the first floor | | | | |