Cost of Building?
Hello- I’m looking at an empty lot in a brownstone neighborhood. There is an existing foundation that is probably usable. I know that it varies COMPLETELY, but what is a general, ballpark figure or range for what it could cost to build a 3 story 20×40 home? Think middle of the line- not cheap or…
Hello- I’m looking at an empty lot in a brownstone neighborhood. There is an existing foundation that is probably usable. I know that it varies COMPLETELY, but what is a general, ballpark figure or range for what it could cost to build a 3 story 20×40 home? Think middle of the line- not cheap or shoddy, but not top of the line either. The design will be modern in style. It is not landmarked. I want a soup2nuts cost- architect, permits, GC, materials, etc. I know this is a strange question because of HOW MUCH it can vary, but just a general idea would help me get started. THANKS!
I’ve been in negotiations with a number of fabricators. The catch is that it’s got to be 1 or 2 family, or 1 or 2 stories, to qualify for the state code override that allows the fabricator to build in wood and have the units approved in the factory by the state. If you can qualify for that, then you’re talking $85 a foot for a basic finished product. Add to that some bells and whistles like tankless water heaters, radiant floor, and added insulation, and you’re up to the $100 mark. Of course that does not include the foundation, nor does it include shipping and crane. These latter two can add up to around $20,000 – $25,000.
The price savings is definitely there, as is the quality. In fact, the quality tends to be on par, if not better than site built as it’s all built in a controlled environment with no exposure to the elements. No studs or plywood sitting in the rain, no piles of sheetrock soaking up ambient moisture.
But the real savings comes in the time factor. Building the house in a factory at the same time you’re doing the foundation on site allows you to have the house delivered within weeks of completing the foundation, saving at least 6-8 months of rent or mortgage on the place you’re living during the construction.
Jim, I would rally like to see a $100 a foot pre-fab in Brooklyn. Really I would, can you direct me to one. I’ve priced it out in the past, about three years ago and did not find any significant savings for a good quality building, very few manufacturer would deliver to NYC and there were NY code complications. I’m all for it. Well done pre-fab is great, especially SIP panels.
As an architect, the number I generally hear from contractors is around $200 per foot for pretty basic stuff. I’ve even got one guy doing a new, two-family, 4,000 sf house with radiant floor heat, central a/c, quality windows, and a planted roof, all for about $180, but he was pretty hungry for the job at the time he made the deal. So figure at least 450k as OldManSam posted, and going up from there.
Whenever I do these numbers they strike me as very high, but that’s where they end up coming in.
Now, there’s another option. One that I mention to all my clients interested in new construction or additions. Pre-fab. Imagine being able to truck in a whole floor at a time. Imagine stacking those floors in just one or two days, going from foundation to 85% complete in less than one week.
One advantage of pre-fab is that we can build a completely custom designed home off-site, while the contractor is doing the foundation. The whole house could be built in as little as 6 weeks and be ready the day the foundations are complete and the rough utilities are run.
The other is of course cost. We spoke about $200 minimum costs. Cut that in half. That’s what custom manufactured homes cost.
Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Urban Pioneering Architecture
2400 sf new construction ballpark 300-350 sf including architecture…$720,000-$860,000
About 450K – 650K