Building a custom home can cost $100 a square foot or $350,000 for 3,500 square feet for a modest custom home in a low-cost area; with top-of-the-line materials, the average custom home costs $200-$400 or more a square foot, or $700,000-$1.4 million for 3,500 square feet. A distinctive timber-frame home with soaring ceilings and an open floor plan can cost $150-$325 a square foot, or $300,000-$650,000 for a 2,000-square-foot house.
A modular home (built in a factory then trucked to the building site in sections) starts at $50,000-$60,000 for 800-900 square feet (1-2 bedrooms, 1 bath) not including the cost of the land, foundation or other site work, but can cost $500,000-$1 million for large, customized homes. A rough estimate for a 1,600-square-foot modular home with a modular garage plus permits, utility connections, site prep, foundation, engineering and survey work is $167,500.
Building a garage typically costs about $35-$45 a square foot, or $8,400-$10,800 for a standard single-car garage and $13,300-$17,100 for a two-car garage. A custom outdoor greenhouse with a solid foundation, heating and electricity starts at $10,000-$20,000 for a small structure, but can cost $25,000-$50,000 or more. Installing a pole barn (which can also be used as a garage, workshop or storage facility, as well as an animal barn) can cost $8,000-$50,000 or more depending on size and amenities.
Adding a family room can cost $75-$250 a square foot, or $30,000-$100,000 for a 16'x25' room, depending on complexity, materials and local labor rates. A bedroom addition consisting of 500 square feet of new floor space with two bedrooms and a bathroom can cost $50-$250 or more a square foot, or $25,000-$125,000. Adding a second floor to a house typically costs $100-$300 a square foot, but can be $400-$500 per square foot depending on complexity, quality of materials and local labor rates, or $225,000-$450,000 for 2-3 bedrooms and a bath plus a flight of stairs. Adding a sunroom can cost $10,000-$70,000 or more depending on size; whether it's two-season (no temperature controls) or year-round; and features like a cathedral ceiling or remote-control blinds. Adding a dormer (a horizontal extension of an upper room that extends through a sloping roof) can cost $2,500-$5,000 or more for a dormer the width of a single- or double-wide window, or $5,000-$20,000 or more for a room-size dormer. Additional floor space for a bathroom addition costs about $25,000-$50,000 for a basic 6'x8' bathroom, and goes up depending on complexity, quality of fixtures, number of amenities and local labor rates.
Installing a deck with pressure-treated wood can cost $10-$16 a square foot or $4,000-$6,400 for a flat 20'x20' deck; the same project in redwood or cedar can be $18-$22 a square foot for $7,200-$8,800; and in plastic-wood composite materials it costs about $20 a square foot or $8,000. Rails, steps, benches or overhead arbors all add to the total cost. A 25'x25' multi-level deck with railings and stairs averages $16,000-$25,000 or more, depending on complexity and materials.
Constructing a non-load-bearing interior wall can cost $400-$1,500 for labor and materials for a wall 8' high and 18'-20' long.
Get several estimates. Ask for and contact references; verify that the contractor is properly bonded, insured and licensed.
The Federal Trade Commission lists tips[1] for hiring a home improvement contractor.
Search for local contractors through the National Electrical Contractors Association[2] , the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association[3] or the Timber Frame Business Council[4] .
7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd As they age, members of the Baby Boomer generation don't like to admit that they're senior citizens, but they love getting discounts. It's kind of a quandary, because some of the best deals available are reduced prices for older folks. || Posted October 21 2013
7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget End of the year budgets are tight for everyone, especially in this economy.It's especially hard for the millions of Americans who depend on government programs like food stamps to help make ends meet. || Posted November 11 2013
We have a space of about 120 (15x8) sq ft which can become a den. The space above the den can become an extension to the existing master bed. The roof above the master slopes down and might pose some challenges (we are considering using the extension as a walk in closet).
So we are looking at a net of 240 sq ft. We are hoping the existing perimeter foundation will be sufficient to support the structure.
Can anyone tell us if this project can be done under 25K?
CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.
CostHelper Community
UTI urgent care visit Paid: 147.00 Visit was $135. Antibiotics was $12. Waiting for four hours in the waiting room and the visit was quick... [more]
Spanish Medical Interpreter Paid: 150.00 I worked with SynShyne Services out of Monroe, NC. They were so worth the price! Professional, friendly, accurate, great attitude and always on time. I recieved an itemized report after every contact and a user friendly invoice weekly... [more]
Skin prick allergy test Paid: 573.00 Took my 9 yr. old in after an allergic reaction to eggs. Several panels for nuts, fish & top 8 allergens. Sure enough, egg came up. Got a script for epinephrine and left... [more]