Julie Kardatzke Architect, LLC
608.588.7105
  • About
    • Design Philosophy
    • sustainable building
    • MY STORY
  • Portfolio
    • NEW HOMES
    • Additions / Remodels
    • Non-Residential Buildings
  • THE DESIGN PROCESS
    • GETTING STARTED
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • Contact
  • Non-clickable Page

Calculating the True Cost of Construction

1/16/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
One of the most common questions that people have when they are considering building a new home is "What will it cost to build?"  This is not a simple question, and it takes time and work to calculate realistic costs. 

The 2016 annual "Houses" issue of Fine Homebuilding (issue 259) has an excellent article, entitled "Calculating the True Cost of Construction," about home building costs and how they are affected by common upgrades.   The article points out that comparing cost per square foot quotes given by different builders can be misleading if the quotes are not based on detailed drawings.

Starting with a no-frills base price of $110/square foot, which assumes vinyl siding, wall-to-wall carpeting, fiberglass shower units and laminate countertops, author Paul Biebel calculates how different upgrades increase the price.  These upgrades or "premiums" include:
  • Stained vs. painted interior trim
  • Wood siding vs. vinyl siding
  • Hardwood stairs vs. carpeted stairs
  • Porch vs. no porch
  • Solid vs. hollow-core doors
  • Tiled vs. fiberglass shower
  • Accent lighting vs. minimal lighting
  • Garage vs. no garage
  • Semi custom vs. stock cabinets

The article is a real eye-opener regarding the financial effect of different decisions that homeowners make when it comes to designing a new home.  Adding all of the premiums listed above, the price of the no-frills home swells to $181/square foot.  Of course, there are many more decisions that go into a home;  this is just a few of the potential upgrades that will affect the bottom line.  I recommend this article to anyone who is contemplating building a new home.

*Building costs in your area may vary from those calculated in this article.
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Essentials
    Good To Know
    Projects
    Working With An Architect

    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012

Remodeling and Home Design
 © 2015  /  Julie Kardatzke Architect, LLC  /  408 W. Leeson Street, Spring Green, WI  53588   /   608.588.7105  /  julie@jkarchitecture.com
Picture