When you’re planning to build your own home, it’s an enormous undertaking that can be both exciting and tedious. You may have ideas already of what you think you want, but your budget may not always allow for your vision.
Lots of people will tell you that a major point of cost savings can be with the interior and the little add-ons and extras you opt for. But did you know, that when you’re working with a tight budget in mind, you can look for ways to save on costs from the very beginning?
What is the Cheapest Exterior House Style to Build?
The cheapest exterior house style is usually a simple four corners and a single roof pitch. Whether the four corners are of a rectangle or a square is a factor that hinges on square footage: basically, anything over 32 square feet is cheaper as a rectangle shape than as a square. However, a single pitch roof has one slope (or pitch) in one direction only and is cheaper than more complex roofing styles.
If a rectangle home with a single pitched roof doesn’t seem workable with your vision for a house, there are other affordable house designs. Let’s go through the cheapest exterior house designs and get a feel for their characteristics, maybe you can find one that fits for you.
Saltbox House Design
The saltbox house design goes all the way back to 1650 New England. It is aesthetically identifiable mostly by its roof structure that is commonly referred to as a catslide roof.
Features
- You will identify this house design by its unusual pitched rof top which is normally off centered.
- One end of the house usually extends much further down than the other giving it an uneven look.
- Front of the house has two floors compared to back of the house with only one.
- Central Chimney is quite common feature
- The catslide roof of a saltbox house is ideal for climates that regularly receive snow and rain because it won’t sit and settle on for a very long time.
- This roof type is stronger than a gable roof and needs lower maintenance overall.
- Asymmetric look is aesthetically pleasing.
- You can easily have an additional story or half story to your house which will give you more square footage and living space.
- The ceilings of the rooms on your upper floor will have slanted ceilings which may not be to your liking.
- This roof type can be more complicated to construct.
A saltbox house is built with a timber frame, while the show stealer roof can be asphalt or wood shingles.
Center Hall Colonial
Center hall colonial design is also known as a central-passage house.
Features
- The house design is built around a center hallway that leads from the front of the house to the back. This way overall floor plan is closed and not for those who are searching for modern type of home.
- Typically, the hallway is sandwiched by a single room on either side going all the way to the back of the house.
- It often includes brick chimney on either end of the house.
- The house plan itself is very symmetrical with front door placed in the middle.
- It has a distinctly colonial look that feels both stately and homey.
- Center hall colonials are built with brick load bearing walls.
- In their more authentic form we will see wood shingled roofs, wooden gutters, and clapboard or cedar shingles for siding. That can be quite an investment however, and if you’re committed to this style but looking for more affordable options, you can always do asphalt shingles on the roof, vinyl siding, and aluminum gutters.
American Four Square Design
The American four square design was popular in the late 1800s through to the early 1930s. It’s boxy appearance and simple design made it an economically pleasing choice. It seeks to maximize space by growing upwards, less outwards so it is agreeable for a smaller lot.
Features
- Square design, two and a half stories high with four square rooms per story.
- Large front porch
- Lots of windows will give it an open look
- Traditionally an American four square is painted in at least two tones.
- It built with either brick or wooden frame.
Cheaper Building Materials
When you are considering the type of construction materials that will be used to build your home, you might be thinking that there are some alternatives to the standard timber, brick or stone, and concrete building materials. Did you know there are more options out there that may be more affordable?
- Prefabricated Panels
Prefabricated panels are making big changes to the building and construction industry, not only because of the time saved for the workers, but the financial savings for the builders. Prefabricated panels are designed and cut in a factory and then delivered to the building site ready for installation or setup. In addition to being affordable, they can save you money due to having less waste removal on site. Ask your contractor about prefabricated panels and see if they can be a cost saving benefit to you.
- Concrete Sheets
Concrete sheets are prefabricated thereby saving you money in both labor and time. If part of your housing plans include concrete, check to see if concrete sheets can be utilized. They have been a popular building material worldwide for some time and are picking up attention in the U.S. building market as well. They have the advantages of affordability, durability, and are fireproof as well.
- Stone Cladding
Stone cladding just might be the answer to your dreams if you’ve always wanted a stone look but have a building budget that doesn’t allow for the expensive labor and materials cost for stone masonry. Stone cladding works as a finish that is laid over the exterior to give your home a beautiful stone look. It is available in all sorts of designs and colors whether you’re wanting a modern or a traditional look.
- Steel
Steel has long been used for industrial construction but is gaining momentum in residential constructions as well. It’s stronger than wood but not much heavier and won’t warp or rot. Additionally, it’s both fire resistant and termite resistant. Although it costs more than timber, it is considerably more eco-friendly because it is a renewable product that doesn’t drop in quality each time it’s recycled and results in less waste.
