Does anyone have experience or know someone that has dealt with lofthouse kits, specifically this sight
http://www.shelter-kit.com/lofthouse.html
I haven't heard of them.
Browse their site with caution - I got a warning from McAfee site advisor of a link to a site that tries to hijack your browser. I didn't have or find the problem though.
QuoteMcAfee
shelter-kit.com
Red Verdict Image
When we tested this site we found links to [highlight]agriscape.com[/highlight], which we found breaches browser security on our test PC.
Shelter-kit has been around for years - I have searched their site many times. I sent away for their brochure way before the internet - think I first saw their ad in Fine Homebuilding. Don't know anyone personally who has bought from them but they seem to be a reputable company. Perhaps they should be made aware that their site is not secure Glen. :-/
Jim
That's a possibility - I'll email them. Probably coming from a site they linked to. Nice to know they are OK.
I sent them notice and a link to the McAfee page where they can reply. Note that I didn't ever find the link to Agriscape - maybe it has already been taken care of.
I dont have any problem with the site my browser is Mozilla Firefox
I also use Firefox and that may be why I didn't find the problem - or they may have already gotten rid of the link to the bad site. It was a site that they had a link to that was the real problem. I didn't find it but still had the warning.
Yes, Shelter-Kit has been doing this a long time. As I remember, they put together shell kit house and ship them around the New England area (they are in NH).
They have developed a semi-post and beam system of trusses and standard lumber.
(https://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/jraabe/skit1.jpg)
The free download of the PDF catalog has lots of good ideas for anyone planning a small house as most of the designs will work fine with standard frame construction as well. Shelter-Kit Lofthouse Booklet (http://www.shelter-kit.com/upload/051006.135304.SK_Lofthouse_Catalog.pdf). They have other PDF booklets HERE (http://www.shelter-kit.com/index.html)
(https://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/jraabe/skit2.jpg)
Study the booklet and you will probably know more than I about the system.
I have studied all the documents from the website I was wondering about the price of the Lofthouse 20, $27,855 it includes all materials to construct a 20' x 24' weather tight structure does that seem high?low? about right?
Seems pretty high based on what the Vojacek's did buying materials for their 1 1/2 or 2 story. Seems they were dried in for around $12000 or so. Usually the more things a kit company does for you the more it costs.
Link to Monica Vojacek's and Jimmy Casons comments Monica was Universal 2 story. Jimmy was 2 story 20x40
http://www.countryplans.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1117681155/0
Ok, I know I am paying for the engineering and ease of assembly, no electrical tools required. What would a contractor charge to build such a structure- ballpark, I live in Illinois if it matters. If I compare it to that, I think it would be worth the cost. Thanks
Ball park figures have a lot of latitude but many times on average things the labor runs similar to the cost of the materials.
That's true, although one hopes that some of the labor has been done with a true kit house.
As opposed to something like the First Day cottage. Where you are buying--premium quality--materials, as opposed to pre-cut everythings. A couple of people here have built them. Somewhere between happily and very happily, I think. http://www.firstdaycottage.com/