How much is that window with the doggie?

How much is that window with the doggie? Actually, I should say more specifically, how much do the windows you want cost? Along that line, how much do the doors cost? Or shingles, showers or floor coverings?
These all are legitimate questions when you are building a house. They’re legitimate when remodeling, too, as are all the other components that comprise any building project from great to small.
In new home building the inevitable question that arises is “How much does it cost per square foot?” This is a particularly troublesome question whose answer is generally along the lines of “What kind of house?” What’s in the house?” and “How much do you have budgeted?” Which are all, once again, legitimate questions that need answers. Let’s look at an extreme example of two places to be built with the same square footage.
The first is single-story place of 100 square feet, measuring 10 feet wide by 10 feet long. The second is also a single-story of 100 square feet, but it measures 2 feet wide by 50 feet long. The second house will cost far more than the first, because there are more than twice the number of lineal feet of foundation and exterior walls. The first has 40 lineal feet of both while the second has 104 lineal feet of each. Using twice the amount of material will raise the cost of the second house dramatically.
While this shows extremes in all ways, the principal applies to buildings of real proportions and sizes.
There are numerous ways to build a house of a set square-footage. Rounded walls cost more than flat and straight. Two-story houses generally have less foundation costs than ranches of the same living space. How much of the house will have cathedral ceilings as opposed to flat? This one design feature will noticeably affect materials for wall framing and finishing as well as roof and ceiling framing and drywall.
When it comes to things like cabinets, the sky is the limit for quality level and cost factors. This will hold true for pretty much everything from toilets, $150 to $1,500, to showers, which easily can range from $500 to $5,000.
Give yourself and your prospective builder a break when pricing a project. Start with the concept and a plan and talk about specifics. Nail down the details before you start asking for final costs About the House.

Rob Kinsey has been a licensed builder for 30 years and is a home inspector with more than 20 years of experience.