All materials, infrastructure, and strategic contractor help
Cost Per Square Foot
$60/ft²
1,776 ft² total living space
DIY Labor Savings
~$85,000
Compared to full contractor build
🏗️Foundation Systems
$15,300
Item
Quantity
Unit Cost
Total
Sonotube Forms (12"×48")
44 tubes
$25/each
$1,100
Concrete (80lb bags)
240 bags
$8/bag
$1,920
Rebar (1/2" × 10')
88 pieces
$8/each
$704
Pressure-Treated Beams
Various
-
$2,250
Floor Joists & Rim Boards
Per building
-
$3,860
3/4" OSB Subfloor
72 sheets
$30/sheet
$2,160
Post Bases & Hardware
44 sets
$15/each
$660
Octagonal Deck Materials
~400 sq ft
$10.70/sq ft
$4,276
💰 Foundation Cost Reduction Strategies
Buy concrete in bulk (ready-mix truck) for 30% savings if pouring all piers at once
Use reclaimed telephone poles instead of pressure-treated beams (save $800-1,200)
Mix concrete yourself with rented mixer and bulk portland cement (save $600)
Delay octagonal deck to Phase 4 (defer $4,276)
Use gravel pads instead of poured piers for storage buildings (save $500/building)
Budget Alternative
Concrete blocks + treated lumber beams
$15,300 → $8,900
Save $6,400
Premium Upgrade
Engineered helical piers + steel I-beams
$15,300 → $24,500
+$9,200
🏠Arched Cabin Kits
$36,000
Building
Size
Kit Cost
Shipping
Main House
24' × 32' (768 sq ft)
$15,000
Included
Cabin 1
14' × 24' (336 sq ft)
$7,000
Included
Cabin 2
14' × 24' (336 sq ft)
$7,000
Included
Cabin 3
14' × 24' (336 sq ft)
$7,000
Included
Kit Components Included:
• Curved steel ribs (2×2" tubing)
• Ridge beam & base plates
• Metal roof sheeting
• R33.6 insulation package
• All fasteners & hardware
• Ridge cap & closure strips
Ordering Timeline: Order kits 6-8 weeks before each build phase. Arched Cabins LLC typically delivers within 4-6 weeks. Consider ordering during winter for spring delivery to lock in prices.
🔨Interior Finishing
$16,000
Category
Main House
Per Cabin
Total (4 buildings)
Furring Strips (1×4)
$200
$150
$650
Electrical Materials
$800
$500
$2,300
PEX Plumbing
$600
$300
$1,500
Drywall & Supplies
$1,000
$600
$2,800
Interior Doors
$400
$200
$1,000
Vinyl Plank Flooring
$1,200
$600
$3,000
End Wall Framing
$1,000
$800
$3,400
Windows & Doors
$500
$400
$1,700
💰 Interior Finishing Savings
Use reclaimed wood for interior walls instead of drywall (save $1,000, add character)
Buy electrical wire in 1000' spools vs. 250' rolls (save 40%)
Install click-lock laminate instead of vinyl plank (save $800)
Source windows/doors from Habitat ReStore (save 60-80%)
Use barn doors instead of traditional interior doors (save $400)
Buy contractor packs of outlets/switches (save $200)
⚡Infrastructure Systems
$28,000
System
Components
DIY Cost
Contractor Cost
Water Well (200ft)
Drilling, pump, pressure tank
N/A - Requires licensed driller
$10,500
Septic System
1500gal tank, drain field
$3,500 (DIY excavation)
$5,000
Solar Power (5kW)
16 panels, inverter, batteries
$12,500
$18,000
Composting Toilets Option
4 Nature's Head units vs. septic
$5,000 → $4,800
Save permits/hassle
Generator Start
7.5kW generator vs. solar initially
$12,500 → $1,800
Defer $10,700
Rainwater Collection
5,000gal system vs. deep well
$10,500 → $3,500
Save $7,000*
⚠️ Critical Infrastructure Notes
Well depth in San Luis Valley typically 150-250ft due to water table. Septic requires percolation test. Solar must handle -20°F temperatures. Consider propane backup for heating/cooking.
📅Phased Budget Approach
$106,500 over 3 years
Phase
Scope
Cost
Cumulative
1
Main house foundation + shell + well
$38,500
$38,500
2
Main house interior + septic + Cabin 1
$27,000
$65,500
3
Solar + Cabin 2
$18,500
$84,000
4
Cabin 3 + octagonal deck
$22,500
$106,500
📦Recommended Suppliers
San Luis Valley Area:
• Alamosa Lumber & Supply - Best prices on treated lumber
• Valley Concrete - Bulk concrete delivery
• San Luis Valley REC - Electrical supplies
• Pueblo Steel - I-beams and metal materials
Online/National:
• Wholesale Solar - DIY solar packages
• SupplyHouse.com - PEX plumbing bulk
• BuildDirect - Flooring materials
• Granger - Electrical/industrial supplies
🔥Extreme Budget Version
$68,000
Major Cost Reductions:
Start with just main house + 1 cabin ($22,000 kit savings)
Composting toilets instead of septic ($5,000 savings)
Generator power initially ($10,700 savings)
Concrete block foundation ($6,400 savings)
Skip octagonal deck initially ($4,276 savings)
Basic interior finishes only ($3,000 savings)
Rainwater collection vs. well ($7,000 savings)
Salvaged windows/doors ($1,200 savings)
Minimum Viable Compound: Main house + 1 cabin with basic infrastructure. Add remaining cabins as funds allow. This approach gets you on-site and living for under $70k.
🛒Smart Material Sourcing
Timing Your Purchases:
Buy lumber in winter (January-February) when prices drop 15-20%
Order concrete supplies in bulk for all foundations at once
Purchase electrical/plumbing during Black Friday sales (save 30%)
Buy insulation in summer when demand is low
Join contractor buying groups for wholesale pricing
Alternative Sources:
Habitat for Humanity ReStore - windows, doors, fixtures (60-80% off)
Government auctions - solar panels, batteries from upgrades
Ranch/farm auctions - lumber, metal roofing, tools
Facebook Marketplace - construction overstock materials
Direct from manufacturers - skip retailer markup (25% savings)
⚠️Hidden Costs to Budget For
~$8,000-12,000
Item
Estimated Cost
Notes
Travel Expenses (8 trips)
$4,000
Flights, car rental, lodging Year 1
Tool Purchases/Rentals
$2,000
Beyond basic tools listed
Permits & Inspections
$1,500
Building, electrical, septic
Delivery Fees
$1,000
Remote location surcharges
Site Prep Unexpected
$1,500
Rock removal, access road
Weather Delays
$1,000
Extended trip costs
Material Price Inflation
$2,000
3-year project timeline
💼DIY vs. Contractor Cost Analysis
Task
DIY Cost
Contractor Cost
Savings
Difficulty
Foundation Work
$15,300
$35,000
$19,700
⭐⭐⭐
Kit Assembly
$2,000 (helpers)
$20,000
$18,000
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Interior Finishing
$16,000
$45,000
$29,000
⭐⭐
Electrical
$2,300
$12,000
$9,700
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plumbing
$1,500
$8,000
$6,500
⭐⭐⭐
⚠️ Recommended Contractor Tasks
Well drilling (required by law), septic installation (permits/expertise), electrical main panel (safety), concrete work if doing all at once (equipment needed).
💳Creative Financing Options
Construction Loan
Local credit union, 12-month term
Rate: 7-9% | Up to $75k
HELOC on NYC Property
Use home equity for cash
Rate: 6-8% | Flexible draw
Owner-Financed Land
Negotiate with land seller
Can reduce upfront costs
Credit Card Rewards
0% intro APR + cashback
~$3,000 in rewards possible
Total Investment: $106,500
1,776 sq ft of unique living space in Colorado's stunning San Luis Valley
Compare: Traditional construction would cost $250,000+