Building a Shouse in Wisconsin – The Complete Guide

If you are a builder or craftsperson, you know how difficult it can be to find a workspace that serves its purpose and gives you the room you need to do your work. Even if you find a space that works, you will probably end up sharing it with other businesses or having to commute. This cuts into your already limited time with friends and family, and any business owner knows how important a good work/life balance is. Perhaps you have considered building your own shop on your property, but were stopped when you realized you didn’t have enough room for a residence and a shop on the same piece of land. 

This is why building a shouse in Wisconsin is such a great option. Shouses, or shop houses, can be a great way to combine your home and your workspace and have everything under the same roof and on the same foundation. This not only saves space, it can also save you money in the long run and give you that solid balance of work and home life that is so important when you own your own business. 

We have put together a complete guide on how to build a shop house in Wisconsin to help you get your dream work and living space built. By understanding what goes into a project like this, you can give yourself the best chance at creating something that will serve your business and your family well for years to come. 

What Is a Shouse and What Are Some of the Advantages?

A shouse is a combination of a shop and house that is built using the frame of a metal pole barn or post frame structure. They are generally built on a concrete slab foundation and the metal poles of the frame are driven into the ground and serviced with gravel or cement. While these kinds of buildings are usually used for things like stables, barns, and other industrial applications, they can be framed up on the inside just like a traditional house. Once inside, you would have no idea that a shop house in Wisconsin was built any differently from other homes. 

One of the main advantages of building a shouse in Wisconsin is the fact that you can save quite a bit of money on the construction. Because a shop house in Wisconsin can usually be built in about half the time it takes to build a traditional house, you can save money on materials and labor. This makes them much more accessible for people who might not otherwise be able to build their own home and shop. 

The other benefit of building a shouse in Wisconsin is their durability. Because of their all-steel construction, they are much less likely to suffer structural damage due to bad weather or consistent moisture. Things like mold, mildew, and rot are much less of a problem if your home’s structural elements are made of steel instead of wood. This is especially helpful if you live in a state like Wisconsin that sees a lot of snow in the winter and humidity in the summer. 

Cost of Building a Shouse in Wisconsin 

When you are thinking about building a shouse in Wisconsin, one of the first things you will want to do is figure out your budget. When considering the cost for a home build, it is best to figure out the cost per square foot. This will allow you to decide how big your concrete slab foundation will need to be as well as how many bedrooms and bathrooms you can afford to put into that space. Coming up with your cost per square foot will also allow you to decide how big your plot of land will need to be. 

The cost of building a traditional home in Wisconsin is around $314 per square foot. It is important to note that this price only gets you your basic structure and does not include anything you might need for your business like the shop or any equipment that you will probably want to include. Because of this, you will need to put extra money in your budget if you want to have a workspace to go along with your living space. 

The cost of building a shophouse in Wisconsin, however, is considerably less. This is, on average, $216 per square foot. While this still will only get you the basic structure of the house and shop, the lower price means you can have the extra money in your budget for all the things you would want to include in a shouse in Wisconsin. With this extra money, you could afford things like custom furnishings, electronics, and new equipment for your business so you can get your clients a better final product. 

Shouse Builders in Wisconsin  

Once you have decided on a price for your shouse in Wisconsin, you will then want to find the right builder to do the actual construction. While it is possible to build your own shouse, especially if you are a craftsperson who knows what they are doing, it is always a good idea to hire someone who can help make sure your shop house is built to code and is in compliance with all the local zoning laws in your area. Having that experience on your side will help you save money and time during your construction process when inspections start happening. 

Wick Buildings

Wick Buildings has been in the business of building metal post frame structures for over 65 years. In that time, they have built all kinds of metal buildings for all kinds of purposes. If you want a company that has the experience and the knowledge to get you the exact product you need for your shouse in Wisconsin, they could be a great choice. 

Bower Design and Construction

Bower Design and Construction specializes in metal post frame buildings for both residential and agricultural purposes. This combination of expertise makes them a perfect candidate for building your shop house in Wisconsin. They know what it takes to build both aspects of your project and can help you get everything you have been looking for in a shop house. 

Schley Buildings

Schley Buildings uses glue-laminated columns instead of poles for their buildings, which gives them an incredibly unique look, even in the world of post frame structures. If you are looking for a company that can offer a special, one-off design for your shop house in Wisconsin, they can provide the structure you’re looking for. 

Shouse Kit Providers in Wisconsin 

If you don’t want to build your shouse in Wisconsin from scratch, you have other options. One of the most common is to order a shouse kit from a provider. One of the main benefits of building a shouse kit is that they come completely prefabricated and have everything you need to get your structure built. Plus, they come all in one package that is delivered to your build site, so you don’t need to spend time sourcing materials. 

Nearly all shouse kit providers offer comprehensive support when it comes to the actual construction of the building. That means you have their entire team behind you in case you have any questions during your build. Many of them will also have recommendations for local builders who have worked on their kits in the past so you can be sure your builder is experienced. 

Shouse Financing in Wisconsin 

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Wisconsin Bank and Trust

Wisconsin Bank and Trust has a team of agricultural lending experts who are happy to help you get the financing you need for your shouse in Wisconsin. They know what it takes to get a project like this up off the ground because they are focused on the community and the people who are living and working there. If you want an experienced bank for your project, they could be a good option. 

Royal Bank

Royal Bank is an agricultural bank that has both experience and financial stability, which is crucial for any bank you might work with on a project like a shouse in Wisconsin. They have many different loan options to choose from and can work with you to find the best financing for your particular circumstances. 

Shouse Taxes in Wisconsin 

Just as you would for any other house, you will need to pay taxes on your shouse in Wisconsin. However, if you are running your business out of your shouse, it will probably fall under the category of dual-use construction. This means that you will have different tax rates for the portions of your shophouse in Wisconsin that are for your business and the portions that are for residential purposes. A tax assessor can come to look at your project and help you figure out what you need to be paying. 

Where to Find Shouse Insurance in Wisconsin  

You will need to get insurance for your shouse in Wisconsin to make sure it is covered in case of any kind of emergency. You can usually get insurance anywhere you would normally get it for a traditional house, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Depending on the kind of work you are doing in the shop portion, you should make sure that you are covered for any kind of related emergency. For example, if you are a welder, you should be sure that you are covered for fires. You will need to get certain clauses added to your policy, which can be figured out with an insurance agent. 

Shouse Floor Plans in Wisconsin 

The floor plan for your shouse in Wisconsin is another incredibly important aspect of the building process. The floor plan will help you figure out where everything will be located and how the rooms are going to be situated as well as the size and configuration of your shop. To get your floor plan together, sit down and write out everything you will need to make your shouse in Wisconsin comfortable for you, your family, and your business. Then, take this list to a professional draftsman. They will turn your list of ideas into a workable floor plan that you and your builder can use to build the shophouse in Wisconsin you have been dreaming of. 

There are so many shouse ideas to use for inspiration when it comes to your floor plan. These shouse floor plan ideas can help inspire you!

• Inspiring Floor Plans for a Shouse With a Loft
• Inspiring 2 Bedroom Shouse Floor Plans
• Fantastic 3 Bedroom Shouse Floor Plans
• Fantastic 4 Bedroom Shouse Floor Plans

Shouse for Sale in Wisconsin 

Don’t want all the hassle of building a shouse from the ground up? Then you may want to buy an existing shouse in Wisconsin! With our Shouse for Sale Marketplace, you can browse to your state and find a shouse for sale near you.

The beauty of buying an existing shouse is that it can be really easy to customize the floor plan to your liking. The previous owners’ setup is just a starting point! Also, by buying a shouse in Wisconsin , you bypass the potential troubles of the building process – delays, dealing with contractors and subcontractors, and city or county bureaucrats trying to make your build process a nightmare.

Don’t delay – find a shouse for sale in Wisconsin now!

Conclusion

Hopefully, by reading this guide, you have a good idea of what it takes to build a shouse in Wisconsin. Having this information will help prepare you for the build process and keep you on schedule and budget. By knowing as much as you can about building a shophouse, you can start yourself off on the right track. 

If you would like more in-depth guides like this one, be sure to check out the rest of Barndominiumlife.com. There, you will find all kinds of helpful information and tips and tricks from the pros and featured shouses. Being as prepared as possible can help you build the shophouse in Wisconsin of your dreams.