Hearing the word “barndominium” can be enough to throw you into the void of confusion, especially if you’re not familiar with the various types of buildings out there. Although the word was not so popular a while ago, it has started to gain some traction lately.
So, what are barndominiums and why should you consider them? Here is all you need to know.
Rise of Barndominiums and Why You Should Buy One
What Are Barndominiums?
The word “barndominium” itself is composed of a play of two different words, respectively “barn” and “condominium”. The meaning of it is a metal and steel building that has been turned into a living space.
Back in the day, the name was given to barns that were transformed into living spaces for people. Still, nowadays, there may be several features to these houses. These include foam insulation, plumbing, energy-efficient windows, and the list can go on.
Why Should You Consider Buying One?
This house can become a very cute building to live in, especially if you’re tired of all the hustle in the big cities. Just like with anything else, you must have some idea of what’s in for you if you settle for a barndominium. Here are some benefits to consider:
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Barndominiums Are Very Versatile
Probably one of the biggest qualities of barndominiums lies in their versatility. Their design is open and customizable, making them fit for many purposes. Having said that, if you want to use them for restaurants, shops, bars or even community centers, you can freely do so.
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Barndominiums Are Easy to Construct
Nobody likes to wait an eternity until they can move into their new house. Luckily, barndominiums are very easy to build, and the process will be quick.
Of course, you can seek the help of a contractor to help you out, but if the thought of spending more money is not appealing to you, you can do it yourself. There’s the advantage that material kits for these houses are already available, making your task much easier.
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Additional Space Can Be Added
Another great benefit of barndominiums is how you can increase the available living space when you really need it. Basically, it makes it possible for you to add some walls to the space thanks to its design, or you can leave it open if that is what you want. Isn’t it great? In this barndominium walk-around video you will be able to see how its design allows you to add more living space.
Basically, barndominiums are all about the spaciousness of design. They come with high ceilings, a feeling of spaciousness, and an uninterrupted flow of light and air. As mentioned, you can arrange the inside of your barndominium however you want to, without having to worry about things being too cramped, stifled, and crowded.
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Barndominiums Are Durable
Everyone looks for durability when it comes to their home – and not only. Fortunately, barndominiums can give you what you want. A barndominium is sturdy and offers protection against certain elements. At the same time, it won’t rot and will keep pests away. You can rest assured that you will enjoy this building for a while.
Moreover, a metal barndominium comes with benefits that will make you worry less about the building’s maintenance:
- Protection from the elements – as metal is sturdier than wood, it provides better protection in case of storms and is capable of withstanding even earthquakes.
- A structure that does not combust – obviously, your metal barndominium will never catch on fire, even though extremely high temperatures and fire may deform the metal.
- Amazing strength-to-weight ratio – even though tough and sturdy, metal is light. Therefore, you can expect reduced material transportation costs, including an assembly process that is not as labor-intensive when compared to traditional homes.
- No more pests – as mentioned before, the metal structure of a barndominium will never be damaged by pests. Your frame will always be in perfect condition, as bugs won’t be able to chew through it.
- No rot – when it comes to wooden structures, mold, and moisture are two of the things you never want to be faced with. You have to continuously work on preventing and avoiding them so that your home doesn’t get damaged. Naturally, a metal structure doesn’t come with such issues, making it easier to maintain as well – the result is a building/ structure with a longer lifespan.
- Insurance costs – with a barndominium built of steel or other metals come much better rates from your insurance provider.
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It’s Cost-Effective
When looking at the costs of a conventional home, the latest figures for building one are around $290,600 – in short, $145 per square foot for a 2,000-square-foot building. Obviously, these costs can go lower, down to $115 per square foot in the case of a modest 1500 square feet building – totaling to around $172,000.
On the other hand, a barndominium builder is able to offer his clients unlimited exterior doors, an engineered foundation, as well as premium windows, and a metal shell for only $38,000. The final cost would be between $70 and $95 per square foot, and thus the barndominium cost instantly shines.
In the end, you may end up paying only $70 for a 5,000-square-foot barndominium.
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They Come in Cheap Kits as Well
If you choose to build the structure of the barndominium from scratch, you’ll have to pay around $20 per square foot. Finishing and slab commissioning will round the barndominium cost sum up to $80 – $90 per square foot.
However, you also have the option to buy a prefabricated barndominium kit, which can save you up to 50% of the total costs of building one from scratch.
Moreover, there are metal building companies that will sell you a bare-bones shell of a barndominium for only $10,000 for a 900 square feet kit. When they deliver the shell to your lot, they’ll offload the frame in big pieces – the only thing left for you to do is to make sure that the slab agrees with the dimensions of the kit.
On the other hand, there are barndominium kits companies that will provide you with more than just the shell of the building. For example, the big companies out there, so to say, will offer you stained concrete floors, exterior doors, an engineered concrete slab, spray foam insulation, a continuous roof, as well as energy-efficient windows. In some cases, you may even choose the quality and the number of windows, a complete metal building.
In short, buying a kit will reduce the costs of building your barndominium, really making it the most effective way to build a home; bardominium costs are heavily reliant on market options, and thus research in your area is of paramount importance for your wallet.
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Plenty of Options to Choose From
If you were to ask for the price of a particular barndominium in terms of design, the answer will always be it depends. This is because, nowadays, such a building can be whatever you want it to be.
Back in the day, when the plans and prices of a barndominium were very limited, such a construction was considered nothing more than a pole barn with integrated living quarters.
However, as they became more and more popular and people saw their true potential, today you can choose from hundreds of designs. You can opt for one with a tiny 700 square feet bedroom or for barndominiums that incorporate a full shop and more than five bedrooms, for example.
Therefore, with so many options you can choose from, the costs of such a building will always vary – basically, the costs are determined by what the owner specifically wants.
How to Calculate the Cost of a Barndominium
As mentioned before, the costs of a barndominium cost varies quite a lot, depending on what the owner wants to do with it. However, if you want to calculate the total cost of a project, all we have to do is to take 3 variables – the delivered price of the barndominium kit, the price of the finishing materials (paint, drywall, cabinets, insulation), and the labor costs of the building process.
Naturally, the sum of these three variables will be the total cost of the project – the kit price plus the material cost plus the labor cost.
If the final cost is around $45,000 and the barndominium is built on a 1,00 square feet area, then the cost per square foot will be around $45.
Final Thoughts
As they are gaining more popularity by the day, many people are seeing the potential of barndominiums and decide to invest in them too. As you were able to see, there are many benefits associated with these buildings, so you should give them a try.
In the end, the fact that you can design the interior of your home just the way you want it while preserving its feeling of spaciousness is something most home owners want. With a barndominium, you’ll have this opportunity as well as more than just a few benefits – a safer, more durable home, with low costs of maintenance.
As mentioned, given their increase in popularity, we can expect to see more and more barndominiums, and we can be sure that there won’t be two to look the same on the inside. As they say, it’s not the shell that matters – what is inside and, in this case, around it, matters more. Just a shell protects the living space within and with a proper barndominium floor plan you will be able to create pure magic!
What do you think, would you consider the barndominium costs an advantage big enough to skip over the traditional house?
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