What Is a Barndominium?

What Is a Barndominium?

If you are a country living fan or looking for a trendy house with plenty of open space, you may want to consider a barndominium, also known as a “barndo,” for your next home.

If you have never heard of a barndo before, it is exactly what it sounds like—a barn that has been converted into a home. Barndos are an ever-growing trend due to their practicality and aesthetic.

Even if you are not interested in living among farm animals, that’s okay because having a barndo doesn’t mean that you must completely take on farm life.

Many people are attracted to the idea of a barndo simply because they add a significant amount of space to your home that can be used for all kinds of hobbies or even for business.

In many cases, barndos allow you to have a large warehouse space but with the aesthetics of a home.

Most barndos that are built these days are large and open-concept buildings that are made with steel frames and sheet metal siding. The interior space can typically be customized to your personal design style and incorporate various modern elements.

Although barndos may look quite different from an average home from the outside, they include all the essential comforts and amenities you would expect in a modern home.

The Advantages of Building a Barndominium

There are many benefits that come with owning and living in a barndo, which is why they are becoming increasingly popular.

Aside from their pleasing and romantic appearance, which harkens back to past times, the following advantages are worth considering as you consider the possibility of building a barndo for your next home.

1. Flexible design

When it comes to the design of your barndo, there are endless possibilities to choose from, and the large open building plan makes it possible to customize it to fit your needs and desires.

In some cases, the living quarters are located on the home’s second story, whereas the first story is used entirely as a traditional barn, workshop, or storage area.

However, single-story barndos are becoming increasingly common as well, and you can ultimately have the final say in how you would like to split up your living area and your working area.

2. Energy efficiency

Most barndos tend to be energy efficient, so you can save money while reducing your carbon footprint. A barndo’s steel framing and sheet metal siding completely seal the building in, which helps make it an energy-efficient passive home.

Many barndos also make use of highly efficient spray foam insulation to keep heat in during the colder months and keep it out during the warmer months.

It is common for barndos to include solid, stained concrete floors and nine-foot ceilings, which allows for large windows on the house’s south-facing side.

This design method makes passive solar heating possible by allowing the sun’s heat to enter your home through energy-efficient windows. Once inside, that heat is stored in the concrete floors’ thermal mass.

3. Safety and durability

Since most barndos are made from metal, they can benefit from their strength and durability, making them just as safe or safer than a traditional home.

Since steel is a noncombustible, fire-resistant material, you will be much safer if there is ever a fire that breaks out in your home. Not only will the steel prevent the fire from spreading, but it will also preserve its structural integrity.

A barndo’s steel and metal protect it from water damage, severe weather, and wear and tear, which also makes it incredibly long-lasting, even with little to no maintenance.

Just like any steel structure, barndos are generally resistant to mould, mildew, rot, and termites.

4. Lowered costs

Despite all of the benefits that come from owning a barndo, the cost of building one generally tends to be lower than building a traditional home.

Whereas a traditional home typically costs around $145 per square foot, a barndominium can cost as low as $70 or $90 per square foot.

With those kinds of significant savings, you can spend a significant amount more on furnishings and decorations for your barndo or even on equipment for your workspace.

Of course, each barndo is slightly different, and costs can depend on several factors, including the style, fixtures, and design. While some barndos are built to be simple, others can be higher-end with luxury designs and features.

That part is all up to you and can be adjusted based on your own goals and ideas for your barndo.

How SteelBuilt Corp. Can Help You Build Your Own Barndominium

If you are looking to combine your living and working space, and you would like to enjoy an affordable, low-maintenance home, a barndo may be right for you.

SteelBuilt Corp. can help make that a reality. We fully support cutting-edge building trends like barndos and would love to help take advantage of all that this eco-friendly modern housing solution has to offer.

Whether you are interested in building a simple, affordable tiny barndo, or one that is expansive and luxurious, our coast-to-coast network of skilled and experienced designers can help provide exactly what you are looking for.

We offer prefabricated barndominium kits that significantly reduce waste while simultaneously expediting your home-building process. Our team of designers and engineers with 20 years of collective experience will customize your barndo both inside and out.

We can work from any images you provide us to develop plans and designs that will meet your needs and desires.

SteelBuilt Corp. can even provide electrical, mechanical, and interior finishing services thanks to our team of dedicated trade workers and interior designers.

Some of the many customized barndominium steel buildings we can design include garden homes, laneway homes, nanny suites, in-law suites, guest suites, office suites, art studios, and music studios.

Thus, whatever your vision is for your barndo, we have it covered.

If you want a welcoming home full of natural light, stunning views, and plenty of open space, we can make it happen.

We will meticulously design every detail to ensure that your barndo is warm and inviting, with curb appeal and practical use.

During the design stage, our designers and estimators will even gladly provide you with a free preliminary drawing to highlight exactly how livable and beautiful your barndo can be.

SteelBuilt Corp. will also help prevent the headache of having to meet and coordinate with multiple contractors since we offer a one-stop shop for all your needs.

We will take care of everything, including site plan approval, structural and civil engineering, installation services, building and site grading and preparation, and financing services.

For more information about our steel construction services and our customizable barndominium kits, or to request a quote, call SteelBuilt Corp. at 1 (855) 745-1201 or contact us here.