This post contains affiliate links. As an amazon associate, I earn affiliate commission, from qualifying purchases.
Looking forward to building a barndominium? Hold on and go through this list of 11 things you should know about building a Barndominium. It’s worth reading
All of a sudden there has been a huge hockey stick growth of Barndominium enthusiasts. Given how easy and affordable it is to build a Barndo, it is understandable why people are after it.
However, if you are someone who wants to get into Barndo’s, I urge you to have a look at this listicle of 11 things you should know about building a Barndominium.
Trust me, you’ll thank me later!
11 Things You Should Know About Building a Barndominium
To be very honest, there are more than 11 things to talk about when it comes down to building a Barndominium. But unfortunately, not everyone has the time to go through a list of 30 or more.
This is why I have put together the most important things that everyone must know about Barndominium.
- Cost-Effective Option
Compared to regular homes, building a barndominium requires much less. Barndo’s are usually made of metals. And given the high price of lumbers right now, Brando’s are an extremely cost-effective option.
On average a traditional house will cost you around $100 – $200 per square foot, whereas a Barndominium will cost you no more than $40 – $50 per square foot.
- Permit
Like any other structure, building a barndo also requires a permit and what’s worse is, it is a little complex to get a permit for Barndominiums in some states.
Once you submit the needed files, one officer will go through all of them, and will also inspect the location you are building barnominium. Plus, some state has rules for barndo’s designs.
In case you don’t know, there are different shapes and designs of brandos like Gambrel, shed, monitor, gable, etc. There is another popular design which is called L shape barndo that is best suited for suburban and rural areas.
Contact a barndo builder or surf the internet for impressive L-shaped barndominium ideas.
- Electricity
If you are converting a non-living old barn house to a living area, then you need to do a hell lot of electrical upgrades.
You’ll need a proper electrical infrastructure for the home appliances and others. Plus, you might also need USB outlets, a nightlight system, cabinet light outlet, charging station, kitchen lighting outlet, etc.
And hiring amateurs to make those upgrades will be a foolish move, hiring people from a company that holds the license and experience for such works. Yes, that’ll cost you more but it will be worth paying for.
- Windows Matter A Lot
It is obvious that every living area needs windows for proper ventilation. But if you are refurbishing an old barn then there is a high chance that there won’t be adequate windows. Not only windows, but the size of the windows also matters a lot in barndos
The minimum window requirement for barndominiums is 4×4. You can make it bigger if you want but can’t go any smaller than that. Properly sized windows are one of the keys to a comfortable barndominium.
Plus, it would be wise to add window film to protect the furniture, carpet, hardwood floor, etc. from fading due to the UV ray.
- Dealing With Corrosion And Rot
It is an issue with all wood and metal-built barndominiums. At some point after building such a house with wood frames or metals, corrosion and rot start to come into the scene. Wood and metal-made barndominiums are most likely to rot or corrode in the tropical climate. That being said, there are still ways to protect them from damage by using some exterior treatments. Such treatments need to be done on a regular basis to keep the wood and metal condition as it is.
- Single Story Option
A multiple story isn’t an option with barndominiums. You’ll see that almost all of the metal build barnardo’s are single story. Having that said, some barndo’s do have lofts which kind of work as a second floor but it is not recommended.
- Lack Of Neighbors
Barndominiums are not widely seen in cities, they are seen mostly in rural areas. And Barndo’s in rural areas stand alone, as there are fewer homes.
This is a drawback of living in barndoes, you have to live out of the community, all by yourself. If you are someone who is used to living in society and interacting with neighbors, then you’re going to have a hard time living in Barndominiums.
- Noise
If you’re sensitive to loud noise, then a barndominium probably isn’t a suitable option for you. Even though the builder used top-notch insulation, the sound from the outside will be louder inside. Whether it is raining or snowing, at the beginning you might enjoy the sound but eventually, it will get irritating.
- Fire protection
It’s a no-brainer that you will have to be extra careful with wood-made houses, as they catch and spread fire easily. So if you are living in a barndominium, make sure to have some sprinklers around for fire protection. Doing so might increase your cost a bit, but come on, life is priceless.
- Fatigue and Fracture
As we know, barndominiums are made of steel members and those steel can fatigue over time due to the variations of tensile strength. Additional strength on the steel causes it to lose its ductility which makes them prone to crack.
- Limited buyers
And the last thing you should know about Barnardo’s is, it is hard to find buyers.
First of all, not many people are familiar with barndo’s. And even though a pool of people love barndo’s but most of them are not very interested in living there, as barndominiums are kind of a farmhouse where you come on holidays to spend some time with nature and family.
On top of that, different people have different tastes, so it is highly possible that your barndominium design won’t be appealing to others.
Conclusion
Even though there are many things like these you should know about barndo’s but these are the most important things you should know about building a Barndominium. Hit us up through the comment section to know more.
.
Former F&B manager in the Hilton hotel. As a hotel management professional, he is having a wide verity of knowledge on travel and tourism. He loves to write to us and share his experience with our valuable readers.