When describing your dream home, do you picture spaciousness? An open layout with a modern charm? How about the ability to be fully customizable? A unique home that stands out from traditional construction? All designed to your own unique lifestyle.
The possibilities are endless with a barndominium.
What is a barndominium?
Structurally speaking, a barndominium is a barn, but it includes a finished interior, insulation, doors, windows, and other residential features required to make it a functional living space. They are sometimes referred to as “pole barn homes”, “shop houses”, “shouses”, or “shomes”.
Simply put, a barndominium a barn which serves as a home.
Many barndominiums are styled to look like modern barns or classic farmhouses, but with others, the “barn” nature of the structure is much less obvious. Barndominiums are rapidly gaining popularity, whether they are simple, basic structures with a conventional interior finish, or luxury homes with custom finishes.
Why are barndominiums popular?
Here are some of the reasons why more and more home buyers are choosing barndominiums:
- Fast, easy, and economical construction: With the needed barndominium materials and the help of a skilled contractor, you can rapidly build a home of your own at a faster pace than traditional homes. This is mostly due to the simple building design.
- Open floor plan: One of the main appeals of barndominiums is that they feature spacious floor plans with few obstructions. Such a layout can be satisfying both from a functional and aesthetic point of view.
- A big house for a lower cost: If you choose a barndominium, you can live in a large home with a potentially lower price tag than what it would cost to build a traditional home of the same size. (Keep reading for details on barndominium costs.)
- Materials, layout, finishing, style and features: A barndominium exterior can be finished with metal, wood, or other materials to suit your preference. A completed barndominium can look like a traditional rural farmhouse or a sleek modern building. The finished appearance of the structure is entirely up to you.
- Under one roof: A common attraction to barndominiums is the convenience of all your possessions and hobbies under one roof. You have more time and lots of space to enjoy what you love, with the comfort of home all under the same roof.
- Residential or commercial (or both): While barndominium homes are becoming a popular trend, these structures are not exclusively residential. In fact, they are ideal for a wide range of commercial uses as well. A popular option is to have a living space, and a workshop combined into one convenient structure.
DO BARNDOMINIUMS HAVE DRAWBACKS?
With so many benefits, you might be wondering whether barndominiums have any disadvantages.
While there are not a lot of potential disadvantages, there are a couple to consider:
First of all, if you are in an urban area, it may be more challenging to get approval for a barndominium than it would be if you were in a rural community.
Most of the other drawbacks of barndominiums are the same as they are for other large buildings.
How much does a barndominium cost?
At the lower end of the price range, it costs around $70-$80 per square foot to build a simple barndominium shell (a shell is considered to be just the foundation, walls, doors, windows and roof.) For a turn-key barndominium, you may be looking at a higher cost of $225-$325 per square foot. A turn-key cost varies widely depending on your choice of design and finishing options.
What are some of the factors which impact the barndominium price per square foot?
- Type of foundation: Different types of foundation are more or less expensive. You will need to choose the type which is suitable for your structure and location.
- Cost of materials: Your choice of design details and finishing materials may sway the cost one way or another. Finishing options can range from conventional basics to high-end luxury.
- Doors, windows and features: Installing doors, windows and additional features can all raise the cost of a structure.
- Insulation: The insulation you choose can impact the cost to build your home. Keep in mind, however, that it may be wise to opt for higher quality insulation. Doing so may save you money on long-term heating and cooling bills in the long run.
- Labor cost: How much you pay contractors to build your barndominium may range significantly based on their experience, processes, and more. If you choose to DIY some portion of the work, that is one way you could lower your costs (though it still requires a time investment).
- Property Cost (if applicable): If you purchase new property, you will have to outfit it with utilities (water, power, cable, etc.).
Could A Barndominium Be The Right Kind Of Home For You?
Here are just some of the many scenarios where a barndominium could be ideal for you:
- You enjoy spacious, open layouts.
- You have the budget to invest in a larger home, but do not want to go the traditional route and timeline.
- You want to be able to customize a large home to your exact needs.
- You have a practical reason to want a large, functional space, for example because you want your home to also include a workshop.
Where do you start?
Call Alpine Custom Builders and get a free quote today! We can help you get started on your dream home!