Price: $90-$130 per square foot.
Barndo! I fell in love with barndominiums and decided to build my own. However, determining how much a barndominium costs to construct might be challenging. Here, I'll go over everything you need to know regarding the project's pricing. What is the cost of building a barndominium, and where should you start?
Are you curious about the origin of the name?
A barndominium is created by combining a condominium and a barn. (Barn + Condo = Barndo). Easy. Let's dive right in.
Building Barndominium Timeline
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This timeline will help you build a mental picture of where your costs might go. Consider this section a snapshot of the things you will do.
- See a location you love and secure it.
- Get building permits.
- Order for a barndominium kit.
- If you are not getting a kit, find a contractor or a builder.
- Create access. i.e., a road leading to the location if there are none.
- Ensure utilities are available for the building process to start.
- Bring in the building materials, assuming you already know the design and the materials needed. Talk to your contractor before buying anything.
- Start with the foundation.
- Build the barndominium shell.
- Work on the interior. .
- The exterior has to look good too.
- Invite your friends and celebrate your achievement.
What Are the Costs of Building a Barndominium?
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There are numerous things that impact the budget while developing something. As a result, there are always estimations rather than a fixed price. When building a barndo, this is where your money will go. In order to facilitate your planning, we will go over the elements that will make it easier for you to determine the overall cost.
1) Land
Price- Depends on the location.
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You can omit this step if you own the property you are building on. However, you must finish the procedure before starting any building if you are purchasing fresh land. For instance, your barndo may double as a gallery if you are renting property. Before starting construction, make sure the land is in good condition.
Let's obtain the licenses as soon as you have the land.
2) Permits
Price: $1,000-$2,500
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Starting a construction project without a permit is a bad idea. The first thing you need is a permission. After all, it's responsible to be aware of the building regulations in the state you're in. There may be a fee for permits, so you will need to budget for that.
Obtaining a license shouldn't take too long, although some permits may take some time. It can take a long time to conduct the necessary inspections to make sure you are building in the correct location.
3) Barndominium Kit
Price Range: $6,000-$75,000
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All you have to do is include the kit into your design; it comes fully assembled. A kit is merely the barndominium's exterior, to which you can add the remaining parts to build a stunning house.
4) Labor
Price- Up to $250 per hour
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Your purchases won't do anything if there is no labor involved. You must therefore know who will assist you in putting up the barndo in order to prevent material waste and excessive sitting. Local businesses that offer labor are available.
Here's a crucial element to take into account. The term "labor" refers to more than just the men performing physical labor. Here's how I divided my effort, for instance.
- Engineer
- Architect
- General contractor
- Interior designer
- Plumber
- Electrician
- Landscape architect
- Draftsperson
You should be aware that labor can be calculated in a variety of ways. For instance, the plumber may need to be paid on an hourly basis, while the contractor may receive a portion of the project's overall cost. At the higher level, the hourly rate based on the labor costs stated might be as much as $200.
5) Building Materials
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Once you pay for labor, it is time to get the materials. The materials depend on what you will be using the barndo for. For example, I use my barndominium as a living space, which means I got materials that would make life in a house possible.
Some materials you should consider are:
- Flooring which is charged per square foot
- Plumbing
- Painting
- Doors
- AC
- Drywall
- Insulation etc.
Everyone providing the labor above will give you a list of things you need and the correct quantities you need to buy. However, many of the materials you buy will depend on what you want to do with the barndo and how you want the exterior and interior to look.
Extensively consult your labor providers. They know best.
6) Foundation
Price- $5,000-$25,000
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A home cannot exist without a foundation. Even a mobile home must stand somewhere. Unfortunately, the foundation comes with a cost, which may involve excavation. After all, even metal buildings need a concrete basis to stand on.
A basic barndominium requires a foundation as part of its design. This applies to most builds, particularly traditional homes.
7) Utilities
I made sure I had all the labor I required. I nearly forgot, though, that the labor was simply meant to assist in getting me connected to the utilities. Obtaining utilities should be a priority, particularly when constructing a new barndominium in an area where no house has ever been built. However, there's a probability that some utilities were present if your barn already exists.
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You'll need to use utilities like power and water. If the powerlines are more than half a mile away, it may be expensive to get power to your home. If you ignore utility bills, they might cause you a lot of trouble.
If you want clean water in your home all the time, don't forget to install a water filter.
8) Fixtures
When you include a builder in this process, you will save a lot of money because they are aware of what you need and don't need. An alternative would be to purchase barndominium building kits. Everything you need is included in the kits, so you don't need to rely on your recollection.
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Getting the stage of buying materials and fixtures right will greatly impact your final cost and reduce the pressure of such a project. While I did not have to rely on a barndo kit because I got help from a builder, you can get them to save time.
9) Septic Tank
Price- $3600- $9,800
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I am glad I paid a lot of attention to a septic tank. This is important for your health, and you do not want trouble with the locals. By building a good septic tank, you are protecting the foundation of the house because water will flow to the right channels.
10) Interior
The interior walls of the house will require paint. Other than the colors, other interior finishes will depend on your taste. Be it granite countertops, an open-style kitchen, an open layout, or a closed one, ensure the interior is warm and welcoming.
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Whenever I mention the word interior, the first thing that comes to mind is interior design. However, there are things like the HVAC system or the spray foam insulation that you need to have taken care of first. For example, does your floor need heating if you live in a cold area? I realized mine did at the nick of time.
11) Exterior
A good exterior will make you perceive your home positively. You can start with the exterior walls by having them painted nicely.
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There are great landscaping ideas for your home that you can use to make your outdoor spaces beautiful. Buying the plants and laying cabro will come at a cost. However, working on your exterior is essential as it helps maintain a welcoming facade from the outside.
You can achieve good landscaping at a low cost. Luckily, a barndominium home is a low-maintenance cost investment that will serve you for a long period.
12) Staircase
Compared to a normally constructed home, a barndo is larger. So you can experiment with interior design, including adding a second level. You can make use of a barndo, which is simply an old barn with high ceilings. Initially, though, you must be familiar with the specifics of constructing a staircase. The majority of barndominiums can, after all, accommodate an additional level.
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If your floor plan accommodates a second floor, you are lucky because you will maximize the space inside the barn.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Barndominium
While looking at how much a barndominium costs, you get to a point where you are like, " is it worth it?" Weighing out the advantages and disadvantages will help you know if you are ready to go for a barndominium or not.
Pros of a Barndominium House
a) Low Building Cost
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The cost of building a barndominium is relatively lower than other houses. Additionally, you can construct one as your DIY project. This way, you will save a lot while building a custom home that fits your needs and style.
b) Ample Space
Unlike a traditional house, the barndominium has enough space for you to experiment with. You can build your dream home simply because space constraints are not holding you back. In addition, there are a lot of custom barndominium floor plans you can pick ideas from to spice up your abode.
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There is no need to live in a barndo, only to have an interior like the one you would find in traditional homes.
c) Durable
I've always seen the same barn since I was born, and nothing has changed. The longevity of barndos is demonstrated by this. I consider myself fortunate to have my barndominium, as it was a tremendous victory to get.
d) Flexible
I had many ideas for my barndo. Since I am an artist, I wanted to have two floors: the lower floor as my studio and gallery and the upper floor as my office or residence. Similarly, you can simultaneously turn your barndo into a garage, coffee shop, and living space.
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There is so much you can do with the interior of a barndominium, and the only limit will be your imagination.
e) Low maintenance
The upkeep of a house requires a lot of labor and effort. Compared to other homes I've lived in, the upkeep costs for my barndo have been substantially reduced since I moved in. First of all, the home is composed of steel. Insulating a steel barndominium is all that is required to keep you warm inside.
f) Stylish
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While barns are mostly found in rural areas, barndos are some of the most stylish houses you will see in modern settings. A barndo has the potential for unique houses with limitless design options. There is no turning back once you see some barndo ideas online. They look magnificent.
g) Fast Building
You can put together a barndo by yourself in no time. This is one of the best things about the structures.
Some Downsides to Barndos
a) Noise
Unless you do very solid soundproofing in your barndo, there is a chance the house might be a bit noisy. This is because the metal can pick noise from outside more easily than other materials. However, this is a downside that has a solution. I have done soundproofing in my house, including on the windows.
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b) Permits
Not many cities will give out permits for barndos easily. Luckily, you can not start the construction before you get a permit. So, ensure you get the right papers beforehand.
c) Wiring and Plumbing
A barndo is not a very common housing style. Therefore, you must consult HVAC professionals, plumbers, and electricians before putting interior fixtures. While wiring barndos are a bit of a challenge, it is possible.
d) Hard Market
One can customize the interior decor of a barndo to suit their personal preferences. Finding a market for a barndo during resale is so challenging. But you will get a buyer if your design is good. Additionally, the future owner can always modify it to suit their requirements.
Frequently Asked Question about Barndominium
How Long Does a Barndominium Last?
A barndo is a metal building and is therefore susceptible to external elements like rusting. However, if the shell is well taken care of through painting, the house can last over 70 years and upwards of 260 years. So if you live in a coastal region, you must consider ways of caring for the metal shell covering the barndo.
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While the barndo is an affordable option, it can get expensive quickly if you do not take good care of the building.
Final Thoughts
I am enjoying my stay in my barndominium. The sunrise is great because my windows are larger than you could have in a normal house. You will be the proudest person once you are done building and moving into your barndo.
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