Barndominiums have become surprisingly popular over the last few years. What used to be just build-outs for barns and garages have turned into liveable, modern homes for families.
These structures are known as barndominums, in which a barn mashes up with a condo. They use steel building kits as an affordable alternative to building from wood, which has tended to be the practice in new home construction.
People who live on ranches or in rural areas are drawn to their rustic appeal. Now they’re turning into homes you find even in largely suburban areas that don’t require an HOA.
If you’ve been curious about the idea of constructing a barndominium for your home, take a look at these 10 benefits.
1. Provides Flexibility With Layouts
The metal framework for a barndominum allows for a highly customized approach when designing a home. The structure typically starts with four main walls known as an open shell. From there, the shell allows for any style of design you might prefer within your residence.
2. Spacious Layouts
It’s vital to have a good house plan that is functional for your lifestyle. The open floor plan of a bardominium offers the sense of a large open space that can be used for whatever the owner’s needs might be. These homes often have high vaulted ceilings of around 14 feet with metal roofs that make the space seem even larger.
3. Feels Like Home
The term “barndominium” might sound as if you’re living inside a barn. In reality, it can feel just like any other home. You can readily install your favorite home decor elements, such as granite countertops and wood flooring, during the build-out process.
4. Quick to Construct
The average barndominium can be raised swiftly. Traditional homes can require anywhere from six months to a year, but a barndominium can be completed in as little as three weeks. Think of these as prefabricated houses; most of them are typically built off the building site from steel sets.
5. Multi-Purpose Homes
A great advantage to constructing a barndominium is that it may have multiple purposes. Many homeowners will utilize part of the space as a warehouse or large office space, which is ideal for the owner who works from home or owns his or her own business.
6. Easy To Build Additions
With a traditional build, a substantial amount of labor and money are necessary to be able to create any renovations or additions to the house. A barndominium makes this significantly easier. All you have to do is add an extra wall to the structure, which again is built off-site.
7. Natural Light
Many bardominium designs offer a terrific amount of natural light. This is due to the previously mentioned flexibility in the design and construction. Large floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as the open floor plan, adds to a capability to guarantee plentiful light from outside.
8. Durable Materials
Metal is an incredibly durable material with which to build a house. Wood will often attract rodents or other pests. The wood can rot, suffer impacts from severe weather, and is more susceptible to fire. Though metal still requires regular maintenance to reduce rust over time, it’s significantly more durable and safe.
9. Environmentally Friendly
Overall, barndominiums are a more sustainable choice for home construction. The insulation systems, for instance, enable you to maintain more stable temperatures within the home. These buildings are made of environmentally friendly materials and their HVAC systems also run more efficiently, which reduces your daily energy use.
10. More Affordable
Since the pandemic, the cost of wood has increased dramatically due to the lack of labor to maintain supply that answers the demand. Overall, wood costs much more than metal and steel, making the latter a more cost-effective choice.
And as mentioned, they’re more energy-efficient, which will save you money on your monthly utilities well into the future.
Overall, barndominiums may not be appealing to everyone. But if you’re looking to build a home and desire a more affordable and sustainable alternative, this could be the option for you.