6 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BUILDING A BARNDOMINIUM

2022-06-19 - Ana Durrani

If you revel in the rustic and go ballistic over barn-style anything, then barndominium living may be for you.

So what is a barndominium? It’s an oversized building that’s either a retrofitted barn-to-home conversion or an open-concept steel building constructed from the ground up. It is usually built on a plot of land in rural areas where land is abundant, but this type of structure has also started popping up in exurban locations.

“Barndominiums as a design concept are booming,” says Oliver J. Bell, CEO of Our Barndominium Life.

Compared with traditional wood-framed houses, barndominiums are faster and more affordable to build, are more durable, and require less maintenance.

But before you jump on the bandwagon and begin construction—whether it’s on cost anywhere from $400 to $2,000 depending on where you reside.

Your local department of building and safety will often have size and style requirements for your build, as well as requirements for septic tank an existing barn or a brandnew kit—you want to do your research. Here are the most important things to know about building a barndominium.

Obtain a permit for

your project

Anyone taking on a building project or remodel is required to obtain the proper permits to make sure everything is up to code. When building a barndominium, it’s important to budget for permits, which can installation, electrical wiring, and plumbing.

And if you’re buying a property that has a preexisting barn, never assume that it was built to code or with the necessary permits. Get in touch with the local planning office to find out what you can and cannot do to retrofit your barn.

Test the paint

When refurbishing an older barn, it’s important to determine what type of coatings were originally used.

Matt Kunz, president of Five Star Painting, says older barns that predate 1978 may have lead paint on the exterior and interior spaces, windows, walls, trim, and siding.

These areas may be disturbed during refurbishment and need to be tested prior to the work beginning. If the test is positive, Kunz says the cost to fix the issue can be considerable and depends on the barn’s size.

Prepare for surprise

costs

Building or retrofitting a barn to live in costs considerably less than a traditional house, but that doesn’t mean unexpected costs won’t pop up during the construction.