Barndominiums Are Coming to a Neighborhood Near You
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Chip and Joanna Gaines are best known for their renovation TV show Fixer Upper and their Magnolia experience in Waco, Texas. But did you know that the design duo also broadened the entire interior design world’s lexicon with the introduction of the popular barndominium? Let’s take it back to 2016: The Gaineses completed a project in the town of Lacy Lakeview, Texas, where they transformed a family’s old horse barn into a chic living space in the modern farmhouse style. They dubbed the renovated home (which is now an AirBNB) a barndominium, and the name stuck.
Now, these rustic-chic types of homes are gaining in popularity due to their affordability, speedy construction, and resistance to natural disasters. Keep reading to find out all you need to know about barndominiums, straight from the experts in the field.
What Is a Barndominium?
A barndominium, or barndo, is a large, multifunctional residence that resembles a barn. The word barndominium is (as you might suspect) a combination of the words “barn” and “condominium,” and it’s typically defined as a large, barnlike structure that’s divided in half, with a residence on the upper levels and some type of workstation, garage, or other multipurpose area on the ground level. However, if you ask around the industry, you'll find that there are a few different definitions of these farmhouse structures floating around.
Justin Zook and Nikki-Alvin Smith are the owner and content writer, respectively, of Horizon Structures, a company that specializes in prefab structures ranging from chicken coops to barndominiums. They hew to the more traditional definition of this type of home, with a living space on the upper levels and a workstation on the lower levels. Similarly, Antonia Hart, cofounder of the site Barndominium.org, which sells floor plans and kits for barndos and connects customers to local builders, describes it the same way.
But Tony Golladay, owner of the site BuildMax, which also sells barndominium kits, explains that the general view of barndos has shifted in the past few years. He describes this type of house as, “A style of architecture with an influence of country, farmhouse, and modern design that draws inspiration from traditional barns.”
However you define barndominiums, these types of homes have grown in popularity recently as more people become interested in rustic charm with modern amenities and because young people want alternative, affordable ways to buy houses and property.
Key Features of a Barndominium
Besides the workstation on the lower level and the living quarters on the upper level, there are a few other key features that make barndominiums what they are. Though interior styles vary, you’ll often see hallmarks of the modern farmhouse style in barndominiums.
Most barndos have open floor plans with high ceilings and large windows. “In many cases, barndominiums have free-span trusses that use the exterior walls as load bearing, so designers and homeowners have the flexibility to add or remove interior walls,” Golladay says. Because you can purchase a barndo kit, open floor plans make more sense when it comes to convenience and speed of the build.
Because of the lifestyle many barndo owners lead, large multibay garages are another common feature. People who work on farms or ranches and people who would choose a home plan that includes an attached work space typically own multiple vehicles. These homes are more commonly found in rural areas, and when you have wide open space, you find larger trucks and cars.
Looking to the exterior, you’ll find that barndominiums typically have very simple designs and are made with either metal or wood frames. Steel framework tends to be more popular than wood due to its durability and unique look. Plus, it’s less expensive and faster to put up a metal barndo than a wood one, according to Hart.
How Much Does a Barndominium Cost?
Like with any new build, the cost greatly depends on where you live, the materials you use, and the general contractor you go with. At its most basic, Hart says you can typically find a metal prefab barndo kit for a median price of $16,000. However, that does not include the finishings, appliances, flooring, or anything else besides the basic shell.
“A typical barndominium kit costs between $35 to $45 per total under-roof square foot,” Golladay adds. The more square footage you want, the lower overall cost per square foot you can usually find.
Looking at the larger picture, for a barndo that’s 1,200 square feet, Zook says it’ll roughly cost around $275,000 total, depending on customizations. According to Angi, a barndominium will run you $230,000 on average, but it can easily range from $112,800 for a small and simple one to $504,000 for a high-end, luxury barndo.
Advantages of Living In a Barndominium
Faster, Cheaper Housing
Getting a custom home cheaper and faster than a traditional house is a huge advantage of a barndominium. Especially if you opt for a barndo kit, with pre-assembled walls and roof trusses, the build time will be exponentially quicker than a standard home or even a wooden barndo. “Recently, our steel erectors had the walls up to a 1,700-square-foot barndominium in just two days,” Golladay says.
Two Structures in One
If you follow the standard definition of a barndo, you’re getting a home and a separate workstation all for the price of one build. To this point, Zook adds that it’s “less expensive to insure as one unit versus two coverages.”
Damage Resistance
However, probably the most timely benefit has to do with climate change and the effects that come with our rapidly warming world. “As more people rebuild from natural disasters, they are educating themselves on the strength and durability of steel frames,” Hart explains. Steel is fire resistant and holds up better against strong winds than a traditional house. Besides climate-related benefits, Golladay adds that metal frames are also termite-proof.
Drawbacks to Living In a Barndominium
Aesthetic Limitations
A main disadvantage to living in a barndominium is limited architectural styles. If you like the idea of a steel-framed house with a workstation on the bottom, you won’t find much variety when it comes to the look of your exterior. The main variation comes from either a wood frame or a metal frame and the different stains or paint colors you can choose.
Noise
With metal frames comes concerns with noise. Even with the best insulation, rain, sleet, and hail sound more pronounced on a metal roof than a traditional shingled roof. Though it likely isn’t annoying enough to be a dealbreaker, it’s something anyone considering a barndominium should be aware of.
Lack of Awareness
Golladay brings up the unfamiliarity of a barndominium as a potential disadvantage too. Though the house style is becoming more popular, especially in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States, “builders, bankers, and building departments may interpret the word barndominium differently,” he says. It might take more educating on your part if there’s some confusion about what a barndominium is, but hey, that’s why we’re here!
Can I Convert My Barn Into a Barndominium?
While a barn conversion is what inspired the Gaineses to come up with the term barndominium, conversions actually don’t make up many barndo projects. It’s possible to convert an existing barn into a barndominium, but it’ll potentially take a lot more time and a lot more money. “Barn conversions are difficult to complete effectively, as the substructure needs are often not present in older barns,” Smith says. With a barn conversion, you’ll likely struggle to ensure proper passive ventilation and drainage, address energy usage and concerns, and install proper electrical and plumbing, and you may have foundation issues to address. There’s likely a fair amount of vermin in your existing barn, so you must remove them as well.
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