Building a Barndominium: the Revolution That's Changing Rural Living

Where Industrial Design Meets Modern Life

Forget cookie-cutter subdivisions and traditional stick-built homes. Across rural America, a different kind of dwelling is gaining momentum—one that merges the raw functionality of agricultural buildings with the comfort of residential design. Enter the barndominium: a steel-framed structure that's rewriting the rules of home construction.

Barndominiums combine the open, utilitarian design of barn structures with residential living spaces. And they're becoming a popular alternative to traditional home construction, especially in rural areas. These steel-framed buildings offer some real advantages: faster construction times, simpler building processes, and lower long-term maintenance costs.

The construction is more straightforward than conventional homes. You're working with fewer layers between the steel frame and finished interior, which means you can reach the dry-in stage - with windows, roofing, and exterior complete - much faster. For people willing to act as their own general contractor, the potential savings are significant.

But barndominiums aren't a fit for every situation. Zoning regulations vary widely depending on your location, financing can require more legwork than traditional mortgages, and resale value is an open question in many markets. Whether you're planning a primary residence, a workshop, or a hybrid space, there's a lot to consider before you start building.

Ease of Construction

If you’re looking to build a more traditional structure, there’s a lot to it. With the exterior alone, you’re looking at the need for the following layers:

• Your structural layer to support the weight of the building

• Insulation

• Sheathing to provide a base for the exterior finish

• Weather-resistant barrier to prevent moisture from working its way from the outside in

• Exterior finish to create the visual look you are going for 

• Vapour barrier to control the transmission of vapours (if required where your building will be constructed)

But with a barndominium, there’s a lot less involved. Your project can achieve dry-in, where the windows, roofing, etc., are all installed, much faster as you don’t have as many layers. There’s no need for plywood, finishing materials, or vapour barriers. Most barndominiums have the steel sheeting attached to the steel frame with wood in between. And then the next interior layer is your sheetrock.

Speed 

You can build a barndominium much faster than a more traditional structure. In fact, with the right plan and materials, you can complete not only the exterior of your steel structure but also the interior in as little as two to three weeks.

However, err on the side of caution here. While barndominiums can be erected quickly, it’s better to assume a lengthier window. Just as with a conventional home, it can take three to six months from the start of the process to completion. This includes selecting your plan, ordering your materials from BarrierBoss, getting zoning permits and financing, and beginning the project. 

This said, we know that time is money. If you can have your materials ready and available upfront (i.e., no waiting on backordered components), the construction time can be significantly less.

Zoning and Location Flexibility 

Most barndominiums are built in rural areas versus more suburban settings (though its not out of the question). When building in the country, getting zoning permits for your project is easier. 

In most cases, you must provide a plan, credentials for the construction or building crew, and proof of insurance. Just be sure to select a plan that will be appealing to others to ensure potential resale value (this may be important for financing options later).

Challenges and Considerations for Steel Barndominiums

As with anything, you can’t be anything to everybody. And, this means there may be some real or perceived challenges or things to consider if you are looking at a steel barndominium as an option for your building project. 

Zoning, Financing, and Insurance 

Even if you have a sizeable plot of land out in the country, you may not be able to build a barndominium due to local zoning requirements and regulations. That said, more and more municipalities and rural areas are opening their minds and zoning requirements for these steel structures.

You may also need to check with your homeowners' association (HOA) or property owners' association (POA), if applicable. 

To get financing, you’ll need to provide proof of a well-designed plan. You’ll also need to show that the building will be structurally sound, and a real estate agent may be able to show that the property will have a reasonable resale value. Be prepared for the bank and your agent to use comps of traditional homes or buildings in the area.

Building Your Barndominium

As with any construction project, there are steps to follow. Here’s a high-level overview of the process for building your metal barndominium.

1. Come Up with Your Vision

Before looking for a barndominium plan, consider how you plan to use the space. Are you planning for this structure to become your barndominium house? Or, do you have an entirely different plan for it? As we said earlier, these steel buildings are becoming increasingly popular for various uses. So, take some time to think about your goals. 

Here are some example questions to help you through the process.

• Do you plan to live in the space?

• If so, how many people will be living there?

• Do you need a built-in workspace, such as a workshop or otherwise?

• Are you a gourmet chef who wants a show-ready kitchen, or will a more basic kitchen suffice?

• Do you want a lot of windows, or is your goal more about privacy?

• How much land do you have to work with?

• How much land do you want?

• How will the surrounding landscape be used?

• Do you plan to keep the building for a long time or is it for a short-term need?

Understanding your stance on questions like this can help you when you start shopping around for a plan.

2. Determine your Budget

To determine your budget, you probably want to know the answer to the question, how much does a barndominium cost? If you are a good builder and plan to act as the general contractor for your project, you’ll likely save 12 to 15% on the cost of a barndominium compared to a like-sized more traditional structure. If you do need to hire a contractor, you can anticipate spending about the same as you would with a traditional home. 

In her barndominium business, one industry insider estimates that 35 to 40% of her clients are trying to build their own steel building so that they don’t need to fork out money to a builder. Just remember that if you decide to go that route, you need to be prepared for the cost of inspections and to correct any mistakes you might make along the way.

So, how much is the average home in the U.S.? Sustainable9 says that as of March 2023, the cost per thousand board feet to build a new home is about $419.90.

3. Shop for a Plan

Now comes the fun part. During this phase, you start shopping for a plan that will fit on the land you have purchased, and can achieve the goals you have for the space. Thankfully, there are lots of places to purchase a plan. To start looking at plans, go to your preferred search engine and search for ‘barndominium plans’ and ‘barndominium designs.’

We do want to mention here a few things.

• Barndominium plans come at a cost, and it might be more expensive than you think. A quick look at one site and we found plans for $1,800 or more (with additional fees for customization).

• If you purchase a barndominium plan from a steel panel manufacturer or seller, make sure you are not obligated to purchase supplies from them. You should have the flexibility to order your steel siding and roofing panels from your preferred vendor (i.e., BarrierBoss).

• If you don’t find a plan you like, you can hire a designer to create one for you. This is an increasingly popular choice for homeowners who want a steel home that meets all of their requirements. 

4. Secure Permits and Zoning Requirements 

Once you have a plan, you can begin securing your construction permits. To do this, stop by your local government office to talk to their home construction division. They can walk you through everything you need to know about building a barndominium on your provisioned land.

If you did your homework in advance and checked on zoning restrictions, this should be a relatively easy process. However, know that in some areas, this process can take a few weeks. While you are waiting for your permits to be approved, its a good time to start shopping around for the materials you will need for your project.

5. Order Your Materials 

At this point, you can officially order your materials. Your plan should provide you with exact specifications on what is needed for your project. In most cases, the steel sheeting will be listed in standard sizes. But, some plans do call for custom needs. This is where BarrierBoss can really help. Not only do we have standard sizes for corrugated metal siding and roofing, we can also customize based on your project requirements.

Visit our product catalog to look at what we have to offer. If you don’t find the size you need, let us know. We recently worked on a monumental order for a client out of Texas and created a variety of custom items, including:

• 115 panels of sleek black corrugated metal fence, framed in pressure-treated wood

• Custom 8x8 pressure-treated QuadGuard panels

• A seriously huge sliding main entry gate with specifications of 6’ x 22’

• Two gates measuring 4’ x 8’

• One gate measuring 4’ x 6’.

We can create custom-sized sheetings for your needs, too.

6. Source Your Contractor 

If you aren't planning to build your barndominium yourself, it’s time to find a reliable contractor you can work with. Look for someone who has experience building metal barndominiums in the past, and be sure to ask for references. Remember, too, that these steel structures might be referred to by different names based on your location.

Let us know if you have trouble finding a contractor to work with. We are happy to make referrals to licensed contractors in your area, at no extra cost to you. We do not take a cut of the deal if you decide to work together. Consider the referral our gift to you as a thank you for your supply order.

7. Site Preparation

One of the first things your general contractor will do is prepare the site for construction. This process will vary based on where you live and local requirements. However the process typically consists of the following:

• Clearing away trees, brush, and any other debris

• Grading the land for the installation of drainage systems

• Installation of drainage systems and any other underground requirements

• Regrading to prepare for the foundation

• Laying the concrete foundation, whether it will be a slab (most common with a barndominium), crawl space, or basement.

8. Construction

You can begin the construction process if all your supplies have arrived. This includes the following steps:

• Framing the structure

• Installing roofing and exterior steel wall panels

• Roughing in the utilities

• Interior finishing such as walls, flooring, cabinetry, fixtures, windows, doors, etc.

As a note, at BarrierBoss, we pride ourselves on quick shipping options. We can typically ship your supplies in just three or four days from the time you place the order. We understand that time is money and pull out all the stops to get your materials to you quickly.

9. Inspections and Adjustments 

Once your barndominium is completed, you will need to have a local inspector come out to review the work. Your contractor will likely have had various inspections done throughout the construction process, so in most cases, this is a formality. It does, however, mean that your structural, electrical, and plumbing elements will be closely reviewed for safety and compliance with local requirements.

If any issues are found, you will be given a certain time window to make the corrections. After adjustments have been made, the inspector will return to provide final approval for you to inhabit the space.

10. Final Touches

With your inspection behind you, it’s time to indulge in those finishing touches. This means adding those internal and external decorations to complete the space. Think furniture, lighting, and decorations to fit your style. You may also choose to have the exterior landscaped right away. However, many homeowners wait a year or two before landscaping the exterior, to help save on costs.

11. Move-in Day!

Moving day has arrived at long last (or not so long in most cases). Now is your time to enjoy all of your hard work and indulge in your new way of living. With all of that planning, we’re convinced that you will love all of the benefits that come with barndominium living.