Are you toying with the idea of building a barndominium? Perhaps you’re exploring versatile and cost-effective residential building solutions?
Check out our comprehensive guide on how to build a barndominium from scratch, step-by-step. In addition to having the right plan, you want to make sure you identify a premier manufacturer of high-quality steel buildings for commercial, industrial, and residential purposes that’s committed to delivering unparalleled quality swiftly and efficiently.
This ensures you don’t have to prematurely rebuild/repair parts of it down the road. Read on for our in-depth guide that will give you everything you need to know before diving into the barndominium building process.
The History of the Barndominium & the Steps to Build a Superior Living Space
Before we delve into the nuts and bolts of building a barndominium, it’s crucial to understand its origins and why it has gained such popularity in recent years.
The term ‘barndominium’ or ‘barndo’ symbolizes an innovative blend of barns and condominiums.
These structures originated in the Northeast and quickly gained popularity for their cost-effectiveness, durability, and adaptability. The idea is simple yet revolutionary: Combine comfortable living spaces with versatile storage or workshop areas, all under one roof.
The first barndominiums were merely barns transformed into living spaces, but over time, they evolved into purpose-built structures, combining the simplicity of a barn with the comfort and elegance of a traditional home. Today, they’re an emerging trend in the housing industry, appreciated for their functional and aesthetic appeal.
We’re at the forefront of this innovation, crafting barndominiums that tick all the boxes: superior quality, versatility, affordability, and speed of construction. We ensure that each project we take on is tailor-made to meet your unique needs and specifications.
Now that you’re familiar with what a barndominium is and why it’s a fantastic residential option, let’s dig into the 10 steps to build your dream barndominium.
1. Planning and Budgeting
No successful construction project ever started without meticulous planning and budgeting. This phase forms the foundation of your project, setting the tone for everything that follows.
Start by outlining your needs and priorities and asking yourself these questions.
- What do you envisage your barndominium to be?
- What spaces are absolutely essential, and what are the ‘nice-to-haves’?
- How many bedrooms do you need? Do you require a large workshop, or is a small garage sufficient?
- Do you plan to expand in the future?
Once you have a clear idea of what you need, move on to the budgeting stage. Establishing a solid budget is much easier with a partner like Quicken Steel who can provide you with base costs tailored to your exact build area.
Allocate funds for each segment of the construction, ensuring you include every aspect from land acquisition, materials, labor, interior finishing, to contingencies for unexpected costs. You might even need a construction loan so don’t forget about that.
A well-planned budget will not only keep your project on track but will also prevent financial surprises down the line.
2. Land Acquisition
After planning and budgeting, the next critical step is land acquisition. Your barndominium needs a plot of land, and not just any piece will do. The perfect plot of land is vital to your project’s success and influences your barndo’s design, functionality, and even your lifestyle.
Consider aspects such as location, topography, and access to utilities.
- Is the land easily accessible?
- Does it have a view you’d like to capture with large windows or an outdoor deck?
- Does the local climate have implications for your barndominium’s design?
Make sure you consult professionals for a comprehensive land assessment before making a purchase.
3. Interior Design Elements & Exterior Too
Now comes the exciting part—designing your barndominium floor plan. This is where you have the chance to customize your living spaces as per your needs.
Start with a basic sketch of your barndo, indicating the placement of rooms, doors, windows, and utilities. Remember, the beauty of a barndominium lies in its adaptability. You’re not confined by traditional home layouts—design your barndo to suit your unique lifestyle and needs.
You might want to focus on creating open living spaces, or maybe you want a large garage for your vintage car collection. Some people prefer having a dedicated workspace or even a home gym. The choices are endless, and that’s the magic of building a barndominium—you can make it your own in every way.
If you haven’t reached out to involve us in your process up to this point, now is the time. Crafting your design alongside our experts who understand both the advantages and limitations of cold-formed steel is crucial in developing a barndo that you’ll love.
4. Obtain Permits
With a detailed design in hand, it’s time to obtain necessary building permits. This step is crucial because it ensures your project complies with local codes and regulations. Quicken Steel makes this process near seamless by offering preliminary engineering that’s submittal-ready.
Bear in mind that the process of obtaining permits varies by location and can take time. Therefore, make sure you budget enough time for this step, even when working alongside us for your submittal documents.
5. Foundation and Framing
The success of your barndominium depends largely on the strength of its foundation. Our barndos are typically built using 4-inch slab foundations, without the need for pre-set bolts, sparking cost savings from the onset without sacrificing strength.
An added layer to this cost savings is in our engineered foundation plans that are included with your barndo at no additional cost. After the foundation, the framing is erected. This forms the skeleton of your barndo, providing structure to the building. At this point, you’ll have a bright, galvanized cold-formed frame that’s standing strong and ready to sheet.
With Quicken Steel, you can rest easy knowing that these steps are carefully sorted by experts with cost savings in mind. Our team understands the importance of quality workmanship in this phase of construction, ensuring your barndominium stands strong and durable for years to come.
Need a Barndo Kit to Save Time & Money? Chat with Quicken Steel
If you’re looking to save time and money, we offer customized barndo kits. Our fully-engineered kits provide all the components needed for your barndo,, eliminating the hassle of sourcing materials separately. You’ll have everything you need delivered straight to your construction site, enabling a smoother, faster building process.
Design A Barndo For Free
6. Building Installation
Now, it’s time to move to the next phase of building installation, which includes the installation of a metal roof and exterior walls, sheeting, trim, doors, and more. Using superior-quality steel materials, this phase lays out the basic structure of your barndo, turning your design into reality.
Quicken Steel’s pre-punched components at custom lengths paired with detailed installation manuals ensure that this phase is executed with precision and speed. Our quality materials and expert team ensure a faster and smoother construction process, allowing you to see your barndominium take shape sooner than you imagined.
7. Interior Finishing
This stage is where your barndo starts feeling like home. Interior finishing involves everything inside your barndo, including flooring, wall paint, fixtures, kitchen and bathroom installations, and much more. Whether you want a rustic charm or a sleek, modern look, your interior finishing will reflect your personal style and taste.
At this stage, it’s important to consider factors like energy efficiency, maintenance, and durability when choosing materials. You might want to consider energy-efficient windows, sustainable insulation options, or easy-to-clean flooring.
8. Install Utilities
With the interior finishing complete, it’s time for professionals to install utilities. These include electrical installations, plumbing, and HVAC systems. This phase is crucial for your barndo’s functionality, so it’s important to hire reliable professionals for these tasks.
9. Landscaping
Landscaping is often an overlooked aspect of building a home, but it significantly enhances your barndominium’s appeal. Good landscaping improves the aesthetic charm of your property, provides outdoor living spaces, and also improves drainage around your building.
Whether you want a simple, low-maintenance landscape or an elaborate garden, proper planning and design are key. Consider factors like local climate, soil type, and maintenance requirements when designing your landscape.
10. Inspection
After all the hard work and investment, it’s time to conduct a thorough inspection of your barndominium. This step ensures everything is completed to the highest standard, and the building is ready for occupancy. Any issues or defects found during the inspection should be addressed immediately.
By using a Quicken Steel authorized installer, you can drastically reduce the likelihood of issues during and after the install of your cold-formed steel barndominium.
How to Build on a Budget & Make More Energy Efficient
Building a barndominium on a budget doesn’t mean compromising on quality or comfort. It’s all about smart planning, design, and material choices. Prioritize your needs and allocate your budget accordingly. Consider using a barndo kit from Quicken Steel, which can save time and costs by providing all components you need in one fully-engineered package with expert support to match.
For energy efficiency, opt for superior insulation, energy-efficient windows, and appliances. Incorporate natural light into your design to reduce electricity consumption. A well-designed barndominium not only saves on construction costs but also leads to long-term savings on energy bills.
So, are you ready to take the plunge and build your dream barndominium? With us, your dream is closer than you think. Reach out to us via the free 3-D Online Designer to kickstart your barndo journey.
It’s time to live the barndo dream!
