You may still have some questions. After all, building a home is a significant project, and you want to make an informed decision before getting started.
Here are eight of the most commonly asked questions about this type of home:
How long do barndos last?
How long a barndo lasts depends on its environment, quality of construction, materials, and quality of maintenance. Any slapped-together structure will not stand the test of time.
But a well-constructed barndo lasts for years, just like a traditional home, although you may need to replace doors, gutters, windows, or other elements. A well-built structure could stand firm for hundreds of years.
Are barndos hard to insure?
If you build this type of home, you should know that insuring your barndo may not be exactly like insuring a house. Not all insurance companies cover barndominiums, and some don’t cover buildings with metal siding. Others may not cover dual-purpose structures, a category most of these homes fall into.
However, depending on your situation, you can get barndominium insurance just as easily as regular home insurance.
If your home includes a workspace, the function of the workspace plays into how high your premiums are. For example, if you use potentially hazardous equipment in your workspace, your rates will be more expensive.
How long does it take to build a pole barn home?
How long it takes to build a pole barn home depends on various factors, such as size, whether you are going to DIY or hire a contractor, and how much customization you want.
A simple barndo could take 3-6 months, whereas a large custom one may take over a year. According to this article with Stacee Lynn, the Barndominium Lady, most can be completed in roughly half the time it takes to construct a regular home.
Do barndos hold their value?
Barndominiums normally retain their resale value and may even increase in value gradually, although more slowly than a standard home.
However, these homes are still rare in some parts of the country, and it may be challenging to get an accurate appraisal in an area where there are few.
Are barndos energy efficient?
Steel buildings such as these are typically sided with metal and insulated with spray foam insulation. A properly insulated metal building is highly energy efficient and doesn’t put a lot of stress on your heating and cooling system.
If you add other energy-efficient features such as awnings, high-performance doors, windows, and LED lighting, you can reduce your energy bills by 40%, according to westernstatesmetalroofing.com.
Is it cheaper to build a barndominium or a house?
The cost of a pole barn home depends on the size, materials, and method of building, but they are generally cheaper to build than a house.
One factor that plays in is that pole barn structures are easy to build, so some homeowners choose to DIY them. This saves you the money it would take to hire a contractor and allows you to shop around for second-hand appliances and fixtures.
Stacee Lynn, the Barndominium Lady, says, “Overall, I would say if you are acting as general contractor and you are a good shopper…I would say you would save around 12-15%...if you are hiring a general contractor, now you are really close to what it’s going to cost to build a traditional home.”
If you want more info from Stacee Lynn, here is an extremely helpful interview with the Barndominium Lady going over the pros, cons, and building process.
How are barndos so cheap?
These homes can save you money in several ways:
- They are quick to build, and time is money. The quicker your construction timeline, the more money you save.
- Their shells require fewer materials and layers. For example, a typical home exterior could consist of brick, a vapor barrier, plywood, a wood frame, insulation, and sheetrock. A typical barndo might consist of sheet metal, plywood, a metal frame, spray foam insulation, and sheetrock.
- They lower your energy bills.
- They don’t require a foundation like a normal house. This saves you time, materials, and labor.
- It’s possible to assemble your own barndo kit, saving you the money it would take to hire a contractor.
- Not hiring a contractor means you can shop around for secondhand fixtures and appliances.
Are barndos safe?
If you are worried about a pole barn home not being safe, you can put your worries to rest.
Barndos are just as safe as traditional homes and, in some ways, safer. Steel ones are tougher and safer than wood-framed ones, but both are completely safe to live in.
Steel ones are fire resistant and can stand up to wind, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes just as well, if not better than traditional homes. Also, steel has a lower electrical resistance than many materials, making it safer in lightning strikes.
These homes also tend to require less maintenance, being made almost entirely of steel.
