A barndominium, or barndo, is a pretty new concept for most homebuilders. When people think of building a residential building, they think of stand-alone townhouses, duplexes, or apartments. Building a barndominium is an excellent way to ensure a residence that stands out while giving your family a functional home.
What are Barndominiums?
So, what is a barndominium? The original barndominiums were old and unused barns converted into residences. Rather than tearing them down, they were repurposed and given a new lease on life.
Nowadays, the term barndominium refers to residential structures with barn-like exteriors. They can be repurposed old barns or newly built structures. While most barndominiums use metal frames and sidings, it is not unusual to see barndos made of wood or a combination of wood and metal materials.
Tips and Tricks for Building a Barndominium
Building a barndominium can be challenging. It is also a considerable investment. Here are some fantastic tips and tricks to help you turn your barndominium into a bona fide success.
Plan Carefully
Before building your barndominium, list all the features you need in your barndo, e.g., the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you want. Do you want to have a home office or a home gym? Look at your current house and list the missing features you wish you had or existing ones you want to improve.
This is a good exercise to ensure your new residence has all the necessary features. It can also help you avoid having unnecessary features that might bloat your budget.
Hire a Design and Build Company
Hiring a design and build company is a great way to start your barndominium construction. While most construction companies handle the building aspect of a structure, a design and build company takes care of both the designing and building of a structure. This can help you save time since you only need to deal with one company instead of two separate entities.
The design and build company will provide the necessary documentation to build your barndominium. These include but are not limited to a foundation plan, floor plan, exterior elevation, electrical plan, and others.
Since the building designers and construction workers are with the same company, they can easily communicate with each other to bring your vision to life. If there are sudden design changes, the designer can easily relay new information to the construction crew. Hiring a design and build company can also be cheaper since paying two companies separately is unnecessary.
Shop Around
As excited as you might be by the prospect of finally realizing your dream home, don’t sign up with the first contractor you meet. Set aside some time to speak with several contractors. You can use this time to ask for their credentials and proof of previous projects. Ensure your builder possesses the required licenses; this will help you gauge their capabilities and determine if they have the right skills to deliver the expected work quality.
Asking for quotes is another aspect of comparing home builders. It will help you check if the cost of hiring a builder fits your budget. When comparing quotes, make sure that you look at all the inclusions they are offering. Will they source the materials for the project? Will they handle the securing of the required building permits? What kind of warranty and guarantee are they offering? An in-depth analysis of quotes can help you decide which builder offers the best value-for-money proposition.
Build it Yourself
If you have enough time and skills, consider building the barndominium yourself. This will give you free rein to work at your own pace. However, finishing the barndominium will take longer if you go for a DIY build. It can take even longer if you have a full-time job and can only work on your barndominium during weekends or in your free time.
However, before attempting a DIY build, ensure you are eligible to be an owner-builder. Before you can be an owner builder, you need to obtain a certificate of consent which entails attending the required training and submitting requirements.
It is also important to note that the eligibility for being an owner-builder differs from territory to territory. For example, you do not need an owner-builder certificate in Victoria if you are a registered architect. In New South Wales, you do not need an owner-builder certificate if you are an accredited building certifier.
Remember that a DIY build doesn’t mean you will handle all aspects of building your barndominium. You still need to hire a tradie for things like the installation of HVAC systems, electrical systems, plumbing, etc. For these jobs, ensure that you hire a reliable local tradie.
Carefully Choose Your Materials
As mentioned, there are multiple building materials to choose from when building a barndominium. Ensure that the material you select suits your location and will fit your needs.
For example, if you are building in the Northern Territory, Queensland, or the northern areas of West Australia, a steel barndominium might be a better choice. These areas experience the most bushfires, and steel is non-combustible and fire-resistant. If you plan on building near the ocean, a wooden barndominium might be a better choice since it has fewer materials that might rust due to the salty air.
Make it Future-Proof
One of the most common regrets of homeowners is having a building they cannot expand or improve. Let’s say you want additional bedrooms for your growing family, but your structure is only designed for three bedrooms. Or you fancy adding an outdoor dining area, but you built it too close to your fence.
If you plan on upgrading or expanding your barndo in the future, leave room for improvements. For example, if you plan on adding an outdoor kitchen and dining area, leave plumbing provisions for when you build a kitchen sink.
Having an open floor plan can also make improving your barndominium easier. Without permanent interior walls, you can easily resize the living spaces of your barndominium. You can reconfigure interior spaces if you get tired of your current layout.
Source Locally
Sourcing your building materials from local suppliers can help you build your barndo on time and within budget. For one, local suppliers can deliver building materials quickly as opposed to a supplier from out of town. It can also help stimulate the local economy. Buying building materials from local suppliers can be cheaper. For one, you don’t have to worry about paying delivery fees that faraway suppliers might charge.
Just like with hiring a building company, it is best to get quotes from several suppliers. You can compare prices and buy from the supplier offering the best deal. Getting quotes can also help you estimate the overall cost of building materials. This is crucial if you use a home loan to finance your barndominium. You can ask for cheaper alternatives if you know you will exceed your budget.
Don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations from your builder. Most builders have established good working relationships with suppliers who might be able to give them favourable deals on building materials. Your contractor might also have a better idea of where to source high-quality materials at affordable prices.
Ensure that You have the Right Permits
Obtaining the required permits can help ensure a smooth-sailing construction project. You will need a planning permit and building permit to build a barndominium. You need to start building your barndominium within 12 months of securing the building permit and complete it within 24 months. Check if your contractor will handle the permit application for you.
Final Word
A barndominium is an exciting alternative to the usual cookie-cutter home designs on almost every street. It is also a considerable investment. With the help of the tips and tricks we outlined above, you can ensure that your barndominium is a success and will provide you and your family with everything you need in a new home.
