Barndominiums
Rather than building a traditional home, some families or individuals are opting for something called barndominiums. These structures provide living space as well as additional space for a workshop, large dining areas, and often built on a larger piece of property. Barndominiums come with a lot of different building considerations and combine a few different home styles seamlessly together.
Dirty Deeds Construction offers the building of new homes and barndominiums in Utah. Our construction team understands the complexities of building large structures and creates an aesthetically pleasing build that will last a lifetime.
What Is A Barndominium?
What really is a barndominium? These large structures are a custom built open concept living space that combines rustic and modern elements together to create a barn like home. They are typically built out of steel and have metal siding to help achieve the barn like look while also protecting the home from extreme weather.
One of the benefits of a barndominium build is combining work and play. Since they are larger and often built away from larger cities, barndominiums offer space to store equipment, recreational vehicles, and other necessities all under one roof. Those who want more of a off-grid living situation can benefit from a barndominium build that offers certain luxuries while allowing you to have wide scenic views, framing land, or space for livestock.
Stick Frame Vs. Post Frame
Two popular building types for barndominiums is stick frame and post frame, both of which can provide a variety of benefits to homeowners. Post frame is often seen as the cheaper option for building, but that may not always be the case, especially when constructing a large building.
Stick frame builds are what we typically think of when it comes to construction. These stick frames are put on top of a concrete foundation and come with complex internal structural components to set up rooms and hold up the build. This type of framing is most traditional for residential homes.
Post frame builds are more popular for barndominiums as the have large, foundational posts which are buried 4-6 feet into the ground. This eliminates the need for basements or crawl spaces that typically provide support. There is no need for interior load barring walls, creating a more open space customary with barndominum builds.
Both framing options provide a secure structure, but larger buildings benefit from the deeply buried posts that hold up the open concept structure. This building type is the most versatile, especially for custom designed barndominums. Using post frame for barndominum builds also requires the skills and knowledge of a qualified builder.
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Determining The Cost Of Your Barndominium
Determining the cost of your build will depend on a variety of factors, including, custom elements, interior materials, the building size, and the location. Typically, barndominiums can range from $150 to $400 per square foot. Some ways to save on costs, whether in a traditional residential home or barndominum is to limit high end finishes, fixtures, and unnecessary add ons.
The Benefits Of Working With A Professional Builder
Constructing a home yourself may seem like the most cost effective option, but working with a professional builder for a barndominium will help you avoid disasters from small mistakes. While there are ways to construct a barndominium on your own, having the specialized expertise of a home builder will allow you to have more flexibility over how the home looks and performs.
For example, builders who construct barndominums often are with you through the entire design and building process. This means that they can help you choose the right layout, materials, and design that meets your needs. Working with a builder will help you make the right decisions for longer lasting builds.
A team of contractors has the tools and experience needed to create your build faster and more efficiently. Faster assembly means you will be in your new living space sooner, without worrying about cut corners and need for constant repairs. Barndominium builders understand the local building requirements, how the climate affects a build, and what common mistakes DIY builders make during barndominium construction.
Barndominium Construction From Dirty Deeds
Our Utah County home builders construct traditional residential homes as well as barndominiums. Dirty Deeds is proud to work with different types of homeowners, especially those who are designing their dream home. Our contractors and technicians can construct your dream from the ground up, giving you peace of mind that everything is being completed by a team you trust. Work with our construction experts to have a weather resistant and comfortable home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do financing and insurance work for a barndominium compared to a traditional home?
Getting a mortgage or home insurance for a barndominium can be slightly more complex than for a standard stick-built home. Because barndominiums are unique hybrid structures, some traditional lenders struggle to find comparable sales (“comps”) for appraisals. You will often need to work with a lender experienced in rural or post-frame financing to secure a construction-to-permanent loan. For insurance, you’ll need to specify how much of the square footage is dedicated to living space versus workshop or equipment storage, as non-living areas are underwritten differently.
Can a barndominium be properly insulated for Utah’s harsh winters and hot summers?
Yes, but it requires a specialized insulation approach due to the metal framing and siding. Metal conducts heat and cold much faster than wood, making condensation a major concern. Standard fiberglass batts alone often aren’t enough. Most quality barndominium builds rely on high-R-value closed-cell spray foam insulation applied directly to the metal exterior panels. This creates a tight thermal envelope, prevents moisture buildup, and drastically lowers heating and cooling costs year-round.