Why Barndominiums Are Still a Smart Choice Build
At first glance, barndominiums promise budget-friendly home construction thanks to their metal prefab kits and remote rural sites. However, all-in costs for a high-quality barndo with nice finishes often end up comparable to a traditional built house. Does this mean you should abandon barndo dreams? Not necessarily – their other benefits beyond bottom line savings still make steel homes a wise investment when planned properly.
Where Costs Add Up
Several factors can lead to barndominiums reaching pricing parity with traditional homes:
– Luxury finishings like stonework, high-end appliances
– Technical requirements like heavy insulation, moisture barriers
– Long utility runs, site development on rural land
– HVAC systems sized for large open spaces
– General contractor oversight of specialized trades
Where Barndos Provide Added Value
While the overall price tag may be similar once nicely equipped, barndominiums return more value in areas that matter:
– Customization flexibility perfects the layout for your family
– Ability to size for spacious open concepts not easily achievable on spec homes
– Energy efficiency from steel envelope and modern HVAC
– Disaster and pest resilience from sturdy materials
– Enjoyment of peaceful rural sites and proximity to land
– Potential for accessory dwellings like workshops not permitted in suburbs
– Significantly lower long-term maintenance than traditional builds
The Takeaway
If you want a true bare bones shelter, basic pole barns are the most budget build. But for fully livable custom dwellings, barndominium pricing landing similarly to conventional homes is not unreasonable. The heightened return on personalization, efficiency, resilience, and functionality merits the investment – delivering lifestyle benefits that make barndos worth every penny.
