Thank you for reading our post, please rate this article at the end.
Last Updated on September 5, 2024 by Paul Clayton
Table of Contents
How to Build a DIY Barndominium
Now that tiny homes, RV life, and all alternative housing options are all the rage, there’s never been a better time to hop on the barndominium bandwagon. Barn homes are an incredible way to live off the land, connect with nature, and try something new.
Key Takeaways
-
- Planning and Budgeting: Before starting the DIY barndominium project, it’s crucial to have detailed blueprints, floor plans, and a well-structured budget. Understanding the cost, which typically ranges from $100,000 to $150,000, is essential.
- Building Codes and Permits: Ensure compliance with local building codes and obtain necessary permits. This may involve land inspection and blueprint approval by city authorities.
- DIY Barndominium Kits: Utilizing barndominium kits can simplify the building process, especially for beginners. These kits range from basic to comprehensive and provide essential materials and pre-cut components.
- Step-by-Step Construction: The construction process involves several stages, including:
- Foundation: Using posts and slabs or steel for a sturdy base.
- Framing: Erecting the skeleton with heavy steel beams and wooden lumber.
- Utilities: Installing wiring, plumbing, and HVAC systems, with flexibility in the placement and routing of pipes and wires.
- Insulation: Adding appropriate insulation based on wall thickness for temperature control.
- Interior Finishing: Applying drywall, painting, flooring, and adding personal touches.
- Furnishing and Moving In: Once construction is complete, furnish the barndominium to make it cozy and inviting. Budget for new furniture or gradually replace old pieces.
If you’re ready to take on the project, keep reading for the inside scoop on the DIY barndominium building. Barn Again: Restored and New Barns for the 21st Century.
Planning for Building a DIY Barndominium
Before you race to Home Depot for supplies or start pouring a foundation, it’s important to have barndominium plans. You can’t dive into the project without knowing how much it’ll cost, what you’ll need, and how to facilitate the build correctly.
That’s why barndominium blueprints and floor plans are so important. Sketching a barn home layout or finding one online or from a builder is the key to crafting your dream home.
Having barndominium house plans also means you’ll know exact room sizes, layouts, and placements instead of just winging it during the build.
Planning out your budget and understanding the cost of building a barndominium is also essential. While they’re popular for being a cheaper alternative to traditional homes, any building project will cost you.
While it varies depending on your building state, most homeowners pay around $100,000-150,000. Identify how much your family is comfortable setting aside for this project.
If you’re willing to expand the budget, several amenities can be added to the home. On the other hand, there are tons of tips and tricks for cutting barndo costs. Luckily, a DIY barndominium is one of them.
Another aspect of building your barn house is following local building codes and guidelines. You may wonder, “Can you build a barndominium in California?” or what cities in your area are off limits. The Homebuilding & Renovating Book of Barn Conversions: Complete Fully Illustrated Stories of 35 Inspirational Projects.
Since no distinct cities or states have banned barndominiums, asking your city for permission is the best way to determine if your barndo is good to go. They may need to inspect the land, go through blueprints, and adjust to ensure your barndo is safe and approved.
The last thing you should do before going into full Bob the Builder mode is make a schedule for completion. Barndos are great because they usually take less time to build than traditional homes. How to Build your Barndominium: The Ultimate Guide to Building your Dream Barn-Style House.
However, without a plan, it is easy to drag the project on, push things off, and delay its completion, especially when you’re DIYing it.
Set a realistic timeline so you can stay on track and enjoy the barndominium life as soon as possible!
Finding DIY Barndominium Kits
Now that you’ve got your blueprint sketched, your budget established, and your timeline in check, it’s time to find some barndominium building kits. For the typical DIYer, barndo kits can help build your barn home in a much more manageable way.
There are a variety of kits with different designs, stages of construction, and supplies needed to build.
Kits for small barn homes are inexpensive and usually include the most significant building components, all cut to size. However, they may not include some things like doors and windows. Go with a more elaborate kit to materialize your extravagant, 2-story barndominium floor plans.
Complete kits will provide everything you need for your home. Since there are so many, finding one that matches your ideal floor plan is typically straightforward.
If it’s your first time building a home, barndo kits are foolproof. They make everything from ordering the suitable materials to making cuts, a simple process. Quality DIY barndominium kits may be expensive, but consider how much you’ll save on labor costs.
Or trips to the hardware store because you accidentally got the wrong screw again. The best way to find a great barn home kit is by browsing online and heading to local hardware stores.
Building a Barndominium, Step-by-Step
As lifesaving as your barndo kit will be, it can’t provide a building tutorial or some helping hands along the way. If you’re new to building, or even if you’re not, barndos are unique and can be tricky to get the hand on crafting. Luckily, this list will narrow down the process so you can easily assemble it!
Step 1: Barndominium Foundation
Every great home starts with a solid foundation, figuratively and quite literally. Barndominiums can be secured to the ground in several ways, but posts and slabs are most common. Those using posts will secure them to the ground with concrete, and holes will be dug using a post-hole digger to create depth. Measure the appropriate depth by referring to your region’s frost line.
Then, cardboard forms can be placed on the pole so that the posts can be concreted. While this method creates a strong foundation, it’s only best for open floor plans.
Builders using steel will have better luck creating a long-lasting and sturdy foundation. Monolithic concrete slabs are expected if the ground is very flat. In this scenario, the perimeter of your foundation will bear most of the total weight.
So, this area, known as the footing, can be up to three times thicker than the rest of the pad.
Step 2: Framing a DIY Barndominium
After the concrete has been poured and the foundation is settled, the barndo framing process can begin. Once the posts are set, the rest of the skeleton gets erected. This step is tricky because the steel beams (girders) in this process are extremely heavy, usually requiring lifting cranes.
However, after these beams come together, the roof, walls, and foundation will all be combined into one happy home.
You will likely form the barndominium interior with wood lumber since it makes installing other components, like drywall and insulation, easier. Metal studs and tracks are alternative options, but they require specialized knowledge and materials (not very DIY friendly).
Lumber is readily available and easy to work with once you’ve got the hang of it.
The framework usually also reduces or eliminates the possibility of bearing walls. This feature allows for more flexibility in the home’s interior design.
The final part of the framing process is typically barndominium roof installation. I am setting them up while framing helps to keep the interior relatively dry while the rest of the construction is still being finished.
This step would also be ideal for installing weather-shielding features like gutters and fascia caps. Although this process is hard, you can sigh in relief because it’s already time to head inside.
Step 3: Wiring, Plumbing, and HVAC for Barndominiums
Once the outside is essentially finished, it’s time to make your home livable. You’ve got to have light, water, and the ability to flush your toilet! Assembling wiring, plumbing, and HVAC will be the same as in a traditional home.
If building the outside was a breeze, but figuring out the plumbing isn’t your jam, this would be the time to call out some contractors for side jobs.
Installing the plumbing at this stage will leave plenty of room for the pipes’ required bends and angles. Currently, PEX, a plastic tubing designed to withstand extreme cold, is most common. You can also purchase PEX in long spools, reducing the required joints.
Reducing the number of joints and flexibility of tubing often means water can flow from the water heater to a fixture in a single section, eliminating potential leaks. It’s also wise to install nail guards anywhere a nail or screw would be long enough to penetrate wires and pipes.
Next up is electrical systems. They typically fall next on the roster of building tasks because although wiring also follows a set of rules like plumbing, the routing is normally more flexible. For example, it’s much easier to route a wire around a pipe than a pipe around a wire.
Remember to plan out the location of any features that may need a dedicated circuit, such as a jetted tub in the master bath. But what’s a nice warm bath without a cozy home to relax in afterward?
Step 4: Insulation for Barndominiums
Insulation is one of the most important aspects of building a barndominium since it keeps us toasty during the teeth-chattering months and chills us out when the outside gets steamy. While some barndos in the southern US aren’t required to have insulation, it’s essential for those of us living in colder climates.
Most professionals recommend using the International Residential Code for reference.
The type of insulation you can add will depend on the barndominium wall thickness. For example, most walls are 4.5 inches thick, meaning they’re built with two-by-four-inch studs. This wall thickness allows R-13 fiberglass batting or spray foam insulation.
Thicker walls, like those with 6.5-inch thickness, typically need R-19 insulation. There’s no need to worry about being harmful to the environment with insulation because barndos provide an eco-friendly solution to staying warm inside.
Step 5: Barndominium Drywall, Paint, and Flooring
Now that you’ve got all the boring stuff out of the way, it’s time to make this place your own! Once all basic systems have been tested and the inspection has been passed, the wall covering is usually next. This is often drywall to cater to barndominium homes’ country feels.
However, it’s not uncommon for builders to add modern and personal touches, such as groove paneling, stonework, or even rough-sawn logs, to the barn home design.
Next, watch your barndo come to life as the walls get covered in paint. Last but certainly not least, flooring is installed, followed by trim. And just like that, you have a beautiful barn home!
Step 6: Furnish Barndominium and Move In
After the long process of plotting, ordering parts, and crafting your own home, it will feel amazing to finally move in. All that’s left to do is add some furniture and décor; then, it’ll be oh-so personal, cozy, and inviting.
When planning the budget, remember the cost of furnishing this new home. That way, you can trade in your shabby old couch for a nice new one to match your fresh home’s vibe.
There’s nothing wrong with combining the old and the new: save cash on furniture and slowly trade in some new pieces over time. Your barndominium will be amazing either way!
Hopefully, building a DIY barndominium doesn’t seem so daunting now. Knowing each step of the process should make things a bit quicker, easier, and more fun! Before you go, check out Crow Survival’s articles for more content on outdoor living. You’re guaranteed to have the best barn home in no time.
Conclusion
Building a DIY barndominium is an exciting and rewarding project requiring meticulous planning, building code adherence, and a step-by-step approach. Utilizing barndominium kits can simplify the process, making it accessible even for beginners. You can create a unique and comfortable barn home by following the outlined construction stages and incorporating personal touches.
With proper planning and execution, your barndominium will become a cherished space combining rustic charm and modern comfort. For more tips and inspiration on outdoor living, visit Crow Survival’s articles.
Home page
Back to the top of the page
