Expenses to Consider When Building a Barndominium

It’s a perfect match–rustic chic style and an agricultural utility-inspired building with the versatility to be a home with limitless possibility. The barndominium trend topped home building trends in 2016 and hasn’t slowed down since. A barndominium, or barndo for short, is a traditional barn-style building converted into a home. There is a lot to love about the idea of building a barndominium, especially the flexibility to control building costs. Here is a quick run-down to help you budget your barndo build.

Building Site-Related Expenses

First, and foremost, you’ll need a place to build your barndominium. If you’ve never purchased acreage before, it can be a little different than purchasing a residential tract. Your barndominium probably won’t fit the definition of a residential home for urban zoning laws, so you’ll have better luck buying property in a rural or unincorporated area.

Land

The average cost of agricultural land is around $3,380 per acre with most areas requiring a minimum of five acres per parcel. And in the prime Midwestern agricultural states, you’ll see prices closer to $9,751 per acre. If you’re looking for land that is close enough to commute to a major city or if you want features like a natural water source with a river, creek, or spring, you can expect to pay a premium price.

Road Access & Utilities

Another problem that comes with buying rural parcels of undeveloped land is access. You’ll need to build a road to the nearest public road and have utilities like electricity run to the property. You’ll also dig a well and install a septic tank for water and waste unless you have access to connect to a city or county water source.      

Here are some average costs for access and utilities:

• Road Work: $70 to $170 per foot.
• Electricity: $25 to $50 per foot
• Septic: $5k to $8k
• 100-Foot Well: $6k to $10k
• Water Treatment: $1k to $3k

The average cost for purchasing and preparing a building site is between $100k and $300k, with some costs including high-value property and major roadwork exceeding these numbers by as much as twice the highest amount.

Zoning & Permitting

Any time that you build, including on rural property, you’ll need permits. Obtaining permits typically involves submitting engineer drawings and building plans, along with paying appropriate fees. The cost of permits varies by jurisdiction.

Building-Related Expenses

Once you have the land and permits secured and a plan for getting utilities connected, it’s actually time to start planning your barndominium. These costs can vary significantly by size or between renovating an existing structure and building a new structure.

Building Shell

The shell is the part that gives the barndo its barn-like appearance. In some cases, it is a genuine barn that is renovated into a livable space, or it may be a new build. For cost-saving measures, a metal barn is a common choice with an average price of around $45k. If you opt for the high-end, traditional stick-built barn look, you can expect to pay premium prices of more than three times that cost for wood.

Foundation

Preparing the foundation for your barndominium involves creating a level building site with appropriate grading to allow for natural drainage. Plus, you’ll need structural reinforcements based on the load-bearing value of the soil and intended construction. The building codes specified on your building permit will dictate your foundation choices. Foundation costs are often equal to the cost of the building shell, or between $40k and $60k.

Labor Costs

Along the way, you’ll need plenty of help. Even the handiest DIY builders will need some help to accomplish larger building tasks. You can expect to pay labor costs on everything from clearing your land and building your access road to erecting your barndominium and finishing out the interior living spaces. In 2022, the average cost for construction labor is between $100 and $200 per square foot. So, finishing out a 1200-square-foot barndominium can cost between $12k and $24k in labor, plus materials and building site costs.

So, What is the Real Cost of Building a Barndominium?

If you’re considering a barndominium to save money, you might have a little sticker shock after adding up all the costs. The land, building site prep, construction, and labor costs can set you back anywhere from $150k to $500k+ depending on many different factors. As you plan your build, consider location, size, materials, and the finishes that will factor into the final price tag. If you need to keep costs low, you can choose budget-friendly materials throughout your build. And if you want to embrace the rustic chic style, you can splurge on hand-worked, reclaimed wood kitchen islands and carefully restored clawfoot bathtubs. Balance your costs with a metal shell by Metal Sales for the best of both worlds, providing functional style with a cost-effective material. Browse our selection of metal panels for your barndominium build.

About Metal Sales

Metal Sales Manufacturing Corporation is the premier nationwide provider of metal panels for the construction industry. Metal Sales works with architectural specifiers and commercial construction professionals to create inspirational design solutions. With the industry’s largest and most knowledgeable sales and technical support team, Metal Sales has the expertise to address today’s challenges in high-performance, sustainable and Net-Zero building. Metal Sales has outreach around the world. Delivering outstanding roof, wall and fascia metal panels from its 21 facilities throughout the U.S.

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