What is a barndominium? The word is clearly a mashup of barn and condominium, but what does this mean? Simply, it’s a barn that’s used as a living or work space for people as opposed to livestock, or a building made for people that has the shape and great size of a barn. This means that the interiors of these buildings are easily customizable.
The owner of a barndominium, or barndo can arrange the rooms any way they please and arrange them fairly easily. This can range from one to a few open plan spaces to smaller, cozier rooms or even cubicles if the building is used as a workspace. Barndos also have wonderfully high ceilings that make the area especially stylish. How the interior of a barndo is arranged depends on what the owner sees as its function.
Many who find barndos attractive point to their sustainability as well as their interior adaptability. Here are some ways barndominiums are sustainable.
They Are Made of Sustainable Materials
Barndos are often made of metal, wood or concrete, all of which are sustainable and recyclable. The most popular material to build a barndo is metal, specifically stainless steel. Stainless steel is not only recyclable but is tough, environmentally friendly and weather resistant. Insulated metal walls and roofs keep heat in during the cold weather and reflect heat away from the home during the warm season. Metal buildings also need less maintenance than buildings made of other materials.
Other ways these buildings are sustainable are that they can accommodate solar panels on their roofs. Depending on where the building is, these panels can be so energy efficient that there is zero cost to the homeowner when it comes to their energy bill. Green walls and roofs are other options. These are surfaces prepared for growing plants, either in pots or on growing mats. These green surfaces are good at regulating the barndo’s inside temperature.
Metal barndominiums often come in prefabricated kits and can be raised very quickly. Indeed, they can be so easy to set up that the homeowner may not even need a professional contractor to do it. Barndos can be bought as a roof and walls, or they can be bought with amenities such as plumbing and ductwork for central heating. These types of barndos are called turnkey barndominiums.
Some people may be wary of building a barndominium because they believe that metal buildings are unsightly. However, improving technologies have made metal buildings as attractive as buildings made out of any other material.
Barndominiums Are Durable
Because they’re often made of metal, barndos are not subject to attack by insects such as termites or carpenter ants. They’re also impervious to rot, mold and mildew. Some potential problems to keep an eye on are dings and dents in the metal that can be caused by hailstorms, and some people are bothered by the sound of rain on a metal roof. Other people find it soothing.
Barndominiums Are More Affordable
Because they can be bought as kits, barndominiums can be less costly than traditional homes. Insurance rates and property taxes also tend to be lower on these types of buildings. On the other hand, it might be a bit more challenging to find financing for a barndominium.
It’s possible for the resell value of a barndo to increase as time goes on, though their value usually doesn’t grow as quickly as that of a traditional house. Part of this is because barndominiums are less common than traditional homes, so it’s hard for a realtor to appraise them. Another potential problem is that homeowners’ associations might not allow homes made of metal in their neighborhood. They might not even allow homes with metal roofs.
Still, a barndominium is something to look into for a unique, sustainable and attractive dwelling or workspace.