Have you been dreaming of a custom home but are depressed by the cost and time it takes to build a traditional house? What if we told you there is a bold build style growing in popularity that requires less cost, half the time, and you still get a beautiful, customized home? It’s not magic; it’s a barndominium. Today, we are taking an in-depth look at barndominiums—what they are, their benefits, how they’re built, and why they’re becoming a popular alternative to traditional custom homes.
What is a Barndominium?
Barndominiums (a blend of “barn” and “condominium”) are a style of home that is growing in popularity in the U.S., particularly in rural and semi-rural communities. Built from the outside in, barndominiums are typically constructed with a metal framing structure, giving them that barn-like appearance. Barndominiums fuse the utility of a barn with the comfort and aesthetics of a traditional home.
Core Features of Barndominium Homes
Barndominium homes are ideal for those who crave a flexible living arrangement without sacrificing luxury. Most barndominiums start with a 1,500 to 2,000 square foot floor plan, although some go much larger, offering a unique, practical, and visually appealing solution.
The typical barndominium homes feature a spacious living quarter, a large garage, and often a utilitarian space that can be modified to suit the homeowner’s unique needs, such as a studio space for artists. When thinking of barndominium homes, imagine wide open floor plans with minimal interior load-bearing walls, except for private spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms. Homeowners benefit from high ceilings, large doors, expansive windows, exposed beams, and mixed-use space that can be easily customized to their preference.
Benefits of Building a Barndominium
#1: Offers a Cost-Effective Alternative
One of the primary appeals of building a barndominium is its cost-effectiveness compared to traditional homes. As we all know, creating a custom home is expensive. The average home in Washington State costs around $186 per square foot. On the other hand, barndominiums range from $65 to $160 per square foot, with even the highest customization prices still coming in lower than the average home.
On top of that, barndominiums are built using energy-efficient insulation and lower-maintenance exterior materials. These features save homeowners considerable money in the long run.
#2: Provides a Faster Build Time
A second benefit of building a barndominium is the faster construction timeline due to prefabricated framing. Compared to most custom-built homes, which take a minimum of 6-18 months after you have secured all the necessary permitting, most barndominiums can be fully constructed within 6 months.
#3: Presents Customizable Interior Layouts
Given that barndominiums are built from the outside in, it allows for incredible customization to the interior layout to suit modern lifestyles. Whether you are looking for interior options from modern industrial to rustic farmhouse, you can design your layout however you please.
In particular, barndominiums allow for multi-functional living. For example, you can easily mix and match workshops, home offices, and guest quarters. Additionally, homeowners can add custom features like lofts, large kitchen islands, oversized garages, and wraparound porches to make it feel like home to them.
#4: Allows a Range of Exterior Finishes
Just because it’s designed after a barn doesn’t mean you have strict limitations. Barndominiums offer a range of exterior finishes, including metal, wood, stone veneer, and other materials. This wide range of options allows homeowners to customize the exterior aesthetics of their build to fit their aesthetic preferences.
#5: Renders Long-Term Durability
Barndominiums are known for their longevity. So, a final benefit of building a barndominium is its long-term durability and weather resistance. Constructed with metal framing, barndominiums can withstand severe weather conditions and have greater resistance to flood, fire, and pest problems than traditional homes.
Why Barndominiums Fit Tri-Cities Living
Landowners or rural property owners in Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland benefit greatly by building a barndominium. Not only is this the perfect solution for homeowners wanting room to grow, work from home, or house extended family, but the energy efficiency is supremely advantageous in our local climate.
On top of that, with the cost of housing and building materials booming in Washington State, building a traditional custom home may be too much. With barndominiums costing much less and taking half the time to finish, you can still craft a custom home built to your specific preferences without all the hassle of traditional homebuilding.
JLS Consulting and Contracting’s Expertise
We believe that building a barndominium is an excellent alternative housing solution for those who want a custom-built home without the long, expensive process of traditional house building.
At JLS Consulting, we specialize in the design and construction of barndominiums. Forget the one-size-fits-all solution most companies present. At JLS, we work with you to craft a design that reflects your lifestyle, functional requirements, and aesthetic preferences. So, whether you envision an expansive open-floor layout or a multi-story living space, we are here to bring your vision to life.
How We Build Your Barndominium
When you work with us at JLS Consulting and Contracting, you benefit from our streamlined design-build approach. During your initial consult, we dive into your vision. We take in your personal preferences and budget to devise your upcoming design.
Next, we visit your space for measurements and photos, which form the basis of your custom floor plan and 3D renderings. After the initial rendering is in place, we meticulously help you select materials like cabinetry, countertops, paint, and more.
Once the design is finalized, we bring it to you! Together, we go over the nitty-gritty details of the plan, make adjustments as needed, and then put into place a construction agreement.
Then, after all the necessary permits are secured, the work begins! Our highly-trained and fully-licensed team will efficiently work through your project while your project manager keeps you updated on the progress.
Lastly, our favorite part, is the big reveal! The moment you’ve been waiting for, the final walk-through of your new home!
Does this sound like a dream come true? Let’s bring your barndominium vision to life. Schedule a design consultation with JLS today.