FAQ

There are two types of Barndominiums in the United States.  

If you are from the upper Midwest or upper East coast, you probably think of a Barndominium as a wood framed structure (post-framed or pole barn or engineered wood-truss system) with metal sides and roof.   

If you are from the South or Southeast or Western part of the United States, you probably think of a Barndominium as a steel framed structure with metal sides and roof. 

What makes both of these build types a Barndominium is that the entire weight of the roof structure is carried on the perimeter of the building… which means you don’t have any load bearing walls on the interior.  If you are building a two-story structure, then the only load you are concerned about is carrying the weight of the second story.  When designing a two-story, we design for this difference as appropriate.

This allows homeowners to easily make changes to their floor plan during the build process… meaning you can adjust your walls any way you like as long as you don’t impact the plumbing placement and proper egress windows.  This is one of the reasons why Barndominiums are such a popular construction type.

 At Our Barndominium Life, LLC and The Barndominium Company – we define a Barndominium as:

                                             a “custom designed, steel-framed, single-family residence with metal roof and siding.”  

A Barndominium is the ultimate metal building for a great home. We intentionally design metal building Barndominiums as high-quality, luxury residences.  That is why banks have sought us out.  They have visited our projects/properties and seen the quality of our work.  They are willing to lend, to qualified borrowers, using our designs.  The residential Barndominium product that we design has value, retains value, and appreciates in value.

Steel construction is a proven commercial application, and we have adapted this reliable process for residential use.  Many of our Barndominium designs include a workshop or garage – normally detached.  We also often design Barndominium compounds with multiple metal buildings.  

Barndo exteriors are often metal, but they may be built with other materials such as Hardie Board, stone, masonry, etc.  Using these other types of materials generally increases your build cost. 

The term Barndominium is a combination of two words – Barn and Condominium.  The concept has existed in rural America for decades.  The term – Barndominium – was actually made popular in a 1989 New York Times article when it was used by the developer of an equestrian community in Connecticut.  The short name for Barndominium is Barndo!

For us, the word “Barndominium” is a proper noun – so we always capitalize it. 

And remember, if you work with us – “You’ll Never Look at a Metal Building the Same Way Again!”  

Barndominiums are both a building design style and lifestyle. 

At Our Barndominium Life our mission is to:

1. Help clients design and secure the Barndominium home or compound of their dreams providing the lifestyle they desire for their immediate and extended family.
2. Provide a positive work environment for our team where everyone feels they can achieve their personal and professional goals and can benefit from daily interactions with their contemporaries.
3. Be a good community citizen who has a positive impact on our local town, county, and state leaving all in our region better for our presence and interaction.

We offer the following services:

1. Barndominium Design – This includes custom Barndominium home plan design, custom Barndominium Compound design, and stock Barndominium home plan design.  It also includes entertainment, party, shop, garage, bunk house, guest house, and chapel Barndominium designs as well. 
2. Lender referral, material supplier referral, and general contractor/builder referrals in many markets.
3. Construction tips & advice as well as Construction Consulting. 
4. Finish Out Selection Services. 
5. Interior Decor Consultation Services.

Our team is inspired by the opportunities Barndominiums present for comfortable, open, real-life living.  Our staff has hands-on experience in the areas mentioned above.

Our leadership team has general contractor and building experience, but we currently do not build.  However, based on the numerous requests we have had from clients to build their projects, we are very likely to enter the greater Houston area construction market in the near future. 

The construction market is hot.  Due to overwhelming market demand, you can expect longer lead times for all phases of your project including your Barndo floor plan design. 

We put a lot of work into your plan design.  

We start with your consultation call.  

From there, we begin your first draft design.  You may receive calls from us during this period to make sure we understand your vision, and we explain any interesting design options or limitations based on your location.  

As we finish your initial floor plan draft, well set up a review call.  Once we agree on your first draft concept, we really go to work making additional revisions.  

We show your plumbing placement, basic electrical plan, foundation outline, and overhead roof layout.  We include your estimated column placement.

We conduct additional review sessions as needed.  We typically are near completion by the third review, but some plans go longer.  

We complete your elevations and provide you 2-D and 3-D renderings of those elevations.  

A set of custom plans averages 45-90 days from first draft to finish.  While plans may be completed sooner, this is a good planning window to ensure your plans are drafted, reviewed, revised, and include everything you want.

Yes.  Due to overwhelming demand, to help us better manage our schedules, and to be respectful of our client’s time, we charge for phone consultations. 

Effective June 1, 2022 – Our consultation call fee is being adjusted.  All client phone consultation rates will be $250 for a consultation call.  A typical call lasts about 45 minutes.  The Consultation Call Fee is due at the time a client call is scheduled and may be paid by credit card.  

• After your call, if you decide that you will be working with us for your custom design plans – Stacee Lynn or one of our design consultants will provide you with an estimated plan/project cost or quote.  If you are purchasing a custom plan, your stated design quote will include a discount that factors in the price of your consultation call.
• After your call, if you decide to purchase a stock plan with us, you will be told the stock plan price.  Note: the stock plan price already factors in the price of a consultation call, so there is no further discount. 
• If you decide after your call to go in another direction for your Barndo dream – you will have spent $250 for a great consultation session and the latest Barndominium information.  This information will help you make an informed decision on your Barndo needs and how to move forward with your project.
• The call fee is not refundable.  If for some reason you miss your scheduled call time, we will attempt to reschedule you for another appointment.

We think this is the fairest way to be respectful of your time and needs as a client and our time and needs as a service provider.

Our Barndominium Life, LLC and The Barndominium Company are located in the great state of Texas!  We are about an hour north of downtown Houston, Texas.  We are half-way between Conroe and Cleveland Texas in Montgomery County.  We sit on 14 acres in the Piney Woods region of Sam Houston National Forest.  It is a great place to be and to be from!

Our mailing address is:

The Barndominium Company

PO Box 640

Cleveland, TX 77328

Yes, we do offer tours of the Creek House and construction projects under the following conditions:  

1. Due to overwhelming visit requests, we are only able to extend offers of tours of the Creek House to our custom design clients.
2. Our material supply, construction/build, real estate developer, and design partners may arrange a tour of the Creek House, by appointment, to discuss strategy, opportunities, and processes for Barndominium design, supply, build, and finish out options.
3. Our clients may arrange a tour of our design projects that are under construction – if the homeowner provides permission for such a tour.  We are always pleased to show off design work we have done for our clients across the country as long as we and our invited guests are respectful of the homeowner client’s privacy.

Barndominium Construction Costs Discussion

Note:  Cost always have to be adjusted for location.  Our current market is in flux, so costs are going to vary.  The explanation below may not apply to your location on every point – but several items will apply to you.

Reality Check – First and foremost, you may have heard some sources say you can build a nice, residential Barndominium for $50 or $70 a square foot.  Knowing the pricing in the current market – we have difficulty getting to those figures using a general contractor or even acting as your own general contractor. Here we think the old adage applies – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.  In the current market, it is difficult to build a Barndo for that low a cost.  

A Texas Base Line – Using Houston/East Texas as a starting point – in this current market, we suggest you use $185 per square foot with a general contractor.  This is about the national average as a base construction cost.  Then you adjust this start point based on elements you incorporate.  (Note – This is for the Barndo only – it does not include land cost, clearing, dirt work (site, pad, & driveway), septic installation, water well drilling, fencing, etc. which vary by client). 

Also, for clarity, certain areas of Texas can be high cost.  As of the revision of this post in May 2022 – constructions cost in the Texas Hill country and portions of some metro areas can easily be $350 per square foot or higher.  These are areas in high demand.

As you can see with this price variance, prices can vary greatly in as little a three-hour drive between locations.

Yes.  The founders of the company come from a military background.  Our family is in its fourth generation of service to the country. From the founders’ grandparents, parents, the founders, and their children – national service has been a mainstay for us.

As such we are proud to offer a 10% military discount to our veteran and active-duty clients serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine.

We offer several benefits to our employees including:

• A 401 (k) Plan with an Employer matching contribution
• Insurance
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Life
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Ten (10) or more days for all employees
  • 10 or more paid federal holidays
• A great daily work environment for all team members

Our Barndominium Life – though The Barndominium Lady Magazine currently supports six charities including:

• The American Red Cross
• The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation
• Habitat for Humanity
• St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital
• The Wounded Warrior Foundation
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

We encourage Barndominium lovers to be supportive of nonprofit organizations in their home communities.