FAQ

At Our Barndominium Life – we define a Barndominium as a… “custom designed, steel-framed, single-family residence with metal roof and siding.”  We intentionally design Barndominiums as high quality residences.  That is why banks are willing to lend to qualified borrowers using our designs.

The term 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 1989 New York Times article when it was used by the developer of an equestrian community in Connecticut.

Many Barndominiums include a workshop or garage – attached or detached.  We often design compounds with multiple buildings.

Steel design is a proven commercial application, and we have adapted the reliable product for residential use.  

In the southern and western parts of the United States, Barndominiums are often steel frame structures.  

In other parts of the country – the east and midwest – pole barn (or engineered wood frame) structures may also be designed as residences and referred to as Barndominiums.   

The short name for Barndominiums is Barndo!

We offer the following services:

1. Barndominium Design – Stock & Custom Plans 
2. Lender, material supplier, & builder referrals
3. Construction Tips, Advice, & Consulting, and 
4. Finish Out Selection Services & Interior Decorating Consulting

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

No. We do not build.  We plan to add regional  construction operations late in 2021.

A set of custom plans is averages 45-60 days from start to finish.  While in some cases, plans may be completed sooner, this is a good planning window to ensure your plans are drafted, reviewed, revised, and include everything you want.

For prospective clients – we offer a 30 minute, free initial phone  consultation.  

If you retain us to design your plan – phone consults during design are included in that process.  Beyond the design process, you may purchase one of our consulting plans that will provide you support for a portion or all of your build.

Our Barndominium Life, LLC and The Barndominium Company are located about an hour north of downtown Houston in the Cleveland, Texas area.  

Our mailing address is:

The Barndominium Company

PO Box 640

Cleveland, TX 77328

We have two options for home tours.  

Clients may arrange a tour, by appointment, of the Creek House to gain a full understanding of the various options Barndominiums have to offer.  

Clients may arrange a tour of an ongoing project that our staff is consulting on – if the home owner provides permission for such a tour.  We are always pleased to show off work we are doing for others as long as we are respectful of their privacy.

Barndominium Construction Costs Discussion – (Cost always have to be adjusted for location)

Using Texas as a starting point – we suggest you use $150 per square foot as a base construction cost (national average), and 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 and driveway), septic, water well which vary by client). See example below

$100 ———   $125   ——–   $150   ———   $175 ——-    $200

Slide left for a lower cost item.  Slide right for a higher cost item. 

• If you are building in a lower cost state – TX, LA, MS, AL, NC, ID, AR, etc.  – slide left (lower adjusted cost) 5-10%. 
• If you are building in a higher cost state – CA, NY, WA, PA, MI, WI, MA, CT – slide right (raise adjusted cost) 10-20%.
• If you hire a GC – use the adjusted rate you determined from above. 
• If you self GC, reduce the adjusted rate 10%-15% for the project, but remember then you assume all additional risk and all errors and omissions are on you.
• If you are building in a small town – slide left (lower) 5% for this fact. 
• If you are building near a metro area or a very popular area (Texas Hill Country) – slide right (higher) 10% – 20% for this fact.
• If you want polished concrete floors (cost less than wood floors)  – slide left 5% for this item. 
• Wood floors cost more – slide right 10% for this item compared to polished concrete
• Dry wall costs less than wood – slide left 10% for this item
• Wood walls (shiplap for example) cost more – slide right – 30-40% for this item compared to dry wall
• Mid range appliance – may be within the stated square foot price.
• High end appliances – shift right anywhere from 75%-200% on this line item
• You get the idea… That is the concept. 

Using this approach – you can determine where to save and where to splurge and incorporate the items that meet your needs and budget.  You will make many decisions like this during your build.

Materials – Recognize that one year makes a huge difference in material costs.  COVID has affected costs!

• All building materials have increased.  We believe…
  • In part due to COVID related high demand for materials for home remodeling and also
  • In part due the closure or reduced work at some manufacturers leaving less material available  due to COVID.
  • Result – Material supply is down.  Material demand is up.  Therefore, costs are higher.
  • Wood more than doubled in cost in 2020 and continues to increase.
  • Steel was stable most of 2020 year, but began to rise late in the year.  Steel was up 30+% thru February 2021.  Expect another 20-30% increase in April of 2021. 
  • Expect steel and wood to continue to rise through June/July.  They may or may not begin to fall after that. 
• As far as materials go –
  • A couple of years ago – an estimate for building supplies might be good for six months. 
  • Today prices are fluctuating due to uncertainty in the supply chain.
  • It is may be tough right now to get a supplier to give you anything beyond a 15-day price guarantee on your materials estimate.