Barndos 101

Here are some advantages of building a barndominium.


  • Steel barndominiums are resistant to environmental elements like heat, water, and wind.

  • Its material prevents it from easy combustion during fire accidents, unlike wooden buildings.

  • It is not prone to be damaged by pests like termites and other bugs that chew through wood.

  • Its steel walls won’t rot, which means you get to have a home lasting for a long time with minimal maintenance.

  • It also has a strong foundation made out of concrete, which adds to the building’s sturdiness and durability.

  • Barndominiums generally have strong poles and beams that support the entire structure, ensuring that there is very little chance of the building ever collapsing from heavy snowfalls, blizzards, or winds.


When it comes to measuring the worth of a barndominium in terms of longevity and resistance, barndominiums that are made out of steel make it to the top of the list. This is because steel is stronger than most materials and is also cost-efficient. Additionally, it is currently the world’s primary building material. 

Let’s look at a few of the benefits of investing in a barndominium made of steel:

  • Steel is known for its strength, and a steel barndominium has the ability to withstand and thrive in volatile conditions.

  • The flame retardant nature of steel makes it a safer investment, both physically and financially.

  • An insulated barndominium can withstand heavy rainfall, snowfall, and strong winds, with little to no damage to the building.

  • Any steel structure is usually built to resist winds up to 120 Mph (193 Kph).

  • Steel can also withstand excessive snow loads.

  • It is far more resistant to water than wood and will not rot or warp. 

  • Additionally, moisture penetration caused by heavy and prolonged rains will not be able to seep into the building. 

Open Floor Layout 

Barndominiums are prized for their size and structure, and its ability to be modified to suit the owner’s convenience. Houses are usually built with ceiling heights that measure up to 8 to 9 ft (2.4 to 2.7 m), whereas barndos have incredible vaulted ceiling heights of 14 ft (4.3 m) or more. 

Barndominiums usually have an open floor plan, giving you the ability to customize the living space with various interior designs meant for open concept homes. This allows you to have flexibility in styling the entire living area with very little expense. 

In addition to this, most barndominium owners use their barndos as both living and working spaces due to their large open area.

Here are some of the additional benefits of having an open floor plan to help you visualize what life would be like in a rustic barndo:

  • Improved real estate value: In most cases, open floor plans are valued more in the real estate market due to their ability to be customized easily. This increases the building’s value if you plan on selling it in the future. 

  • Daylighting: Having large windows all around the building allows a lot of sunlight to flood into the barndo and brighten up the entire living space. With fewer walls, more light spreads across space. Additionally, you can invest in fewer bulbs and not have to put up lighting in individual rooms as with normal buildings. 

  • Multifunctional spaces: As mentioned earlier, one space can be used for multiple purposes due to its wide area. Hence, the open floor space can function as a family room, recreational room, home office, entertainment space, etc.


The Resistance of Barndominiums to Natural Calamities

It goes without saying that a building’s resistance to natural calamities is essential when considering its worth in the long run:

  • Steel barndominiums are a safer option for earthquakes, as they are engineered to endure seismic tremors up to the seismic level 4 activity.

  • They can absorb more energy than other materials and do not attract lightning.

  • Even when lightning strikes, a barndominium can protect the people and electronic devices inside the building if it has a proper lightning protection system, which will ensure that the energy is grounded in the earth

  • Steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio among most construction materials and is the best defense against destructive winds. A barndominium that has been made of steel stands a better chance at withstanding tornadoes and hurricanes than a regular or wooden building.

  • They are also the safest houses to reside in during an occurrence of a wildfire. While other houses can catch fire quite easily, a steel barndominium can withstand fire for quite a long period of time. Additionally, sparks that reach the structure will not ignite or let the fire spread.

Energy Efficiency of a Barndominium

One of the major plus points of a barndominium is its energy efficiency, especially if it is made of steel, which provides insulation and weatherization against natural elements. This removes the need for additional cooling or heating appliances. Additionally, it has a metal roof that also contributes to energy conservation.

However, you will have to spend some money while building the barndominium to make it energy-efficient. This includes insulation, weatherization procedures, cool metal roofing, adding solar panels, and daylighting. 

According to the US Department of Energy, families whose homes are energy-efficient save almost $358 on their first year’s utility bills. So even if you have to spend some money on proper insulation and weatherization, it reduces your electricity bill in the long run. 

Here are some of the pros of living in an energy-efficient barndo:

  • Reduces energy consumption and helps you save money

  • Long-term energy and cost savings

  • Reduces your dependence on energy from the outside

  • Reduces environmental pollution and degradation

  • Reduces the exploitation of natural resources

  • Energy-efficient buildings have a higher value when selling or leasing the property.

  • Reduces greenhouse gas emissions and slows global warming


Ability to be Customized 

You may be wondering why there’s such a demand for an open floor barn-like building, but the truth is that most barndominiums have evolved to incorporate the finer features of expensive and lavish custom homes.

The building also allows layout flexibility. With no walls to separate the space into smaller rooms, it is easy to reconfigure furnishings and accessories to different room layouts.Also, it has rustic aesthetics due to its resemblance to repurposed pole barns that have been converted into living spaces. 

Also, the basic structure of a barndo encourages indoor and outdoor living. With roll-up doors, big windows, and wrap-around decks, you get additional spaciousness to your interior living space.