Barndominiums in Georgia are typically a metal building – although they can be any material – that looks like a barn on the outside but have living quarters on the inside and a separate storage area. How much does it cost to build one?
You can build a barndominium in Georgia for costs between $20 to $80 a square foot, for a total cost of $30,000 – $120,000. However, financing a barndominium can be challenging because you can’t get a mortgage. The regulations for a barndominium in Georgia can vary by location.
Today, we’re going to discuss everything you need to know about building a barndominium in Georgia, including costs, financing, and regulations. In the end, you’ll know everything you need to know about building a barndominium.
What Is a Barndominium?
Barndominiums, also called barndos, are usually a metal building that looks like a barn from the outside but has living quarters. However, it has become a recent trend for barndos to be multiple sizes, shapes, and materials.
Typically, a barndominium has two separate areas. One side will be your living quarters, while the other half can be a barn for holding your livestock or horses, lawn equipment, or as a game room. The possibilities are endless for what you can use for your barndo.
Why Choose a Barndo?
Many people set up barndominiums on a large piece of land while they’re building a permanent house, or to use as a weekend getaway. However, plenty of people are also using barndos for full-time residence.
There are multiple benefits to purchasing a barndominium. Barndos are cheaper to build than a traditional house. And they’re smaller in size, so they’re more cost-effective to live in than a full-size home.
And because only one side of a barndo is for your living area, the other half can be used for anything you dream up. You can customize your barndominium to look precisely how you want, from a rustic barn to a high-end, glamorous tiny home.
Plus, barndominiums are a lot quicker to assemble and move into than a traditional home. Some people like to purchase a barndo kit and do the set up themselves. But if you’re not good at DIY, you can pay for a company to do all the work for you, based on your design ideas.
Costs of Building a Barndominium
Some factors will affect the costs of building a barndominium. The main price difference will be the company you choose to purchase your kit, which is nothing but the walls and a roof. On average, for a basic barndo kit, you will pay $20 per square foot.
Now, the kit may be quite affordable, but don’t expect that to be the end of your costs. You will also need to factor in the materials you will need to complete your build, such as:
- Windows
- Doors
- Interior walls
- Flooring
- Foundation
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Cosmetics (light fixtures, plugs, switches, counters, cabinets, etc.)
Some people choose to DIY some parts of their build, which can save you money. But you will have to adhere to proper building code for your location. Otherwise, you might face unwanted fees during an inspection. Sometimes, you will have to tear it down and start over.
If you decide you want to have someone set up the barndo for you, you can expect to pay costs of around $40 a square foot. This cost will pay for the installation of the kit.
But it does not cover the price of the additional work for the rest of the design. Depending on the company that manufactures your kit, the builders may only install the basic package, leaving you to find other builders for the rest of your house.
To figure out the final cost of your barndominium, use this simple equation:
X + Y + Z = Total costs
X = Kit
Y = Materials
Z = Labor
Final Costs of Building a Barndominium
When building a metal barndominium, you can expect to spend between $30,000 and $120,000 by the completion of your design. Let’s look at a breakdown of this amount so you have a better understanding of where your money will go.
Kit
Barndominiums assemble quickly due to coming in a complete kit. This kit comes with the outer walls and the roof. But it does not come with the inner wall material, such as sheetrock. You will also need to purchase insulation to add between the two wall layers.
The price of your kit will be based on a cost per square foot, meaning the larger your home, the more money you’ll spend. Kits vary on price from $20 to $40 for each square foot. This adds up to $20,000 to $90,000 total.
Assembly
Once you’ve purchased your kit, you’ll need to get all the materials to finish your build. Some projects can be done yourself, but it’s best to leave the plumbing and electrical to the experts unless you’re licensed.
Depending on your location, there may be regulations on building code that requires licensed professional installation. You also need to find out what type of foundation you can use, as there may be restrictions. Some kits will come with a foundation, but others require you to lay your own.
Costs you will need to factor in for materials include:
- Foundation – concrete slab, crawl space, basement
- Insulation – spray insulation works best but standard works too
- Inner walls – sheetrock, tile, lumber, tongue and groove, shiplap, laminate
- Flooring – subfloor, padding (not all floors will need this), adhesive (if needed), flooring
- Plumbing – pipes, faucets, sinks, toilet, shower/tub
- Electrical – wiring, light switches, plugs, boxes, fuse box, and fuses
- Paint
- Fixtures
- Counters – bathroom and kitchen
- Framing walls for room separation
- Ceiling – may require more materials if you’re doing a higher ceiling
- Doors
- Windows
- HVAC
- Sewer/septic
Labor
As you can see, there’s a lot of work that goes into getting a barndominium ready for habitation. Tasks like painting, hanging drywall, and installing your floors can be done yourself. But if you’re on a busy schedule, you may prefer to hire someone to do the work for you.
Labor costs will vary depending on where you live, competition (the fewer available, the higher the fees), and the company you choose. Some barndominium companies will handle the entire build for a flat price, while others will expect you to contract a separate builder.
Make sure you keep up with all building codes for your area to pass inspection for your home. If you fail inspection, you may have trouble with getting your barndo insured or financed. It’s always best to take photos of every step of the building process if you’re doing it DIY.
For companies that will set up your entire barndominium, you will usually see costs of $40 per square foot. It can cost between $20,000 and $50,000 on labor, depending on your contractor’s fees.
Financing
Getting financed to build a barndominium isn’t as simple as applying for a mortgage to build a traditional home. Some banks will not offer any type of financing for barndos.
Your best option for financing will be farm credit lenders or local banks. However, some national lenders are starting to accept applications for barndominium homes. Do your research to find the best option.
A lender is more likely to approve your loan if you provide the following at your initial appointment:
- Good credit
- Building plans
- Bid from a contractor showing a layout of costs for the build
To finance a build for a barndo, you can use one of two types of loans. A construction loan will cover the costs of the build. This loan will typically be for one year.
The second loan will cover the rest of the costs in the form of a permanent loan, including the remaining balance of the construction loan and any money owed on the property.
Regulations
Regulations will vary in regards to your barndominium, depending on where you live. Before you start building, the first step is to check with your local government regarding the specific building codes of a barndominium.
You may face restrictions on size, zoning location, design, or safety features, so it’s best to know all of these things before you start building. Many times, you can get a checklist or guidelines that provide the specifics you have to follow.
Final Verdict
Barndominium homes have become quite popular in the state of Georgia, as well as all over the country. Building a barndo is more cost-effective than a traditional home, costing between $20 and $40 a square foot, for a total price of $30,000 to $120,000, depending on your upgrades.
You may have to take out a traditional loan instead of a mortgage for financing. And always check with your local building authorities to be sure you build to code. There you have it—everything you need to know about building a Barndomium in Georgia.
