How much should I budget and other FAQ's

A "shell" is just what it sounds like, the metal roof, metal walls, and trusses / lumber in a building.  Excluding any inside work such as insulation or liner panel or OSB sheathing, shingles, vinyl siding.  As of winter / spring 2022 lumber costs have come down significantly from their peak last summer 2021.  On average, smaller buildings under 2000 square feet will cost approximately $30 to $35 per square foot for the shell and concrete floor.  Large buildings over 3000 square feet will cost approximately $25 to $28 per square foot for the shell and concrete floor.   

Concrete will vary from county to county.  The closer you live to a major city with unionized work, the higher the price will be.  If we do your excavation (removal of topsoil and compacting a nice building pad) then install a 4" slab - you should budget a minimum of $7 per square foot for your building.  That cost decreases on larger buildings.  Sometimes working with a local excavator to prep your build pad, then come back after your barn is erected can save you money.  We always use 1/2 rebar in our concrete work for longevity and strength, and we only contract concrete work closer to our home location.    

That all depends on why you need a new building.  There are no guarantees in life so if you have the money and need the building, let's get it done.  Many people who waited for lumber costs to come down last year did not anticipate metal costs increasing.  After building barns for several years, we have yet to see overall costs decrease for a building.  With inflation on the rise, labor costs will likely increase towards the end of 2022.

As big as you can afford when you build it.  This is a repeated statement from people who have built barns over the years.  You do not have to "finish" all of the space, and you can separate the inside if you want an office, or a smaller portion heated.  But, we have never once heard anyone tell us their barn was "too big". 

The big names in the Barn world are regional or national companies with salesmen who get paid commission on your barn.  Just like other products, you pay for the name brand.  These companies work with local suppliers and subcontract with crews in your area to build your barn according to their specs.  Some mom-and-pop barn builders shop around  for the cheapest metal, lumber, and trusses and purchase from multiple sources to get the best deal.  Each company has different expenses for overhead and operations, and one big cost difference is what people use, and how they build your barn.  We'll do our best to help you get a quality barn that fits your budget. 

If you build with a reputable company who is registered in your  state, has history, and is not "fly by night" than yes.  Indiana law  requires that your building be free from reasonable defects pertaining  to the construction for two years after completion.  Your trusses and  some other components will have longer warranties from those individual  manufacturers.  Sometimes if you work with a local who does not have a  public presence, you run the risk of them changing addresses, phone  numbers, or going out of business.  This happens often when people  contract with a single builder who offers the "best" price but changes  their phone number months later.  Our contracts state upfront the  warranty we offer in compliance with Indiana State law, and our  materials are purchased from reputable companies.  

The simple answer is: not really.  If you want to build a "barndaminium" or a "barn-house" - the question is, Do you want a barn to live in, or do you want a house that looks like a barn?  What makes a barn a barn?  They are usually constructed with metal walls and metal roofs and attached to the ground using poles spaced every 8 feet.  Another key difference is roof trusses are pre-engineered and span the whole distance from the outside walls. When building a home to live in, most builders will suggest building on top of a solid foundation with concrete as opposed to using posts.  Any home can use metal siding and a metal roof and build with full spanning roof trusses.  These trusses allow for all interior walls to be non-load-bearing.  Therefore, you can easily remove or move walls in the future without affecting the roof. There are definite advantages to building a barn-style home, but in the end, all homes require HVAC, insulation, electricity, plumbing, drywall, paint, flooring, trim-work, and utilities.  The BEST way for a person to save money when building a new home is to do as much work themselves as possible.  Paying for labor is half the expense of any project.         

If you have land or are looking for land to build a new home, check out our partner company www.295living.com where you can shop for very reasonably priced blueprints.  295 Living offers complete blueprints of many home styles from small ranch homes to 7000 square feet barn homes.  Use the code B&SFW when purchasing blueprints and recieve an additional 15% off!