Are barndominiums safe? Barndominiums are rapidly growing in popularity, especially with people who are looking to downsize or simplify their lives.
Many homeowners find that they no longer need the extra space of a traditional house, and instead opt to live in smaller homes in order to spend more time outside of their home, with friends and family.
Or, pursuing other hobbies and interests. But the question remains, are barndominiums safe?
Yes, barndominiums are safe! Just like any typical residential or commercial building, it is safe to accommodate, enjoy and experience the many beautiful conveniences it has to offer.
In fact, the vast majority of our customers feel as if their barndominium should be considered a piece of art that brings great value both financially as well as for their future leisure use.
Contents
Are Barndominium Actually Safe for Your Family?
Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your life.
So, when you’re in the market for a new place to call home, you want to make sure that the home you’re buying is a safe investment.
The best way to do this is to do your research and find out if the home you’re interested in is actually safe.
One of the most important things to look for when shopping for a barndominium is whether or not it was built to be earthquake safe.
If you live in an area that’s prone to earthquakes, then you’ll want to make sure that your new home meets the strict building codes set forth by the government.
In addition to being built to withstand earthquakes, barndominiums should also be safe from fire and burglars.
But even if your barndominium meets all of these requirements, you still might have questions about whether or not it’s a good idea to buy one. Is it as safe as a regular house?
Is there anything I need to watch out for? Fortunately for you, barndominium boasting durable design are safe choice for any family.
Barndominium Vs Traditional House
Which is Safer? There are many different types of homes you can buy.
While many people choose to buy regular houses, others choose to build barndominiums instead – often because barndominiums energy-efficient.
So which type of home is safer for your family?
There are a number of reasons why buying a barndominium might be a better idea than buying a traditional house.
Let’s discuss what these reasons are and how they make barndominiums such an attractive option for families looking to purchase a new home.
1. Lightning
In case of a storm, your barndominium will keep you safe from lightning just as your regular house would.
This is because most modern barndominium homes are built with galvanized metal roofs that are designed to prevent any kind of contact between lightning and your home.
Because it’s very unlikely that you’ll ever have to worry about getting struck by lightning while living in a barndominium.
Yu won’t need to take extra safety precautions when it comes to protecting yourself and your family from electrical shock.
2. Earthquake
Traditional house obviously wins when it comes to earthquake safety. Barndominiums can be incredibly strong.
But they were never meant to withstand an earthquake as powerful as that which a traditional house would have been built to resist.
In case of an earthquake, it’s best to stay in your barndominium until the ground stops shaking.
And you can safely exit your home without any risk of injury or death from falling debris or a collapsed ceiling.
3. Tornado And Hurricane
Traditional houses are more likely to survive a tornado or hurricane than barndominiums because of their larger size and stronger frames.
When choosing between barndominiums and traditional houses, it makes sense to choose one that was built to resist tornadoes.
Especially if you live in an area that experiences them on a regular basis.
Keep in mind that even though barndominium homes don’t offer as much protection from tornadoes as those made from traditional materials do
They can still keep your family safe and sound if a tornado were to strike near your home.
4. Fire Hazards
Although barndominium homes aren’t usually outfitted with sprinklers, they do boast special insulation materials that help them resist damage from fires for longer periods of time than traditional houses would be able to resist it.
Because many barndominium homeowners choose to install fire alarms in their homes anyway
There is no real difference between how safe your family will be living in a barndominium or a traditional house.
The Drawbacks of Barndominium
1. Barndominiums Are Not Immune to Corrosion
While a barndominium will keep your family safe from all of the dangers listed above, it won’t protect you from corrosion.
If water seeps into a barndominium at any point, it could cause damage to your home that might take years to repair or never be able to be fully repaired at all.
Most homeowners choose to install flashing and window well liners in order to prevent corrosive elements from entering their homes and causing damage as quickly as they would otherwise do so.
While these precautions can help prevent corrosion, there is no way for anyone but an expert to predict whether they will be effective.
If water enters your home undetected before you notice it and react accordingly.
2. Many Cities Don’t Allow Barndominium
If you want to build a barndominium in an area that doesn’t allow them, it is unlikely that you’ll be able to do so.
Well, unless you have connections with city officials or have enough money to bribe them if necessary.
Most people choose to buy a traditional house when they can’t get permission from their local government to build a barndominium instead.
And even if you’re in a city where barndominium construction is allowed, there are certain neighborhoods where your home may be unpopular with neighbors.
This also could attract vandalism or other threats against your family’s safety.
3. Potential to Transmit Noise from the Environment
Because barndominium homes are made from metal, it is possible for your neighbors or people walking down your street to hear everything that goes on inside your home.
That, if they stand outside it for long enough, especially if you have high ceilings.
This has led some homeowners who own barndominiums to install thicker walls than they would have had they built traditional houses instead.
Unfortunately, these walls aren’t always thick enough to protect against all of the noise transmitted by environmental factors, but they still help some.
It is always wise to ask any potential neighbors about how much noise you can expect them or their children.
Do this before deciding whether or not building a barndominium is right for you and your family’s needs.
Should You Build Barndominium?
It really depends on your needs and wants. It’s unlikely that a barndominium will meet your family’s every need, but it can help you avoid some of what traditional houses have to offer.
If you’re concerned about safety, one of a barndominium’s biggest benefits is that it allows its residents to take advantage of certain insurance discounts that aren’t available to those who choose to build traditional houses.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a barndominium safer than a house?
Barndominium is safe but not as safe as the typical home made out of wood and drywall.
But if your main concern about building a new home is safety, you should consider buying a fireproof steel and concrete shelter.
These shelters are built for survivalists and preppers, so they won’t be inexpensive to buy or maintain.
But you can easily do so online or on eBay without having to speak with an agent or leave your home behind!
2. Are barndominiums safe in storms?
These structures are meant to withstand the worst of the weather (however, there aren’t any guarantees when it comes to natural disasters).
If you live in tornado alley or along hurricane coastlines, consider buying an underground storm shelter instead of trying to build a barndominium.
3. Are barndominiums strong?
Yes, they are made from steel-reinforced frames to ensure their durability in almost any kind of weather.
They may not be as structurally sound as wooden homes but it is difficult to find any structure that can stand up to a tornado or earthquake’s full force without being damaged by it at least a little bit.
This is why you should consider using barndominiums only if you don’t plan on living in an area where natural disasters are common or likely.
Final Thought
When choosing a home, it is always best to look for one that meets your family’s needs and wants. If you choose to build a barndominium instead of a traditional house because you value safety, make sure you install fire alarms and well-sealed windows.
I'm James, your barndominiums advisor. Several years ago, I had no idea what barndominiums were. Although I'd spent over 10 years in the construction industry, the first time I heard about barndominiums was when I saw my neighbor building a new-style home. That was the first barndominium I've ever seen, and I found it so fascinating that I wanted to learn more about them.
More Posts
