Can You Add onto a Barndominium As You Like?

As a concerned homeowner, you might be interested in creating an additional living space on their property.

But what not everyone realizes that they can do this without needing to build an entirely new structure. That leaves us with a question, can you add onto a barndominium?

If you too are wondering if you can add onto your barndominium – the short answer is yes!

There are many advantages to adding onto an existing structure, like using the same foundation and roof, making the project easier and less expensive to complete.

This guide on can you add onto a barndominium will walk you through everything you need to know about adding onto your barndominium!

Are Barndominium Addition Effective?

I really love my barndominium, but I’d like to add on a few bedrooms. What are my options?

Many homeowners dream of building onto their existing barndominiums to add additional living space.

There are numerous reasons why many don’t—space is cramped, finances are tight, and time is in short supply

But if you do have some extra cash and some spare time on your hands, it might be worth considering whether or not building an addition onto your home will help you get more bang for your buck.

With careful planning and with enough research, you may find that adding on is both feasible and cost-effective

Read below to learn what considerations need to be made before embarking upon your project.

Can You Add onto a Barndominium?

Yes! Most definitely, you can. The main question is whether or not it will be worth your while.

The whole purpose of adding onto a barndominium is to increase your living space, but that doesn’t mean that you should disregard other factors as well—namely, finances and timing.

You should weigh all of these aspects before deciding if building an addition onto your home is for you.

Doing so may save you from incurring unnecessary expenses and from making decisions based on false assumptions.

In other words, planning everything out in advance helps ensure that any additions to a barndominium make sense for you and take into account all of your needs going forward.

Does Barndominium Addition Costly?

Each project is unique, of course, but here are some basic cost considerations that you might encounter if you’re considering an addition to your barndominium.

But on average, you should be looking at $25,000 to $50,000 per basement.

If you plan to build more than one level of space underground, these costs will probably rise significantly.

You’ll also want to factor in additional expenses — like extending utility lines.

This can range from $10,000 to more than $20,000 based on where you live and how difficult it will be to install them into existing spaces underground.

Overall, you can expect to spend around $60,000 or so for construction alone, if you want everything done properly.

The good news: Once your basement’s built, ongoing costs shouldn’t be too burdensome.

Check These 5 Factors Before Addition:

1. Review the Land

Is your barndominium on a large piece of land, or are your neighbors close by?

Depending on how much land is available to you, you may not have to construct anything below ground at all

Instead opting for an addition built up in relation to existing spaces that are above ground.

Be sure to check with your city’s zoning laws before diving into any construction work, though; if there are other rules in place, they’ll come into play too.

2. Review the Existing Structure Capability

What are your barndominium’s capabilities? Do you have strong enough beams to support an additional level below ground, or should you stick with an above-ground addition?

How about load-bearing walls—do they need to be reinforced before any work begins?

A good builder can help you assess all of these factors and determine whether or not building a basement extension is even feasible for your home.

In fact, once you’ve discussed things with a professional, he or she may recommend that you don’t go through with an underground addition after all, as it’s easier to build up instead of down when it comes to barndominium additions.

Remember that regardless of what addition you want, you want your barndominiums safe.

3. Calculate the Cost of Addition

Assuming that you do go with an underground addition, how much will it cost? You can calculate these costs by comparing your space to similar homes in your area

Factors like size and type will play a role in determining price.

Just make sure to take into account all variables when determining how much you’re willing to spend on your extension.

Also don’t forget about concrete work (or even basic grading). For example, if you want an above-ground addition made out of brick or stone.

Similarly, if you plan to have utilities buried underground for safety reasons, be sure to factor in any associated costs as well.

Depending on how elaborate your design is, building a basement extension can cost anywhere from $60-$80 per square foot—and these are just general guidelines.

4. Work with Professional Contractor

Working with a professional contractor will ensure that your construction process is carried out safely and quickly

So you should definitely enlist their help if you decide to take on an additional project at home.

Make sure to choose one with experience in barndominiums; however, most contractors are used to working with wood-frame homes, not ones made out of concrete blocks.

And if you aren’t sure how to assess them yourself, ask for past clients—you’ll want to see some examples of work they’ve done in your area before making any hiring decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will banks loan on barndominium?

Yes, provided you have a house as collateral.

Check with your bank or mortgage broker for more information and how to obtain such loans, as there are special conditions that need to be met with these types of loans.

Banks can be a little bit more restrictive when it comes to financing a home improvement project.

But they may also offer lower interest rates and better terms than most traditional home-improvement financing options.

2. Is it cheaper to build a house or barndominium?

The answer varies, depending on size and design, but in general, building a barndominium will always be less expensive than building traditional houses with four walls. It is also much faster since no framing is involved.

3. How much does a 3000 sq ft barndominium cost?

$120,000 to $375,000 is the price range for building 3000 square foot house made of concrete blocks. It depends on how elaborate your design is and what you want done to it.

Final Thought

Always remember that you’ll want to conduct your own research before embarking on any construction project; even with a professional contractor, there are many factors involved.

As mentioned above, it’s important to make sure that your existing structure can support additional weight; for example

One little mistake could mean loads of unnecessary (and expensive) repairs later on.

Don’t underestimate your ability to make an educated decision; spending time gathering information before moving forward will help protect you in the long run.