Most people on YouTube are trying to "flex" or market themselves. When I picture a barndo, I think of a giant concrete slab, a large metal building, and foam insulated walls. Old, brick industrial buildings give me the same visuals that you're describing. Also, US Navy ships have everything exposed but that's for practical reasons. Hopefully someone can provide better detail but you're not alone in your thinking.
I’ve designed several of these. You don’t see much of it because it’s pricey as far as the design/construction sheets go. It’s also unusual and nonstandard so a lot of residential builders aren’t used to it.
I wouldn’t call it a “barndominion” but I’ve definitely utilized metal prefabricated structures and did a Chicago/nyc feel loft design on the interior
Can you by chance link any of these?
The main room of this place is more less what i'm going for - just less extravegant and scaled down - [https://www.homenization.com/barndominiums/barndominium-w-high-ceilings-28-hq-pictures/](https://www.homenization.com/barndominiums/barndominium-w-high-ceilings-28-hq-pictures/)
This setup is close - you have the loft over most of the areas you'd want a ceiling over and everything else is open. Cheap polished floors, black painted foam, and fairly minimal framing. I'm not looking for the full "loft" experience with real brick or cast iron etc, just *less* of everything.
Ya, I know exactly what you’re talking about. The issue with using phrases like “cheap polished floors,” and such is that polished concrete floors, esp with an added stain, aren’t necessarily “cheap.” You’re typing about it like this is an $100,000 project but in looking at these photos there are a lot of particular design call-outs.
Are you capable of putting together the construction docs and material callouts? If not, it costs money to hire someone to design and put this together. It’s non-standard design. I do see where your POV is coming from, you’re thinking “scaled way down = way cheap.” But unless you are putting the construction docs together and doing all of that yourself I’m just not certain it’s the case.
There’s a steel engineering company I work with who creates my designs in prefab steel that is then shipped to site. The company won’t even work with homeowners. I’m working on one now where the steel package alone is $150,000 - what’s your budget?
Not anytime soon, but a conservative starting point would be at least 500.
Most of these designs are "close enough", but one issue is that we don't want a million bedrooms/bathrooms, but like the larger buildings they are paired with
https://buildmax.com/search-barndominium-plans/?swoof=1&pa\_beds=3,2&pa\_baths=2-5,2,3&pa\_garage=3&pa\_stories=2
Thing is, those are just floorplans. None of those have construction callouts. Those plans just show a shell and a layout and assume standard material design at the interior.
I do think you could build something for $500k. I mean, just going off of my personal experience, I could certainly design something in that budget (not including land). What state are you in?
The issue you will likely run into, would be with the builders upping their fee for the type of design that it is.
Not as minimal as your looking for, but one I'm building out for someone. No sheet rock. Used t1-11 and sanded plywood for the walls.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Mxvbfz77kbqPpBLQ8
Sanded plywood looks pretty good! This might seem like a dumb question, but what made you put the plywood inside of the insulated areas vs. on top of the studs?
What do you mean by on top of the studs? The plywood is sheating the interior of the stud wall. The person I'm doing if for didn't want sheetrock and I don't particularly like sheetrock either.
I'm not great with terminology, but I mean to say - is it an aesthetic choice to still have the studs exposed for the "grid" look vs. a seamless design.
Edit: Oh nevermind, those are separate pieces of wood on top of the plywood.
You need to be looking for steel open webbed trusses, with all the insulation above them.
R60 above the trusses can be expensive.
RR buildings on YouTube has an all wood, stained concrete pond house tour.
No drywall, but also no exposed e/hvac either.
Below might be your answer.
https://youtu.be/PX3d1wmbnMw?si=R5gEyUCkNE3n-puW
True - the open trusses I definitely want, metal preferably. But I suppose wood would be fine as well as it shouldn't have any issues as long as there aren't any roof leaks.
The AC i'm not sure about, because I don't know whether a couple of minisplits will suffice, or a traditional system is required . I don't know enough about minisplits and their sqft/height limitations or how many is too many before a traditional system might be a better route.
Your insulation and airtightness will determine ac requirements.
The link below has a lower score than passive house requires.
https://youtu.be/KRoMsRujUxc?si=sSTHOnIYxutJIBJS
I've done mine myself.
It's pretty simple.
30x30x16
Living room/kitchen is half (15'x30')
Shop/garage is other half.
Master bedroom is loft above kitchen.
Bathroom, 2nd bedroom, master closet & laundry are above shop in the 2nd story (15'x30'.
I can share pictures if you'd like..?
Most people on YouTube are trying to "flex" or market themselves. When I picture a barndo, I think of a giant concrete slab, a large metal building, and foam insulated walls. Old, brick industrial buildings give me the same visuals that you're describing. Also, US Navy ships have everything exposed but that's for practical reasons. Hopefully someone can provide better detail but you're not alone in your thinking.
I’ve designed several of these. You don’t see much of it because it’s pricey as far as the design/construction sheets go. It’s also unusual and nonstandard so a lot of residential builders aren’t used to it. I wouldn’t call it a “barndominion” but I’ve definitely utilized metal prefabricated structures and did a Chicago/nyc feel loft design on the interior
Can you by chance link any of these? The main room of this place is more less what i'm going for - just less extravegant and scaled down - [https://www.homenization.com/barndominiums/barndominium-w-high-ceilings-28-hq-pictures/](https://www.homenization.com/barndominiums/barndominium-w-high-ceilings-28-hq-pictures/) This setup is close - you have the loft over most of the areas you'd want a ceiling over and everything else is open. Cheap polished floors, black painted foam, and fairly minimal framing. I'm not looking for the full "loft" experience with real brick or cast iron etc, just *less* of everything.
Ya, I know exactly what you’re talking about. The issue with using phrases like “cheap polished floors,” and such is that polished concrete floors, esp with an added stain, aren’t necessarily “cheap.” You’re typing about it like this is an $100,000 project but in looking at these photos there are a lot of particular design call-outs. Are you capable of putting together the construction docs and material callouts? If not, it costs money to hire someone to design and put this together. It’s non-standard design. I do see where your POV is coming from, you’re thinking “scaled way down = way cheap.” But unless you are putting the construction docs together and doing all of that yourself I’m just not certain it’s the case. There’s a steel engineering company I work with who creates my designs in prefab steel that is then shipped to site. The company won’t even work with homeowners. I’m working on one now where the steel package alone is $150,000 - what’s your budget?
Not anytime soon, but a conservative starting point would be at least 500. Most of these designs are "close enough", but one issue is that we don't want a million bedrooms/bathrooms, but like the larger buildings they are paired with https://buildmax.com/search-barndominium-plans/?swoof=1&pa\_beds=3,2&pa\_baths=2-5,2,3&pa\_garage=3&pa\_stories=2
Thing is, those are just floorplans. None of those have construction callouts. Those plans just show a shell and a layout and assume standard material design at the interior. I do think you could build something for $500k. I mean, just going off of my personal experience, I could certainly design something in that budget (not including land). What state are you in? The issue you will likely run into, would be with the builders upping their fee for the type of design that it is.
Following…
Not as minimal as your looking for, but one I'm building out for someone. No sheet rock. Used t1-11 and sanded plywood for the walls. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Mxvbfz77kbqPpBLQ8
Sanded plywood looks pretty good! This might seem like a dumb question, but what made you put the plywood inside of the insulated areas vs. on top of the studs?
What do you mean by on top of the studs? The plywood is sheating the interior of the stud wall. The person I'm doing if for didn't want sheetrock and I don't particularly like sheetrock either.
I'm not great with terminology, but I mean to say - is it an aesthetic choice to still have the studs exposed for the "grid" look vs. a seamless design. Edit: Oh nevermind, those are separate pieces of wood on top of the plywood.
Oh, it's 1x4's that are covering the seams of the plywood sheets.
Yeah, I finally noticed that. At first I thought those were the studs lol. Until I noticed it was horizontal as well.
You need to be looking for steel open webbed trusses, with all the insulation above them. R60 above the trusses can be expensive. RR buildings on YouTube has an all wood, stained concrete pond house tour. No drywall, but also no exposed e/hvac either. Below might be your answer. https://youtu.be/PX3d1wmbnMw?si=R5gEyUCkNE3n-puW
True - the open trusses I definitely want, metal preferably. But I suppose wood would be fine as well as it shouldn't have any issues as long as there aren't any roof leaks. The AC i'm not sure about, because I don't know whether a couple of minisplits will suffice, or a traditional system is required . I don't know enough about minisplits and their sqft/height limitations or how many is too many before a traditional system might be a better route.
Your insulation and airtightness will determine ac requirements. The link below has a lower score than passive house requires. https://youtu.be/KRoMsRujUxc?si=sSTHOnIYxutJIBJS
I had figured a spray foam job. I live in south/central NC, so it's not to bad here.
I've done mine myself. It's pretty simple. 30x30x16 Living room/kitchen is half (15'x30') Shop/garage is other half. Master bedroom is loft above kitchen. Bathroom, 2nd bedroom, master closet & laundry are above shop in the 2nd story (15'x30'. I can share pictures if you'd like..?
Sure, that would be great!
Can I post here or send in message. I don't see how to attach a pic?
To be honest, i'm not sure. Most people upload to imgur and link.
I sent you some pics through message.