When thinking about ways to add value to a property, homeowners often think about enhancing the exterior of a residence or upgrading the landscaping. Another route to bolstering property value can be to add a barn. Building your own barn is a home improvement project that results in an attractive outbuilding that adds value to your property. Of course, wanting to build a barn and knowing how to build a barn are two very different things. So, how do you build a barn? With consideration, research, and advice, building a barn need not be an insurmountable challenge. This article will offer some guidance about how to build your own barn.
The Right Barn for You
After deciding to build a barn, it is important to decide what type of barn is right for your needs. There are barns that can be used as primary residences. Some people prefer to use a miniature barn as a storage shed. Others will depend on a barn to house livestock or to act as a garage or workshop. Determining the sort of barn that fits your needs will help you decide what sort of barn building plans will be necessary.
Planning
There are myriad online resources that will help aspiring American barn builders in the planning of the project. Many websites offer free blueprints that outline basic barn structures. Other sites sell intricate plans that will add style to the structure. Whether looking at a simple, DIY type of structure, or something that reflects the aesthetic of the property, the cost of adding a barn is an important factor in the planning stages of the project.
Budgeting
Adding a barn to a property need not be cost prohibitive. However, it is important to consider the cost of building a barn. Traditional, wooden barns give properties a rustic feel. Such structures are relatively inexpensive to build, but the upkeep on a wooden barn can be costly. Over the life of the structure, maintenance can end up being a financial drain. The value the barn adds to the property may be eclipsed by the cost of maintaining the paint, wood, and roof. Prefabricated, metal structures are a more costly. However, the initial expense is justified over the life of the barn. Metal barns are precision made, come with guarantees, and are durable in all weather. Prefabricated barns can range in cost from $12-25 per square foot. Depending on the size of the barn, as well as your willingness to undertake routine barn maintenance, the cost of building a barn will vary. It is worth noting that banks are often more eager to lend money to homeowners whose barns will have concrete foundations. From the standpoint of lenders, permanent structures are safe investments.
The Process
How do you build a barn? There is no single answer to the question, but the first step in the building process is to consult local government to learn about necessary permits and relevant ordinances in your area. Before you break ground on the project, you will want to be sure that you have all the proper credentials and that your structure is in alignment with local regulations.
Determining Location
Before building a barn, take a survey of the barn’s intended location. A good rule of thumb is to wait a full year before beginning the project. Waiting a full year will enable you to witness the impact of every season—assuming, of course, you live in an area of the country with four distinct seasons—on the land. Ideally, a barn should not be in a low-lying area. Similarly, a barn should not be so elevated that transporting materials—animal feed and bedding, for example—becomes difficult. In addition, homeowners looking to add electricity and running water to the barn should build the structure near existing utility lines. Finally, a barn that is situated near an existing driveway or access road makes getting to the building easy.
Building
The ambitious homeowner may want to undertake the building as a DIY project. Others will want to hire contractors. Depending on the intended use of the barn, as well as the style of barn, the level of work involved will vary. Building a wooden barn with a dirt floor requires less expertise than erecting a metal barn with a permanent foundation. For more involved projects that require leveling terrain and pouring a foundation, homeowners will want to consult contractors. Costs for more involved projects will be significant, but the initial investment should be reflected in the value the finished barn adds to the property. Think, too, about the future uses of the barn and be certain to plan for a structure that is big enough both for your current needs and for your future needs. For people with livestock, consider that, in time, the number of animals housed in the barn may grow.
DIY or the Professional Touch?
Barn building can be done with the help of professional contractors or you can build your own barn. Barn building plans are available online and can be instructive for anyone who decides to invest the time and work to erect a barn. Professional contractors are the best resources, as they know how to build a barn. There is no substitute for expert knowledge, but the industrious homeowner can consult contractors as references throughout the building process. Contractors can be helpful touchstones along the way to a completed barn.
The Value of a Barn
Barn building is not the right for everyone or every location. Residential areas, for example, are not conducive to barns. However, under the right circumstances, a barn can both enhance the appearance of a property and add value to a property. Homeowners who are interested in adding a barn to their land will find that the process is expedited with research, proper planning, and the advice of contractors or other homeowners who built barns for themselves. Whatever path you follow—choosing DIY or the help of contractors—a barn is a lasting investment your property’s value.
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