What is included in a steel barndominium kit?

Our kits include the complete steel building shell: primary steel framing, secondary framing (purlins and girts), metal siding for exterior walls, roof panels, trim, fasteners, and any doors or windows you select. The kit does not include interior framing, insulation, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC, which are typically handled by your general contractor.

Can I use a steel barndominium as a full-time residence?

Yes, many customers build steel barndominiums as their primary residence. Before you begin, check with your local municipality to confirm they allow steel buildings for residential use in your area. Some localities have restrictions on metal buildings or specific requirements for homes.

How much does a barndominium kit cost?

Pricing varies based on building size, design complexity, and options selected. Simple rectangular designs are the most cost-effective. Adding features like eave extensions, wrap around porches, and hip roofs can substantially increase costs. Contact us for a free quote tailored to your specific project.

Do I need a building permit for a steel barndominium?

Yes, just like a traditional home, most areas require a building permit for any new construction, including metal buildings used as homes. You will likely need to meet local code requirements for wind loads, snow loads, and energy efficiency. We recommend checking with your local building department early in the planning process.

How does the construction process work?

Once you finalize your barndominium design with our team, your kit is engineered, fabricated, and shipped to your site. Many customers hire a general contractor to handle erection and interior build out, though some experienced owner-builders take on the project themselves. We provide detailed drawings and documentation to support your barndominium construction.

Steel Building Barndominium

What is a Barndominium?

The term barndominium first appeared in the 1980s when a Connecticut developer created a community designed for people who wanted to live near their horses. The concept gained national attention in 2016 after appearing on the popular TV show Fixer Upper, and the idea quickly took off. Today, a barndominium refers to a functional new home that blends rustic charm with low maintenance living. Steel building kits are a popular option for bringing this design to life.

A steel building can be configured to match your interests and lifestyle. The clear span design of a pre-engineered steel building kit with it's open floor plan allows you a flexible design for your interior. Most customers start by planning a comfortable living space, then determine how much additional room they need for a shop, storage area, home office, or hobby space. Imagine a steel building shell that encompasses 2,000, 3,000, or even 5,000 square feet or more. You can also choose a taller eave height and roof slope to build out a second story or just want the look of high ceilings. The options are vast, but there are considerations to keep in mind before you get started.

Additionally, our steel structure is engineered for your specific location, taking into account wind, snow and seismic loads. The steel frame not only makes it a versatile structure, but also a strong building to base your residential structure on.

Renegade steel building barndominium with open bay porch

Designs that make sense to use a steel building

The style building that makes the most economical sense with a steel building tend to be simple designs. A "box" which can be either a square or rectangle is the most cost effective way to go. This "simple" building can still be dressed up with inexpensive options to give you a nice barn look at an affordable price. Even with this type design, having a floor plan to show door and window locations is helpful in supplying an accurate quote.

Just because you choose a simple design, doesn't mean you can't make the building look nice. There are a few options that help change the look from just a metal building to something more architecturally appealing. The list below will give you an idea of what you can do.

Where do I start with my steel building barndominium?

One of the first things you should do is talk to your local municipality to determine if they will allow the use of a steel building as a home on your property. You want to make sure you city or county does not have provisions preventing the use of steel panels or even steel in general when the building will be used for living quarters. Some people have found that a building to be used as a home cannot be square or rectangle. The best time to find all this out is before you have committed time and money to a project or even a piece of property.

Check with your lending institution to make sure you can get a construction loan for a Steel Building Barndominium. Your lender may need additional information including (but not limited to) information from your general contractor, design details, and warranty information.

Know what size building will fit on your property. The last thing you want to have happen is to find out there are specific set backs from your property line that limit what square footage size building you can do. This may not be a problem if you have many acres, but even then it can be an issue depending on where you want to build.

Determine your local wind and snow loads. When considering a steel building, the zip code guides the loads and codes. While this is typically very accurate, each local building department can supplement these codes with their own requirements. It is much better to know up front what your requirements are as opposed to having to make changes down the road.

Decide how much of your building will be livable space and how much storage, workshop, or barn space you will need. One of the best ways to visualize this used to be sketching out what you want on graph paper and more or less creating your own barndominium plan. These days, there are several programs you can use to sketch your layout online or on your computer. Another popular option is to look through Pinterest to get layout ideas.

Figure out which building method will work best for your layout and budget. Some design options may dictate whether you look at a steel building or traditional post frame construction.

Barndo Options

Cupola

$$$$$

Adding a cupola is a simple way to give your steel building a traditional barn look. Commonly used for ventilation in actual barns, the cupolas installed on metal buildings are typically there for aesthetic purposes only. This small detail can transform the appearance of your barndo and add that modern farmhouse feel.

Renegade steel building cupola with red roof and tan panels

Wainscot

$$$$$

Wainscot is easy to add and creates a contrasting color line at the base of the building for added dimension. As long as you are using this as a color change, you typically only add an additional girt and trim at this location. In the overall scheme, you get a lot of visual impact for a modest investment utilizing the same profile metal siding. You may also choose to use brick or stone for your wainscot, which your local general contractor can provide and install.

Eave extensions

$$$$$

Eave extensions add significant visual appeal to any steel building and are easily the most expensive option as well. Adding 16 to 24 inches to the roof line creates that common house or barn overhang look. Including soffits on the overhang completes the finish and gives your metal barndominium a polished, custom appearance.

Eave Extension or Canopy

$$$$$

If you want to continue the roof line for a porch, it is considered an extension. This option works on both sidewalls and end walls. If you choose to have the porch start below the eave, it is considered a canopy. Both options have a maximum limit of 10 feet since they are cantilevered from the building and must be placed along frame lines for support. Both can include a soffit, though the support structure remains visible below the panels. Many customers add decorative wood posts to the edge of the canopy for a more traditional porch feel.

renegade steel building with canopy, red walls and soffit

Lean to porch

$$$$$

When you want a porch area that extends further than 10 feet, you can use a lean-to for a larger option. This porch can continue along the roof line or start below the eave. Ceiling liner panels or soffits are available, though the support structure and cross-bracing remain visible below the panels. This option must be considered during initial planning so the lean-to loads and attachment points can be designed into the main building. You will have rafters and columns along the same frame line or bay spacing as the main structure. Lean-to porches are most commonly added to the sidewall but can also be placed on an end wall.

Barndominium building with tan walls and brown wainscot with a lean to porch

Wrap around porch

$$$$$

A wrap-around porch is a popular choice for a steel building barndominium. It offers great aesthetics and added function. Some customers enclose a portion of the porch for additional living space, while others add wooden posts for a more traditional look. The design uses 10-foot canopies on adjoining walls to create the porch, and the canopies must span an entire bay since they need support from the main frame structure on both the end wall and sidewalls.

Roof line with hips and valleys

$$$$$ +

We commonly see drawings and sketches that include intricate roof lines with hips and valleys. While these are straightforward in traditional stick-frame houses, they become more complicated and costly with a steel building. Carrying the roof load between the main frame columns and rafters requires extensive engineering. The design cannot simply sit on top of the purlins; it must incorporate additional steel support beams. The engineering and additional steel make this a very expensive option that can easily double the cost of a basic steel building.

Barndominium with hip roof, canopies, eave extensions, and wainscot

Monitor Style Steel Building

$$$$$

The monitor-style steel building features a raised center section. This section can accommodate taller equipment or provide an area to add windows for additional natural light in the center of the building. You still get a clear span design with no interior columns to clutter your floor plan. This option is only available in limited areas in the Southeastern US.

renegade steel building barndominium monitor style, tan with bronze trim

Gambrel Style Steel Building

$$$$$

The gambrel-style steel building has two slopes on each side of the roof, creating that classic barn silhouette. You still get a clear span design with no interior columns to interfere with your interior layout. An optional lean-to can be added to each side for additional covered space. The gambrel option is only available in limited areas in the Southeastern US.

Barndominium with traditional barn shape "Gambrel" roof and 2 lean tos. Red with white trim.

Explore Interior Options

You may have a good idea of how you want the exterior of your barndominium to look, but what about the interior? What we provide is a steel building shell. Once erected, the building will typically have a clear span design that allows you to configure the interior any way you like. There are some engineering requirements to consider for your barndominium design.

Along with an open floor plan, many people choose an open-style ceiling. You can run lights and ductwork exposed for a more rustic appearance. For a barndominium where you are building out a second story, you can use the floor joists to support any ceiling type you want. If you install a ceiling supported by the steel building structure itself, we will need information to add enough collateral load to support your chosen material. This can add substantially to your bottom line depending on your selection.

Interior Build Out Gallery

Building Bracing and Frame Locations

steel building barndominium interior stick framing

While we don't provide any interior framing, we can help guide you with your window and door locations while also considering the framing and bracing required in a steel building. Read more about steel building bracing.

If you decided to go with a taller building, you can frame up the interior to allow for a second story as well.

Steel Building Barndominium Insulation

Building interior with liner insulation system

You may be considering just insulating the interior walls you build inside your barndo, but we also recommend insulation for the steel building shell. This reduces the chance of condensation and keeps the entire building envelope insulated, improving energy efficiency for your primary residence. There are a few different options to consider such as fiberglass insulation as well as spray foam options.

Designed for Ease, Built to Last

A steel kit from Renegade offers the structural integrity of rigid framed steel buildings with the flexibility to create your dream barndominium. Our pre-engineered kits simplify the construction process while giving you control over your unique living space. With clear span designs, you can create the open concept floor plan you want, whether that includes a spacious living area, a home office, a workshop, or all of the above. Our team provides transparent quotes, clear documentation, and customer service that guides you from your first call through delivery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Your Trusted Metal Building Providers

Renegade Steel Buildings has helped customers across the country bring their barndominium projects to life. We believe in honest pricing, clear communication, and supporting you through every step of the process. Ready to start planning your custom barndominium?

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