Car collectors understandably want a great space to store, display, and work on their precious autos. But what if you could combine that space with your home? We’re not talking about a run-of-the-mill house and attached garage. We mean a home with a unique blend of building features for people just like you.
Say hello to the barndominium, a smart alternative to a conventional stick-frame house, especially for collector-car enthusiasts who want to be as close as possible to the possessions they hold so dear. Learn more about a barndominium below, including the numerous benefits it has for car collectors.
Barndominium Basics: What Is It?
Here at Wick Buildings, we think of a barndominium as a single-family residential structure built with post-frame construction. That’s also the building technique used for what some call a “pole barn.” In fact, you can think of a barndominium as a pole barn home.
Post-frame construction uses highly engineered, prefabricated laminated wooden columns as well as prefabricated trusses and other building components, which arrive on site ready to assemble.
It’s actually this construction method that makes it more structurally feasible and cost-effective to have a living space and a large open area for your cars all within a single structure. (For more information on post-frame construction vs. stick-frame construction, check out this article.)
Let’s dive into how you can benefit from a barndominium.
5 Barndominium Benefits
With advantages like the following, a barndominium could be the answer for creating a dream home that also incorporates your serious hobby.
1. Enjoy the Convenience of Having Your Cars Close By
With a barndominium, you won’t have to store your vehicles separately from your home. That means there’s no need to walk down the lane to another building.
Instead, you can have a super-spacious living area connected to the ultimate garage, or garage-mahal. And don’t forget that consolidating buildings can lower your taxable square footage.
But that convenience is really just the beginning of the benefits.
Have Plenty of Room with No Tight Squeezes
A key advantage to a barndominium is that it has less need for interior load-bearing walls. The building’s barn-like expansiveness means ample space for multiple cars and whatever else you may want to include. With no obtrusive columns, you’ll have a much easier time pulling cars in and out. You may even want to include a driving lane.
3. Enjoy a Bigger Space that’s Also More Cost-Effective
Once you go beyond a conventionally sized garage, stick-frame construction starts to get more and more impractical, and expensive. On the other hand, your barndominium’s garage space is built with post-frame construction components, a more cost-effective method, particularly when you want a super-spacious garage with more height.
That means having a platform or lift for your cars is more feasible – and so is using the space for taller toys like a boat or RV.
Add Shop Features and Man Cave Must-Haves More Easily
A barndominium provides an open floor plan for your living space and for the special area devoted to your cars. In fact, a barndominium enables you to create a comfortable garage area where you’ll want to spend a lot of time.
For example, with all that space you can include shop features like work benches, wall racks, a vehicle lift, a wash bay, and whatever else you need to comfortably work on your cars. Also, by opting to keep this space heated, you can tend to your cars comfortably year round – no long johns or puffy coat required!
And what about when you’re not tinkering with your cars? You can still be around them when you’re just kicking back. For instance, by including space for a TV, a couple of couches, and maybe even a bar and kitchen, you’ve got a man cave everyone can enjoy.
5. The Inherent Benefits of Post-Frame Construction
●Construction can likely be done faster compared to a typical stick-frame-built house and garage.
●Barndominiums don’t require a basement, which is significant because concrete and excavating costs for a continuous foundation can often be up to 15% of overall project costs.
●Extra-large openings for windows and doors are easier – and less expensive – to construct.
●Additions like overhangs, decks, porches, and even a new wing for additional cars can also be built more easily and cost-effectively.
●Post-frame construction uses larger components in its structures, and the larger the component, the longer the lifespan.
Take the Next Step Toward Your Dream Home
If you’re thinking about building a new house for you and your family, keep your beloved autos in mind by considering a barndominium.
Just know that a barndominium project is by no means simple. The right design, high-quality materials, smart construction practices – these are essential for a functional, cost-efficient, and durable barndominium you can enjoy for years to come.
Could a barndominium be right for you? To find out, take the next step and check out our barndominium page!
