What it costs
The guide puts a shell erected on your slab at about $30–$50 per sq ft, roughly 30–40 percent of a finished barndo. HomeGuide puts a 4-inch slab at $6–$8 per sq ft installed. Interior work is extra.
Run your own numbers in the barndominium cost estimator.
Worth knowing
- Cheapest way to get a weather-tight building
- You manage the trades and the schedule for the interior
- Interior items the guide prices separately: spray foam ($15,000–$30,000 for 2,000 sq ft) and HVAC (from about $12,500)
- Some lenders treat owner-finished builds differently, so ask early
What to send builders
- Building size and door and window count
- Whether the slab is included
- Which interior work you plan to do yourself
Questions
What does “dry-in” usually include?
Definitions vary. In general it means the building is framed, roofed, skinned and closed with doors and windows so it stays dry. Get each builder’s list in writing.
