What are Barndominiums?

Barndominiums have grown in popularity as a durable, flexible alternative to traditional home construction, but not all barndominiums are the same. This guide explains what they are, how hybrid barndominiums differ, where they can be built, and what to consider when planning your own.

What Is a Barndominium?

A barndominium - or “barndo” - is a type of building that combines the structural strength of a steel frame with the livability of a traditional home. The term originally referred to barns that had been converted into living spaces, but today most barndominiums are purpose-built residential structures that borrow the durable, open-span construction style of barns or warehouses.

What sets barndominiums apart is their structural system: typically a steel frame with free span construction, meaning most of the load is carried by the exterior frame, which significantly reduces the number of interior load-bearing walls. This allows for large, open floor plans and a high degree of interior flexibility.

Barndominiums can vary in design, size, and finish—from rustic, barn-style homes to ultra-modern layouts with high-end finishes. They’re increasingly popular not just for rural builds, but also for homeowners looking for a durable, low-maintenance alternative to traditional wood-framed houses.

What Is a Hybrid Barndominium?

A hybrid barndominium is a modern building approach that combines the structural strength of a steel frame with the versatility and flexibility of traditional wood-framed exterior walls. This construction method strikes a balance between durability, energy efficiency, and long-term maintainability.

In a hybrid system the primary structure consists of steel columns, rafters, and roof framing. All exterior walls are framed with 2×6 wood studs between the steel columns and sheathed with the ZIP System for structural rigidity and weatherproofing. This approach offers several key advantages:

• Improved weather resistance: ZIP sheathing and tape allow for better air and moisture sealing
• Proper window flashing: Windows and doors can be flashed and sealed using standard residential methods
• Flexible siding options: Use of materials like fiber cement, engineered wood, or metal.
• Easier maintenance and repair: Exterior cladding can be replaced without disturbing spray foam
• Reduced risk of leaks: The layered wall system improves water management over time

A hybrid barndominium delivers the robustness of steel and the comfort of conventional home finishes, all in one structure. The steel frame minimizes long-term structural upkeep, and the layered wall system is easier to service over time.

Unlike full metal buildings, hybrid barndominiums support a wide variety of siding options, including:

• Fiber cement
• Engineered wood
• Metal

Benefits of Barndominiums

• Structural Durability
• Steel framing resists termites, rot, warping, and fire, offering a strong, stable structure over the long term

Free span interior layouts

• The structural frame reduces the need for interior load-bearing walls, enabling open layouts and easier future modifications
• Improved Exterior Wall Assembly
• Framing between steel columns with ZIP System sheathing offers better energy performance, easier siding replacement, and properly detailed openings
• Material Flexibility