Are you planning to build a new house on your rural property? Many farmers and landowners in Western Canada are looking to pre-manufactured houses as the way to go! Modular, RTM, and post-frame houses are growing in popularity due to their lower cost and quicker construction time compared to traditional stick-frame builds. “Barndominum” houses, which are constructed with post-frame (or pole) buildings, are becoming more common.
If you’ve been considering using post-frames to build your next home, our team at Blue Hills Construction is here to help! Our team of expert contractors will help you select the right floor plan and customizations for your needs. Below, we’ll discuss a few things you should keep in mind when deciding whether a post-frame house is right for you.
What Is a Barndominium?
A Barndominium is an open-concept floor plan that is generally constructed using post-frame building materials. With a barndominium, you get the country charm of a barn-style house with a more contemporary spin. Post-frames are traditionally used for barns, workshops, and warehouses, so many homeowners will use a portion of their home as their workspace while the other is used for living space.
Barndominum-style houses can be built from the ground up with traditional stick-frame methods. Still, pre-fabricated versions using post-frames are a faster and more cost-efficient method that more and more homeowners prefer.
Factors to Consider for a Post-Frame Build
Post-frame buildings are a solid choice for a pre-fabricated rural house, as they only take from 3-6 months to complete and are comparatively cheaper than a traditional build. However, before deciding whether a post-frame barndominium is right for you, there are a few things to consider about your budget, timeline, and personal needs for space and flexibility.
Hard to Get a Bank Loan
Due to their different construction processes, RTM, modular, and post-frame houses are often harder to secure bank loans for. Banks generally consider these models to be a less reliable investment, and if you are able to secure a bank loan, you may have to pay higher interest on your down payment.
Rather than go through the traditional route of securing financing, our team at Blue Hills recommends going through your local credit union, as these lenders are generally able to provide more options and flexibility for pre-fabricated homes.
Requires Additional Features & Construction
Post-frames are intended to be used for building sheds, workshops, and barns, and aren’t designed with the same level of insulation, HVAC, framing, and other structural components required to make a structure livable. Therefore, the construction of your post-frame house will take longer, and the level of engineering needed to get it up to house-building standards will also increase the price.
If you’re looking for a more inexpensive option, an RTM or modular home from Blue Hills may offer more cost savings in the long run. Overall, whether a post-frame house is the right choice for you comes down to the room you have in your budget and timeline.
Looking for Expert Post-Frame Building Construction? Partner with Blue Hills
Planning to build a post-frame house? Choose Blue Hills Construction! From the initial floor plan to the final house inspection, our team will work with you every step of the way to ensure you get the post-frame barndominum of your dreams. If you’d like to aim for a simpler design and build process, we also have several floor plans available for RTM and modular homes that are fully customizable.
Contact us today to learn more about our floor plans and home construction services.