does a she shed require a permit

ALL ABOUT BARNDOMINIUM HOUSES

Barndominiums started as a practical way to turn barns into homes. This idea became popular in the United States, especially in rural areas, as a creative and affordable way to get spacious housing by reusing old barns.

Today, barndominiums are a growing trend in home design. They combine the wide-open feel of a barn with the comfort and style of modern homes. The result is a unique and cozy living space that’s easy to customize, perfect for anyone looking for something special and functional.

Pros of Barndominimums

Cost-Effective

Barndominiums are celebrated for their cost-effective construction, making them a highly appealing housing option. Their open floor plans maximize space efficiency, reducing overall square footage and associated expenses. The straightforward construction process, combined with the flexibility to customize interior layouts, allows homeowners to achieve an affordable yet personalized living space.

While costs can vary depending on location and customization, the affordability inherent in barndominium construction offers a budget-friendly path to a unique and spacious home.

Versatile

The design versatility of barndominiums is a significant reason for their growing popularity. These structures serve as a blank slate, enabling homeowners to bring their unique style and preferences to life.

From rustic wood exteriors to sleek metal finishes, and from traditional layouts to modern aesthetics, barndominiums are highly adaptable. Their spacious interiors encourage creative room configurations, supporting anything from cozy cottage-like designs to expansive, loft-inspired living spaces.

This flexibility ensures barndominiums cater to a wide variety of tastes and lifestyles, making them an excellent choice for anyone seeking a home tailored to their individual vision.

Open-Concept

The open-concept design of barndominiums is one of their most defining and appealing features, setting them apart from traditional homes. Inspired by their barn origins, these residences often feature wide, unobstructed interiors free from the limitations of load-bearing walls.

Rooted in a farm-style aesthetic, barndominiums exude rustic charm with exposed wooden beams, weathered finishes, and a cozy yet expansive ambiance. This design approach emphasizes vast, uninterrupted spaces, serving as a blank canvas for creative interior layouts.

High ceilings and expansive great rooms enhance the feeling of openness, creating an inviting and adaptable environment. The roomy interiors not only emphasize the rustic aesthetic but also provide practical benefits, allowing homeowners to effortlessly define functional areas.

Whether designing a welcoming living room, a spacious kitchen, or a flexible home office, the inherent openness of barndominiums supports a versatile and dynamic living experience steeped in rustic appeal.

The rustic-modern charm of barndominiums goes beyond their aesthetic appeal, combining low maintenance, durability, and energy efficiency in a farmhouse-inspired design.

With their weathered finishes and rustic facades, these homes exude timeless character while requiring minimal upkeep. Built with robust materials, they not only reflect the farmhouse ethos but also ensure exceptional durability for years to come.

This blend of rustic design and modern practicality extends to energy efficiency, with thoughtful features like abundant natural light and well-insulated interiors. These elements create a home that is as environmentally conscious as it is visually striking.

Barndominiums capture the spirit of farmhouse living, seamlessly uniting style and functionality to deliver a low-maintenance, long-lasting, and energy-efficient home that endures with grace and substance.

CoNs of Barndominimums

Zoning Approvals

Constructing a barndominium often involves navigating the complexities of permits and zoning regulations, a process that can be challenging but manageable with the right approach. Permitting requirements vary significantly by location, and the unique blend of residential and agricultural elements in barndominiums may not always align with established zoning guidelines.

Homeowners may face resistance from local authorities unfamiliar with this hybrid housing style. Successfully addressing these challenges requires thorough research into local building codes, proactive communication with zoning officials, and, in some cases, requesting variances or amendments to existing regulations.

While navigating these hurdles can be time-consuming, overcoming them ensures that your barndominium meets all legal and regulatory requirements, paving the way for your dream home to become a reality.

Noise

The open and spacious design of barndominiums, while a hallmark of their charm, can also lead to increased noise levels compared to traditional homes. High ceilings and expansive layouts may allow sound to travel more freely, potentially creating a noisier environment.

Fortunately, noise management is achievable through strategic interior design. Soft furnishings like rugs, curtains, and acoustic panels can help absorb sound, reducing its impact. Thoughtful room placement and careful positioning of noise-producing elements, such as appliances or entertainment systems, can further minimize disruptions.

By incorporating these measures, homeowners can enjoy the benefits of open-concept living while maintaining a comfortable and harmonious atmosphere.

How Much Does a Barndominium Cost?

Barndominiums come with unique costs, often making them more affordable than traditional homes. Ranch-style designs are typically the cheapest option, while adding a second floor increases expenses. The absence of a basement also helps keep costs down.

While traditional homes cost an average of $240–$280 per square foot, barndominiums are more flexible, ranging from $95 to $220 per square foot. To get an accurate estimate, it’s essential to research and consult local contractors since details like finishes can greatly affect the final price.

Choosing simple options, like concrete floors instead of expensive finishes, can save money. Using repurposed materials adds character and fits well with the rustic farmhouse look, offering a creative and cost-effective solution. By combining rustic charm with modern features, barndominium owners can create a stylish and affordable home.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF COB HOUSES

If you’ve delved into alternative and off-grid housing options, you’ve probably encountered cob homes. These charming, fairy-tale-like structures are more than just a fantasy—they’re quite practical in reality.

Despite being an ancient construction method, cob building offers remarkable potential for creating sustainable and cost-effective housing. Modern cob homes are not only durable and energy-efficient but also visually striking. However, this approach might not be the perfect fit for everyone.

In this overview, we’ll examine the advantages and disadvantages of building with cob to help you determine if this unique construction method aligns with your needs.

WHAT ARE COB HOMES?

A cob house is constructed from a blend of clay, sand, and straw. When these materials are mixed in the correct proportions, they form a highly durable and versatile building substance.

Often referred to as earthen or mud houses, cob cottages have a rich history, having been commonly built in Europe and Africa for centuries. Although their popularity waned with the advent of modern construction materials, cob homes are experiencing a revival as a sustainable and appealing alternative to conventional building methods. In North America, they are becoming increasingly popular as interest in natural building techniques grows.

Cob houses are typically constructed by hand, without the aid of power tools or machinery. The main material used is the cob mixture itself, which, when sufficiently mixed, is workable and can be shaped. Builders create thick walls by molding the cob by hand, starting from the foundation and progressing up to the roof. Once the walls are dry, they are often coated with clay or lime plaster to enhance their durability.

Cob homes differ from other natural building techniques like straw bale or earthbag construction. Straw bale homes use bales of straw as infill between wooden frames, which are then covered with plaster. Earthbag construction involves stacking bags or tubes filled with soil, secured with barbed wire, to create the structure, and like cob and straw bale homes, these are also finished with plaster. While all three methods can offer similar exterior appearances, they each use distinct techniques and materials in their construction.

COB HOUSE PROS AND CONS

COB HOUSE PROS

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Cob walls have high thermal mass, meaning they absorb and store heat during the day and release it slowly at night. This helps maintain more stable indoor temperatures compared to homes built with modern materials. In summer, cob walls also help keep the interior cooler. Because cob homes require less energy for heating and cooling, they are more eco-friendly, especially in warm, dry climates.

SUSTAINABILITY

Cob houses are built using materials that are often found on-site, especially clay or mud. Sand and straw can usually be sourced locally if not available at the building site. This reduces the need for conventional building materials and lowers transportation emissions, leading to a significant decrease in the embodied energy of construction.

AFFORDABILITY

Cob houses are among the most affordable to build. The materials are typically inexpensive and readily available. Since many components can be sourced for free on-site or nearby, and homeowners often do the work themselves, the overall construction costs are reduced.

DURABILITY

Cob homes are extremely durable and can last for hundreds of years if properly maintained. Many old cob structures still stand strong around the world, from England to Africa. Cob is known for its resilience against earthquakes, pests, rot, and mold.

INDIVIDUALITY AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

Cob homes can be shaped into almost any design because they don’t use traditional framing. This flexibility allows for creative designs, including circular or curved walls and unique features. Cob also lets builders add artistic touches like carvings and custom-built furniture, fireplaces, and shelves, both inside and out.

FIRE RESISTANCE

The main ingredients in cob—clay and sand—are naturally fire-resistant. This makes cob homes more fire-resistant than many other types of buildings.

DURABILITY

Cob homes are incredibly durable and can last for hundreds of years if maintained properly. Many old cob structures are still standing around the world, from England to Africa, showcasing their long-lasting stability. Cob is a strong material that can withstand earthquakes and other natural disasters, and it is highly resistant to pests, rot, and mold.

INDIVIDUALITY AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

Unlike conventional houses built with frames, cob homes can be shaped into almost any design you can imagine. This flexibility allows for unique features like circular or curved walls, window frames, and roofs.

Building with cob is similar to sculpting with clay, giving you the freedom to create distinctive designs with curves, patterns, and carvings. This creative freedom extends to both the interior and exterior of the home, where cob can be used to build stunning walls, as well as custom features like built-in furniture, fireplaces, ovens, and shelves.

COB HOUSE CONS 

LABOR AND TIME

Building with cob involves a lot of labor and time. Each layer of cob needs to dry before the next one can be added, so completing a cob house can take months or even years, especially if you’re doing most of the work yourself. If you need a quick construction process, cob might not be the best choice.

Cob construction also requires skills that many people don’t have. If you’re determined to build with cob, you might need to hire a professional or take a course to learn the techniques. If you hire someone, the labor costs might be higher than for traditional building because of the extra time and skill involved. However, many cob builders offer workshops or share their knowledge for free, and you can speed up the process by working with friends or family.

NOT IDEAL FOR COLD AND WET CONDITIONS

Cob isn’t the best material for areas with long periods of wet or cold weather. Cob can break down if it’s constantly exposed to moisture, although a good roof can help protect it. Many cob homes do survive in regions with consistent moisture.

While cob’s thermal mass is great for warm and moderate climates, it doesn’t help much in very cold conditions. Heating will still be needed regardless of the building material. To reduce heating costs, you can use passive heating methods, large windows, solar energy, or even build your cob home inside a greenhouse, as some people have done in Norway.

DIFFICULTY WITH PERMITS AND INSURANCE

Getting permits for a cob home can be challenging because traditional building codes often don’t cover cob construction. Some areas only allow conventional building methods, so you might not be able to get approval for a cob house.

Before starting your project, check with your local planning office to see if there are any restrictions on alternative building methods and what codes you need to follow. You might need to hire a structural engineer or other professionals to get your plans approved.

Insurance can also be tricky since cob homes don’t fit neatly into standard categories like stick-built or mobile homes. Finding insurance might be difficult, so you’ll need to explore your options carefully.

FINANCING PROBLEMS

Getting a mortgage for a cob home can be difficult because many lenders are unfamiliar with this building style and may be hesitant to finance it. You might find a lender willing to work with you, but it could be a long and challenging process.

Consider alternative financing options such as owner financing (if buying an existing cob home), bartering, or lease-to-own arrangements to get the funds you need.

SO, WHAT’S OUR TAKE ON COB HOMES?  

If you’re thinking about building or buying a cob house, keep in mind that it involves a lot of work and you’ll need to get the right permits.

However, if you’re after a sustainable, affordable, and unique home made from natural materials that can last for centuries, a cob house could be a great choice! Just make sure to do your research so you know what to expect.

You can start small by trying out cob construction with simpler projects like cob ovens or playhouses. This can be a good way to learn about how cob works in your area. If you decide that a cob house is right for you, you’ll have a unique, hand-built home to enjoy for many years!

CONCLUSION

Cob houses, with their unique blend of natural materials and ancient construction techniques, offer a promising path towards sustainable and comfortable living. Their advantages, such as excellent insulation, durability, and low environmental impact, make them a compelling option for those seeking eco-friendly housing solutions.

While cob construction may present challenges in terms of labor intensity and potential moisture issues, the benefits often outweigh the drawbacks. As technology advances and construction practices evolve, it’s likely that cob houses will become even more accessible and practical. Ultimately, the decision to build a cob house is a personal one, influenced by individual preferences, lifestyle, and environmental values.