Barndominiums combine the charm of traditional pole barns with the comfort of modern living spaces. But how long does it take to build one?

This blog will explore the typical timeline for building a barndominium, including factors that can affect the construction process.

We'll break down the key stages of building a barndominium and highlight factors that influence the duration of each phase.

1. What is a Barndominium?

A barndominium is a hybrid structure that combines a barn-style building with living space. Often made from metal or steel frames, it's a popular choice for rural living.

The misconception about barndominiums is they are often known for their affordability. However, a barndominium's cost can vary widely due to the size and finishes chosen. Standing seam roofs are one finish customers assume is standard, but it is not. 

These metal panels interlock to have no fasteners shown. They look nice, but add $10-15 more per square foot. You will only see cost savings if you DIY the interior finishes of a barndominium. The cost to build a pole barn home is often more than a stick-built one. 

Post-frame homes are a popular choice due to their customization and durability. The weight of the building is distributed through the clear span trusses; thus, no load-bearing walls are required! The metal roof and siding provide low maintenance. 

But if metal is not your style, regular shingles can be used on the roof, and brick or vinyl siding can be utilized for siding. For vinyl siding, additional framing is required, which adds to the overall construction cost. Metal is a faster and more cost-effective choice.

2. Typical Timeline for Building a Barndominium

Overview of Construction Phases:

1. Pre-Construction Planning
2. Site Prep & Permitting
3. Foundation and Framing
4. Building the Shell
5. Interior Work
6. Finishing Touches

3. Detailed Breakdown of Each Phase

Some customers spend years saving ideas to their Pinterest boards and watching post-frame YouTube videos to understand the building process. They may realize that their dream of DIY will take a lot of time and money. 

When you are ready to start, our team is here to help you. Below is an outline of what your barndominium timeline could look like. As mentioned above, each project is unique, so your project could go faster or slower for various reasons.

1) Pre-Construction Phase (1-3 Months)

Our free design online tool allows you to try various sizes, colors, and features. Plus, you can add your barn to Google Earth to visualize your barndominium on your property.

There are many barndominium floor plans on the internet. While FBi Buildings has engineers to design your custom barndominium, it is important to work with a reputable architect and general contractor familiar with the post-frame for the interior floor plan portion. 

Stick-built floor plans are typically designed for 2' framing, whereas post-frame plans are 8'. Having a proper plan will save you time and money later in the build. Another way to save time is getting your subcontractor quotes and a detailed plan in advance.

Once you have your floor plan, submit it for a free quote. Our Project Sales Consultants will walk alongside you to price out various post-frame features and develop a barndominium shell that meets your style and budget. It can be hard to know which builder to go with, so we have put together seven questions to ask your builder.

Author’s Note: Remember to ask your builder for their lead time, as this will delay the completion of your project. Some post-frame builders have a year's lead time.

Getting financing for your barndominium can be one of the more challenging parts of the building process. Barndominium financing is unique. Some banks will require you to hire a general contractor and hire licensed contractors. Other banks will let you be the general contractor but still require licensed contractors. 

Few will give loans to DIY customers or may have stipulations as to what you can DIY. Paying in cash will give you the most flexibility and freedom (as zoning and permitting allow). It is important to remember that most banks will only finance 80% of the project. 

2) Site Prep & Permitting (1 month - 5 months)

After you secure your financing and sign your contract, the FBi Buildings Pre-construction Coordinator will help you pull necessary building permits for your county. At the same time, your project will be assigned a Project Manager who will facilitate ordering materials and scheduling a crew for your project.

Each site is unique. Be sure to discuss with your sales consultant how best to set up your site for the construction process and how it can ideally be laid out to best serve you for years to come.

Another important factor when planning and preparing your barndominium is the site utilities. You want to establish the plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and waste removal needs and how those factor into your site plan.

Review the 7 tips for site prep to avoid delays in this step of the process. Setting up your project for success starts with site prep.

3) Post-Frame Foundation (2- 4 weeks)

Your foundation will be poured next. Barndominiums can be built on a concrete basement, crawlspace, or pad.

Installing a basement or crawlspace foundation wall may add to your project timeline. This is due to the time your concrete contractor takes to dig a trench, place concrete forms, fill, let concrete cure, and backfill.

The foundation of your post-frame home will include a 4-6" concrete slab. The columns that support the structure are often stub-ahead. 

The stub-ahead process entails:

• Digging holes for the columns
• Installing the bottom column
• Adding treated grade board or Perma-columns
• Utilities run by subcontractors
  

The stub ahead process allows concrete trucks to have full perimeter access, FBi to have columns set, and underground utilities to be run. Depending on the time of year, stub ahead can help speed up the process (before winter) and also allow the crews to work off of concrete, thus resulting in a cleaner site for the men and the customers' materials.

Due to their height and design, barndominiums are often stub-ahead. In larger projects, a concrete truck can pour the foundation or use buggies to transport concrete. However, if your project just has a standard-height garage door and a complex layout, a standard concrete pour will be hard to achieve.

Following FBi Buildings' stubbing ahead, a concrete company will pour the foundation. Then FBi Buildings will come back to build the outer shell. Your Project Sales Consultant can connect you with a reputable contractor in your area. Note that bad weather can cause delays.

4) Building the Shell (2 weeks - 3 months)

The simpler the design, the faster and more cost-effective your project will be. For example, a single roof line, open floor plan, and simple concrete foundation will be completed faster than a barndominium over a basement with multiple roof pitches.

We have had simple 40' x 40' pole barn shells built within a few days. More complex home-building projects have taken several weeks of our crew building, then pulling off for 2-4+ weeks of septic and concrete installation and back for an additional 2 weeks for interior prep work.

The times can also fluctuate depending on whether the project is a single-story or two-story with a deck system and interior walls built by FBi Buildings.

FBi Buildings' QLYFT system will raise the roof. This system allows them to construct your home efficiently and safely. 

When building your pole barn, you should consider adding building wrap to prevent air and critters from getting in. Another important element is to decide what insulation you will want. There are four essentials every pole barn home should include. 

5) Interior Work (2-4+ Months)

In construction, timelines change. Whether it is a delay on doors from a manufacturer or a scheduling conflict with a subcontractor, the interior work can be the longest portion of your post-frame build.

FBi Buildings can install wood framing on your interior for an additional cost. Work with your general contractor and project sales consultant to find the right fit for your budget and timeline.

You will need to consult with your GC for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, as well as drywall, flooring, and interior finishes. In this stage, there are multiple moving parts. A delay in cabinets or appliances on back order can delay the project's completion.

If you go the DIY route, we have seen customers take over two years to finish! This is why some banks will not loan if you are doing most of the finished work, but it is a good option if you want to cash flow the project.        

6) Finishing Touches (2 weeks - 2 Months)

Don't forget about the finishing touches. Adding a driveway, sidewalks, sod, or even a patio space helps make your barndominium feel like a home. These final touches can cost thousands of dollars, so factor them into your budget and timeline!

You also want to ensure everything meets local building codes and standards. When FBi Buildings completes their portion, they will walk through with you to ensure everything is satisfactory. 

The interior decor is the final step. Moving in, hanging pictures, and adding decor will tie everything together. Some barns look more basic on the outside, but we've seen customers transform the interior with their furniture and design choices.

4. Factors That Can Affect the Timeline

Just as in new home construction, you can be in your new home quickly by going simple, such as a builder with a predetermined design. With pole barn homes, going with a simple design over a very custom design will cut your time in half. With more custom design, it comes with special material orders.

Weather is also a factor in timelines. If it is too windy, we can not use our QLYFT system. If it is too muddy, it is harder and slower for our crews to move about the property. You may also think that building in the winter is not possible; however, we can build!

Subcontractors can also play a role in delays. Hiring a reputable general contractor can facilitate this process. While you can be your own general contractor, you may experience inefficiencies when handling schedules and sequencing. 

5. Can You Speed Up the Process?

If you want your barndominium built within six months, you must first have your ducks in a row. Below are five ways to speed up the building process.

Before contacting us for a quote, check out your local codes and tasks you can complete to move your project along. 

• Do you need to pull a septic permit? 
• Does your HOA allow all metal barndominiums? 
• Do you have a building height restriction? 
• Have you pulled a roadway/driveway permit?
• Does your property need a gravel driveway installed? 
• Are there trees that need to be removed?

Having your quote and financing figured out and a pre-approval letter ready will streamline the building process.

Next, having a barndominium floor plan picked out, or a pre-made design in place will speed things up. The more custom and changes wanted will add to the time to have drawings made by an architect.

Doing it yourself is all fun and games until you don't meet deadlines and realize that that TikTok video didn't tell you that building your own home is like a second job.

Save the hassle of managing multiple subcontractors by hiring an experienced general contractor to help you through the pole barn home-building process.

The age-old saying that time is money is key to remember!

Regarding the materials you select, going with the standard metal doors and windows will keep your project on time. Adding custom windows, doors, stone wainscoting, and unique design features will look great but can also extend your project timeline.

6. Barndominium vs. Stick Built Timeline

As stated above, a barndominium typically takes 6 to 12 months. 

According to the 2023 US Census, it took an average of 8.6 months to build a new home from start to completion, with built-for-sale homes taking an average of around seven months to complete and owner-built homes taking nearly 14 months.

Compared to stick-built, barndominiums are typically faster; however, every project is unique, and both construction methods experience delays.

Besides being energy efficient, another benefit of post-frame construction over stick-built construction is that you can finish the interior as your time and budget allow. In stick-built construction, building components have to be completed in set stages. 

How Fast Will Your Post-Frame Home Take to Build?

Depending on the scope of work by your post-frame builder, the shell can be counted in days or weeks, whereas the total process can be counted in months or sometimes years. 

Ready to start building your dream barndominium? Begin by designing your space and reviewing the free resources outlined in the blog, and you can build y

Have more questions about the timeline of building a barndominium, Please contact FBi Buildings at 1.800.552.2981 or click here to email us. If you are ready to get a price, click here to request a quote and a member of our sales team will call you.