In case you wonder, how long do barndominiums last, barndominiums can last a lifetime or longer. Yet, the life of your barndominium depends on a wide range of factors, including the quality of construction and materials.
The frame of a barndominium may last several hundred years. Here is what you should know if you want to ensure that your barndominium survives for generations to come.
What Determines the Lifespan of a Barndominium?
The life of a barndominium is largely influenced by the following:
- Frame
- Foundation
- Upkeep
- Tree roots
- Weather
- Quality
But to answer ‘how long do barndominiums last?’, you should not need to worry about your barndominium deteriorating beyond repair during your lifetime. Barndominiums are durable structures. However, as with any home, you need to pay attention to specific issues that may shorten its life, such as damage due to weather or nearby trees.
Rust is also a concern with barndominiums, as corrosion can weaken the steel frame. Luckily, the siding and roof of a barndominium help decrease the risk of water damage and leaks.
Steel Frames Are Stronger Than Wood Frames
The shell of a home lasts longer compared to the rest of the property. The paint, flooring, and even the drywall may require replacement multiple times during the life of your home.
The shell includes the frame of the house. Most barndominiums are built with steel frames while traditional homes are built with wood stud frames. Both options are designed to last a minimum of 50 years but may survive hundreds of years with proper care.
The longevity of a steel frame is comparable to a wood frame. However, steel frames provide increased structural strength. A steel frame is less likely to suffer from major structural issues.
Wood frames are susceptible to wood rot and mold growth, especially when building a home in a humid area or region with a significant amount of rainfall. You do not need to deal with the same issues when building a steel barndominium.
Barndominiums Often Require Less Upkeep
The durability of a barndominium helps reduce the need for maintenance and repairs. The shell of a barndominium offers increased protection against severe weather, which is another issue that impacts the lifespan of your home. However, barndominiums also typically include more durable:
- Siding
- Roofs
- Foundations
Many barndominiums feature metal siding and roofing. Standard houses often have aluminum or vinyl siding and asphalt roof shingles.
Metal siding has a minimum lifespan of 50 years but may last several times longer. Aluminum siding has a lifespan of just 20 to 50 years while vinyl siding typically lasts 50 to 70 years.
Metal roofs are also more durable compared to asphalt roofs. An asphalt roof has an average lifespan of 15 to 30 years. Sheet metal roofs should provide many decades of protection.
If you live in an area with frequent hail storms and severe weather, the siding and roof may take more of a beating. Yet, the exterior is still likely to hold up better compared to the siding and asphalt roof on a standard home.
A Slab Foundation Is Less Prone to Damage
Barndominiums are typically built on top of slab concrete foundations. A slab foundation is another feature that helps increase the lifespan of a barndominium, an important factor when we try to answer, ‘how long do barndominiums last?’
Many traditional houses are built on basement foundations. A basement foundation may experience water damage, plumbing problems, mold, and structural damage during its life. These issues become more common in areas with high water tables.
While not all homes suffer from foundation damage, basement issues can impact the structural integrity of a home. Severe water damage or plumbing problems may lead to additional cracking or bowing of the walls of the foundation.
Slab foundations offer better protection, as they minimize the risk of damage from floods, gas leaks, and pests. When poured correctly, a slab foundation can last a couple of hundred years.
What Areas of the Barndominium Need Repair Most Frequently?
The frame and foundation of your barndominium should last at least 100 years or longer while the siding and roof can last decades. The exterior is built to last, but the interior may require occasional repairs.
The inside of a barndominium includes many of the same components found in standard houses, including:
- Plumbing
- Drywall
- Interior paint
- Furnace and water heater
- Air conditioner unit
- Windows
- Doors
The longevity of each of these items is likely the same whether you build a barndominium or a standard house. The main waste pipe can last 100 years while sinks and faucets may last one or two decades. Windows have an average life of 10 to 20 years while exterior doors can last up to 100 years.
The average lifespan of drywall is 70 years. Interior paint jobs tend to last a few years before showing signs of fading. Your furnace may last up to 20 years while water heaters and AC units typically last 10 to 15 years.
The service life of appliances and other household features is the same in a barndominium or a traditional house. However, the extra protection provided by a barndominium may reduce the risk of damage.
For example, water damage is one of the most common reasons for needing to replace drywall. As barndominiums are less likely to experience leaks and water issues, the drywall may last longer compared to the drywall in the average home.
Conclusion: How Long Do Barndominiums Last?
Barndominiums can last hundreds of years. As with any home, the lifespan of your barndominium depends on how well it’s constructed and how well you take care of it.
To build a barndominium that can stand the test of time, work with a respected contractor or building company. Review their past projects and compare your options before settling on someone to build your barndominium.
You should also consider using more expensive materials when given the option. For example, instead of choosing the least expensive siding or roofing, choose premium materials to increase the longevity of the barndominium.
After building the barndominium, keep up with maintenance and repairs. Rust is one of the main threats to the health of a barndominium. Pay attention to signs of corrosion and maintain your gutters to direct rainwater away from the foundation and frame.
Building a barndominium costs much less than building a regular home, and paying off great quality construction and materials from the start is worth it.
Learn more about the barndominium process-from the option of choosing your floor plan online or designing your own, estimating the cost of your build, and the crucial stage of where to find financing and securing the right insurance for your barndominium all from our website.
