Barndo Myths: Resale, Insurance, Appraisals and More

Tell people you're building a barndo and you'll hear warnings. You can't get a loan. You can't sell it. It'll rust. It'll get struck by lightning. It'll sound like a drum when it rains.

Some of these were truer when barndos were rare. Some were never true. A few point to real issues worth planning for. Here's how each one holds up.

Myth: "You can't get a loan for a barndominium."

Mostly false. Barndos are financed like other custom homes, often with a construction loan that converts to a mortgage once the home is finished. What's true is that some lenders are more familiar with them than others, and the appraisal can be the sticking point in areas with few barndo sales.

What to do: Talk to lenders who have financed barndos in your county early. Ask them directly about appraisals, framing systems, and how they treat attached shop space.

Myth: "Barndos won't appraise."

Partly true, and getting less true. Appraisers compare your home to recent sales of similar homes nearby. Where barndos are common, there are plenty of comparisons. Where they're rare, an appraiser may have to compare your home to traditional houses and make adjustments, which can come in lower than you hoped.

What to do: Keep the living side strong, keep the shop proportionate, and choose finishes that fit the area. A home that would appeal to the next buyer in your market appraises better than one that only makes sense to you.

Myth: "You can't sell a barndominium."

False, with a caveat. Barndos sell, especially in rural areas where they're common and buyers specifically look for them. In areas where they're rare, the pool of buyers can be smaller, and a house built around a very specific shop or layout can take longer to sell.

What to do: If resale matters to you, design for broad appeal: a good kitchen, enough bedrooms and bathrooms for the area, and a shop size that the next owner would also want.

Myth: "Barndos can't be insured."

False. Many carriers insure barndos as homes. Questions can come up about the framing system, the size of the shop, what's stored in it, and whether any of it is used for business.

What to do: Get insurance quotes during design, not after closing. Be upfront about the shop and how you'll use it. If one carrier hesitates, ask another.

Myth: "Metal roofs attract lightning."

False. The odds of a lightning strike are driven by height, location, and surroundings, not by whether a roof is metal. A metal roof doesn't make a strike more likely, and because metal isn't combustible, it doesn't catch fire the way some roofing can.

What to do: Nothing special because of the roof. If you're in a high-lightning area, ask about a lightning protection system the same as you would for any rural home.

Myth: "Metal barndos rust."

Mostly false for modern materials. Today's metal roofing and siding are coated steel designed to resist corrosion for a long time. Rust problems usually come from installation: cut edges left unprotected, the wrong fasteners, metal shavings left on panels after drilling, or panels in constant contact with soil, standing water, or animal waste.

What to do: Choose quality panels and fasteners, keep the bottom of the siding off the ground, and make sure your builder cleans up metal debris from the roof and walls.

Myth: "Rain on a metal roof is deafening."

Depends on the roof. Over an uninsulated shop, rain is loud. Over a well-insulated ceiling with proper roof sheathing or insulation, most owners describe it as a soft background sound.

What to do: Make the roof and ceiling assembly part of the design for the living areas.

Myth: "Barndos are hot in summer and cold in winter."

Only if they're built that way. A barndo can be very efficient. Problems come from insulation that isn't designed for metal skins or post frame walls, missing vapor control, air leaks, or HVAC that isn't sized for tall open rooms.

What to do: Design insulation, vapor control, and HVAC together, specific to your climate and to which spaces will be conditioned. See insulating a barndominium.

Myth: "Barndos are always cheaper."

Not automatically. A simple shell can be efficient, and putting a shop under the same roof can save money. But site work, utilities, mechanicals, and finishes cost about the same as any custom home. See are barndominiums cheaper to build?

Myth: "A barndo is just a metal building with a house inside."

Outdated. That's where barndos started. Today a barndo is a design style. It can be framed with post frame, steel, or conventional studs, and finished with metal, board and batten, wood, stone, or a mix. See what is a barndominium?

Myth: "You can build a barndo anywhere."

False. Zoning, subdivision covenants, and deed restrictions can limit or prohibit barndos, metal exteriors, or shop-heavy buildings on a specific parcel. This is the myth that costs people the most, because they find out after buying land.

What to do: Check zoning and recorded restrictions before you buy. If you already own land, check before you buy a plan. Our Homesite and Design Consultation starts with exactly this.

Frequently asked questions

Do barndominiums have good resale value?

They can, especially in rural markets where barndos are common. Resale depends on your local market and on whether the home appeals to the next buyer, including the size of the living space, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and a sensible shop size.

Is it harder to get insurance on a barndominium?

Usually not much harder, but it varies by carrier. Be ready to describe the framing system, the shop, and how it's used. Shop for quotes during design.

Do metal roofs increase the risk of lightning strikes?

No. Lightning is attracted by height and location, not roof material. Metal roofs are also non-combustible.

Will a barndominium rust over time?

Modern coated metal panels resist corrosion well. Most rust problems come from installation issues like unprotected cut edges, wrong fasteners, leftover metal shavings, or panels touching soil or standing water.

Why do some barndos have trouble appraising?

Appraisers rely on recent sales of similar homes nearby. Where barndos are rare, there are fewer comparisons, and adjustments can lower the value. This is improving as more barndos are built and sold.