Building a barndominium

[joeu235]

I've started framing out our barndominium. Looking to move in 18 months from now. 1600 sq ft of living space in a 40 x 60 shop. Outside of city limits so no code enforcement but will make it to code specs.

Video framing out the stairs.

 

[EddieWalker]

Fun project. I've done a few of those for clients. Every one of them said they would only be living there for a year before they start building their real house. So far, not one has started on their real house and it's been 2 to 5 years that they have been living in their converted work shops.

 

[joeu235]

Started decking the second story. The dog is claiming his territory.

 

[dragoneggs]

Following along... always looking for ideas.

 

[SirReal63]

I built ours, 40x70 with 14' walls. I have only detail and trim work to do. I have a thread in TBN but photobucket has all of the pics held hostage. We have been living in it since November of last year.

I hope you keep this updated with your progress.

 

[George2615]

Do I see correctly? I would not have used plywood as stair treads.

 

[Deere Dude]

My BIL put in a two story in a quarter of a 40x60x16? and worked out pretty well. I use it when visiting on vacations and gives me some privacy. One problem I am concerned with while using it is getting burned alive while sleeping because there is no escape other than the stairs. It has been successful so far though. Good luck with your project.

 

[deezler]

Started decking the second story. The dog is claiming his territory.

View attachment 521086

Gosh that guy looks happy to be up there. haha. Awesome.

Re: George.... plywood stair treads should be fine. Looks to be the same 3/4 or 1" ply as the decking. Rated for 2' spans, plenty strong for a stair tread. That said, I wouldn't use it either, I like a nice bull nose stair tread for safety and aesthetics.

 

[PJSprog]

Very interesting project. I once considered building a mezzanine along one wall of our barn as a sort of recreational lounge area after seeing another member here had a similar arrangement in his workshop. Not sure it would be feasible because of the roof structure on that side, though. Maybe a half-story instead. Dunno yet. Great idea, though.

 

[GLyford]

If it is just for storage, consider several sets of pallet racking, coming out from the wall, then a platform across all the uprights. If you are only storing light stuff, regular racking is fine but if you think you're going to store heavier stuff they also make "structural" racking, made of real c-channel rather than stamped and folded sheet. In some warehouses, they just side and roof the structural racks...

 

[joeu235]

The stair treads are 3/8 sub tread covered with 1 1/8 plywood with a bull nose routed on the edge.

The plan is to leave the Austin suburbs in 18 months, sell our house for a substantial profit, and live in this while the real house is being built. I plan on paying to have the real house dried in and then finishing the interior myself. Then using the lower portion of the barndominium as a woodworking space and second floor as storage

 

[joeu235]

 

[EddieWalker]

You're not messing around with your framing!!!!

Friends just bout land near Corsicana to escape the Austin area. They have been there decades and have seen their quite, countryside turn into crowded subdivision and rental properties with massive congestion on the roads that are always crowded. They hope to be out of there next month.

 

[Wakey]

The plan is to leave the Austin suburbs..

Good for you!

 

[Wakey]

The plan is to leave the Austin suburbs..

Good for you!

 

[dragoneggs]

My big concern is dust control. Not sure what you got going in your shop but I worry about a loft getting polluted with airborne dust. I have been thinking of going 'up' on my garage/shop but this issue concerns me. I have a Jet ceiling mounted air filter which is great but wonder if it will keep the above area clean should I build an expose loft?

JET 7B AFS-1B 55/72/144 CFM 3-Speed Air Filtration System with Remote and Electrostatic Pre-Filter - Shop Air Cleaners - Amazon.com

 

[Soldier415]

Following

 

[mrblanche]

We live in a sort-of barndominium -- a quonset hut, 50x70, with 1/2 being a downstairs home (about 1700 air-conditioned sq ft). The first problem we ran into when we bought it was insurance.

 

[V65ozzie]

Always wanted to do this with those smaller barns you see at Lowes and whatnot, Single bedroom with bathroom upstairs, living area and kitchen downstairs.... and put up about 4 of them on my property, sharing a common septic. The kids are getting older, in a few years they will all be old enough to have their own place. Perfect for them, get them out of the house, charge enough rent to cover the utilities etc, and it would be a learning experience for them.....
Doubt the code around here would allow it though.
Currently looking for a singlewide trailer to convert to a guest bunkhouse, cheap.

 

[PJSprog]

Always wanted to do this with those smaller barns you see at Lowes and whatnot, Single bedroom with bathroom upstairs, living area and kitchen downstairs.... and put up about 4 of them on my property, sharing a common septic. The kids are getting older, in a few years they will all be old enough to have their own place. Perfect for them, get them out of the house, charge enough rent to cover the utilities etc, and it would be a learning experience for them.....
Doubt the code around here would allow it though.
Currently looking for a singlewide trailer to convert to a guest bunkhouse, cheap.

The Wife and I recently talked about doing something similar to that for her youngest boy. We looked at those lofted cabins from Marten Portable Buildings, thinking we could convert it into a shop when he leaves. In the end, though, we both agreed that he wouldn't take care of it, and it would end up just being another money pit.