Barndominiums are typically large, open space, airy homes. Because their square footage tends to be on the high side, you need to ensure that your home is particularly well-insulated. That will help keep the interior comfortable in all seasons, reducing the amount of energy and money you need to spend on heating and cooling.
One effective option for making a barndominium energy-efficient is to construct it out of structural insulated panels.
What are SIP Structural Insulated Panels?
Let’s start out with the basics, in case you are not familiar with structural insulated panels at all. Often known simply by the abbreviation “SIPs,” structural insulated panels are a building system that is popular for both residential and commercial structures.
You can picture an individual structural insulated panel like a sandwich. It consists of a foam core for insulation, with a structural facing on either side of it. Usually the facings are made out of oriented strand board (OSB), but other materials can also be used.
Benefits of SIP Barndominiums
The Broken Arrow SIPS Barndo by ExtremePanel | Builder: Property Arts Construction | Installer: Vans Construction | Engineer: Pinnacle Engineer
Now that you know what structural insulated panels are, let’s go over their benefits for building a barndominium SIP house.
1. Quick and easy installation
Structural insulated panel home kits are really quick and easy to assemble. The SIPs are prefabricated at a factory, and then shipped to your building site. All you need to do is prop them upright, and then fasten them together. You then need to seal the joints. Let the sealant harden for a few days, and then you can begin finishing.
The ease of installation means that you do not need to hire a lot of personnel to help you with assembly, nor do they need a lot of specialized skills or equipment. This keeps down the costs, while also allowing you to complete your project rapidly.
2. Eco-friendly
Another of the advantages of structural insulated panels for barndominiums is that they are eco-friendly. Few other building systems can match SIPs for how airtight and efficient they are. That means that your carbon footprint with an SIP house is lower than it would be with a less efficient material. So, you are doing less harm to the environment.
In addition, you can purchase structural insulated panels that are made out of recycled materials. Many SIPs also are recyclable. Your building should last a long time, however. SIPs offer excellent longevity, which is another way in which they are a green building material.
3. Energy-efficient
The energy efficiency of structural insulated panels is one of their biggest benefits. These panels can help the interior of your home to stay warm during winter, and cool during summer.
With a well-insulated home built with SIPs, you do not need to run your air conditioner or heater as much. You might also not need to use as high of settings as you would if your home were not so well-insulated.
Along with offering green benefits, this is a way in which you can save money over the long term with an SIP barndominium.
Running air conditioning or heating is expensive, and can drive up your electric bills. Since you will not be as reliant on them, your electric bills should be much more affordable.
4. Easy to customize
One more advantage of structural insulated panels is that you can finish a home built using this system in numerous different ways. You can give your home a classic look and feel, a modern one, or anything in between.
How to Build a Barndo SIP House
Here is a 8,000 SQ FT barndo SIP panel kit home completed in 13 days from our partner Extreme Panel.
Now that you know the benefits of SIP barndominiums, let’s go over the basic steps if you want to build your own.
1. Research local building laws.
Begin by looking up all the current zoning regulations and building codes for the city and county where you want to construct your barndo SIP house. Make sure the land is zoned properly.
2. Choose a company to order your kit from.
Figure out what building company you want to buy your SIP kit from. Pick one that has experience with barndominiums and SIP homes. Choose a specific kit.
3. Apply for building permits.
Submit your documentation to apply for your building permits from your local building department.
4. Obtain financing.
Apply for a loan if you need help financing the construction of your SIP barndominium. You will more likely be approved if you have your permits in hand.
5. Customize your kit and order it.
Once you have your financing, you will be able to pay for your barndominium kit. Select the customization options you want for your kit. If necessary, contact the company directly to talk about further personalization.
Place your order, and the company will get started on prefabricating the SIP panels and other components for your future home.
6. Prepare your building site.
You have a job to do while you wait for the kit to be shipped, which is to get your building site ready.
You will probably need to level the ground. You might have to remove obstacles. Your home will also need a foundation, so you will have to install that. Finally, if your land does not yet have basic utilities, you will need to install those. You will require an access road, water, sewer and power.
When you are budgeting for your home, do not forget to add in all these costs at the start of the process.
7. Complete construction of your SIP barndo.
After the SIP panels are prefabricated, the building company will ship the barndominium house kit to your location (shipping costs are something else you need to budget for).
When the kit arrives, final assembly will take place at the building site. This process should be relatively quick and easy since the SIP building system is designed for rapid and simple installation.
When the structure is fully assembled and the sealant has had a chance to set, you can finish it, and then you can move into your energy-efficient barndominium.
Available SIP Barndominium Plans
We are proud to partner with Extreme Panel for a new line of SIP barn home plans with great pricing and unmatched build quality.
