Why people convert a regular house plan to a barndominium
Most barndominium plans online look alike: a big rectangle, a shop on one end, an open great room. Many buyers find a traditional house plan with the layout they actually want — the kitchen, the primary suite, the flow — and ask for it as a barndo.
Converting gets you both: your preferred layout, built with a barndominium's structure, look and budget profile. It works best for ranch-style, single-story plans with a simple footprint. Heavily cut-up plans with many corners lose most of the barndo's cost advantage.
What has to change on the plan
| Element | Typical house plan | Barndominium version |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | Jogs, bump-outs, L or T shapes | Simple rectangle (e.g. 40×60, 50×80) |
| Roof | Hips, valleys, multiple gables | One clear-span gable, often with a lean-to porch |
| Structure | Stud walls, interior bearing walls | Post-frame or steel frame with clear-span trusses |
| Interior walls | Some carry roof loads | Non-bearing — free to place anywhere |
| Ceilings | 8–9 ft | 10–14 ft walls, vaulted living areas common |
| Exterior | Siding, brick, stone | Metal panels, often with wood or stone accents |
In practice, we square up the footprint around your layout, move rooms so they fit the bay spacing of the frame, and redraw the roof, elevations and sections. Your room sizes and flow stay as close as possible to the original.
Post-frame vs. steel frame
The structural system drives the whole conversion:
- Post-frame (pole barn) — wood posts on footings with trusses on top. Usually the lower-cost option and easy to insulate and finish inside.
- Steel frame (red iron) — steel columns and rafters. Longer clear spans, taller walls, great for big shops; the building package is typically engineered by the steel supplier.
Both usually need engineering for trusses or the steel frame. Compare them in steel vs. post-frame barndominium.
Insulation matters more than in a stick-built house. Metal skins sweat without a proper vapor strategy — closed-cell spray foam or a well-detailed insulated wall is standard. We note the wall and roof assemblies on the sections.
Adding a shop, garage or RV bay
The reason many people choose a barndo is the shop. When converting, decide early:
- Size — a 30×40 shop fits two trucks and a workbench; RVs and boats need 14′+ doors and 45–50′ of depth.
- Separation — a fire-rated wall and door between shop and living space, just like an attached garage.
- Doors — roll-up or overhead doors sized to your equipment.
- Porch — a lean-to or wraparound porch softens the metal box look. See barndominiums with a wraparound porch.
Layout ideas: barndominium with shop floor plans and barndominium with RV garage plans.
Compare barndominium and stick-built construction costs before you convert your plan.
Compare costsWhat converting a plan to a barndominium costs
| Cost | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Converting your plan (with us) | Major Plan Redesign — from $999 |
| CAD/DWG files for your builder or frame supplier | +$149 |
| Building the barndominium | Varies by size, frame and finish — see barndominium cost to build |
Want to know whether the barndo version actually saves money over the original? Add a cost-to-build estimate (+$99) and we price the converted plan for your state.
How to get your plan converted
- Upload the plan you love — any plan you own or have the right to modify.
- Tell us: frame type (or ask us), shop size, porch, ceiling heights and exterior look.
- We confirm scope within 1 business day.
- We redraw it as a barndominium — floor plan, roof, elevations and sections. Two revision rounds included.
Frequently asked questions
Can any house plan be converted to a barndominium?
Most single-story plans can. The simpler the original footprint, the better the result. Plans with many corners, multiple roof levels or complex second floors lose much of the barndominium cost advantage.
How much does it cost to convert a house plan to a barndominium?
With us, it is a Major Plan Redesign starting at $999, including floor plan, roof, elevations and sections, with two revision rounds.
Will my layout stay the same?
As close as possible. We square the footprint and align rooms with the frame bays, so some rooms shift or change proportion slightly. You review and approve before final files.
Do barndominiums need engineered plans?
Usually the trusses or steel frame are engineered, often by the frame supplier, and many jurisdictions require engineered foundations. We deliver the architectural drawings your engineer and supplier work from.
Can you convert a plan I bought from another website?
Yes — provided you own the plan or have permission / the right to modify it.