Barndominium Homes in Arkansas

Barndominium homes in Arkansas are full-time family houses with a metal or post-frame shell: open kitchens, tall ceilings, deep porches and the finishes you would expect in any new home. We build them turnkey, from the pad and septic coordination to the last piece of trim.

What turnkey means here

Turnkey means you get keys to a finished house. HomeGuide puts turnkey barndominiums at about $65 to $160 per square foot; HomeBlue's Conway, Arkansas estimate runs $68 to $114 per square foot before land and sitework. Angi's national average is about $230,000. Our estimate lists each stage, so you know what is in the number and what is not.

How a barndo compares with a stick-built house

HomeGuide lists a traditional home at $180 to $280 per square foot, well above its Arkansas barndominium range of $60 to $149. Simple rectangular footprints, clear-span framing and fewer interior bearing walls are where much of the difference comes from. Finishes still cost what finishes cost: granite is granite in either building.

Get a Free Estimate

The parts of a home buyers forget

Driveways, power runs, wells and septic systems are real costs on rural Arkansas land. The Department of Health requires a septic Permit for Construction before building, based on at least two soil pits. Lots that fail minimum soil criteria must be three acres or larger. We bring these into the estimate up front.

Family-home details

Mudrooms, walk-in pantries, a primary suite away from the kids' rooms, a storm-safe room and a porch you can actually sit on are worth deciding on early. We plan each into the layout and price.

Financing a barndominium home

We do not offer financing, but we know what lenders look for. HomeGuide notes that barndominiums can be harder to finance with a conventional mortgage because appraisers may find few comparable sales, and that farm credit lenders are often more willing. AgSouth Farm Credit says some Farm Credit lenders offer construction-to-permanent programs for barndominiums and asks borrowers to bring floor plans, a supply list, utility details and contractor bids. Our written, line-item estimate and plan set are designed to fit that package.

Permits, inspections and design loads for a family home

A full-time home usually means permits and inspections. In unincorporated Benton County, for example, the county's Building Safety Department handles building permits, inspections and code compliance. Its exemption for residential group U structures covers detached buildings such as a shop with no living space, not a shop attached to the house, and new plumbing, electrical or HVAC work still needs a permit. The county may also ask for an approved septic permit or verification before it issues a plumbing permit. Where a city publishes design criteria, the home is built to them: Little Rock's call for footings at least 18 inches wide and 12 inches deep, footings on undisturbed soil or soil compacted to at least 90 percent, a slab at least 3.5 inches thick and a 12-inch frost line. On the septic side, a state construction permit is valid for one year, and holding tanks are not approved for residences, full or part time, so a weekend house still needs a real system.

Choosing finishes

Finish level is the biggest swing in a turnkey price. We price a standard finish package and show what upgrades such as tile showers, wood floors, stone counters or a vaulted ceiling with exposed trusses add, so you can decide room by room.

Living in it

Open great rooms, tall ceilings and big windows are the reason people love barndos. We plan HVAC returns, ceiling fans and window shading so those large rooms stay comfortable through Arkansas summers.