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Maybe you’ve already made the unconventional but increasingly popular choice to build a barndominium as a residence. Why not go the extra mile and give it a basement as well? But is it even possible?
When it comes to construction, nontraditional trends should be examined carefully before you commit to them. Maybe it’s not a wise move to have a basement under your barndominium, or maybe it’s perfectly feasible. You won’t know until you’ve done adequate research and spoken to experienced professionals.
Pacific Pole Buildings explains the variables you must understand to decide if building a basement will work under your barndominium, the benefits of a barndominium basement, and the challenges you may face after deciding to build one.
Table of contents
- Can a Barndominium Have a Basement?
- 6 Factors To Investigate Before Deciding if Your Barndominium Can Have a Basement
- 4 Reasons To Have a Basement in Your Barndominium
- What Are the Possible Challenges of Having a Basement in Your Barndominium?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Barndominium Basements
- Pacific Pole Buildings: Providing Expert Advice and Custom-Made Barndominiums
Can a Barndominium Have a Basement?
Although most barndominiums are built on a concrete slab, it is possible to build them over a crawlspace, partial basement, full basement, or walk-out basement. To determine which option is most feasible for your barndominium, there are many variables to consider.
Pacific Pole Buildings can assist you with your construction plans and provide the best recommendations for a safe and reliable barndominium basement.
6 Factors To Investigate Before Deciding if Your Barndominium Can Have a Basement
#1: Building Codes
Before you can begin constructing your basement, you must draft and submit construction plans to obtain a permit certifying that what you envision is safe to build. You’ll need the assistance of professionals well-acquainted with satisfying regulations and mandates related to:
- The depth of the foundation
- Waterproofing requirements
- Available exits
- Ceiling height
- Seismic safety measures
- Drainage
- Soil composition
- Structural load-bearing specifications
#2: Soil Conditions
Soil conditions can affect the soundness of a basement foundation and thus the integrity of the entire barndominium. The following examples demonstrate how this occurs:
- The best kind of texture is loam (a mixture of sand, clay, and silt) because it is absorbent and doesn’t shrink, expand, or shift with fluctuations in moisture. It also has a significant load-bearing capacity.
- Soil permeability determines how quickly water moves through the soil. A moderate permeability is desirable to avoid soil erosion and shifting, which can threaten the foundation’s load-bearing capacity and cause moisture infiltration.
- The depth of the frost line, watertable, and bedrock are also important considerations. The basement must be deeper than the frost line but not deeper than the water table, unless specialized measures like sump pumps are installed. While bedrock is extremely supportive, excavation is more costly.
- Sloped ground can threaten stability and drainage, which can cause structural issues if not addressed.
#3: Drainage and Waterproofing
Other factors that affect hydrostatic pressure (the pressure of water on the perimeter walls of the basement) include:
- Seismic activity
- Rainfall amount and intensity
- Seepage from nearby bodies of water
An analysis of the combined effect of these factors is necessary to determine the degree of waterproofing and type of drainage mechanisms that will be required to protect the basement from water intrusion. Common protective measures include:
- Specialized waterproofing membranes around the perimeter walls
- Sealants on the interior of the walls and floor
- Sump pump placement
- Intentional slope grading
- French drains
#4: Structural Engineering Expertise
Besides soil and ground analysis, structural engineers must conduct assessments and perform calculations to determine whether building a basement is feasible in your area and able to support the barndominium you have in mind. Areas of focus include:
- Load-bearing capacities of the soil and the concrete foundation
- Load distributions
- Possible stress points and corrosion risks
- Structural compatibility between the metal or post frame and the concrete foundation (this may require incorporating specialized anchoring systems)
An experienced structural engineer should be able to tell you whether something in your plan won’t work and make corrective suggestions.
#5: Preparation and Excavation of the Site
Once these analyses (soil composition and stability, water table and frost levels, etc.) have been carried out and you’ve ascertained that your barndominium can have a basement, it’s time to start the real work of preparing the site. This work involves:
- Landscaping to ensure proper drainage
- Careful removal of layers of soil to avoid shifting ground
- Digging within precise elevation allowances
- Leveling of the surface for the foundation
#6: Cost
The time- and labor-intensive work of preparing for and finally digging and building the foundation for a basement make for a costly endeavor. Excavating, laying concrete in accordance with precise engineering requirements, and using more materials contribute to higher costs in terms of money and time. The overall cost, however, is dependent on:
- The price of land where you’ll be building
- How big you want your basement to be
- The layout of your basement
- The kinds of finishes you use for flooring and other structures
4 Reasons To Have a Basement in Your Barndominium
If you’re on the fence about whether you want to invest so much effort into basement investigation, consider these benefits of barndominium basements.
#1: More Space
Extra square footage is a big win, especially when you can use it to accommodate a growing family or guests. You can also use it as a recreational space or storage area, or maybe you just want a cooler place to relax.
A basement is a great way to add space when the lot your barndominium is on is relatively small. By making use of vertical space, you need not expand the home into the yard or otherwise diminish your lot size. Depending on what type of basement you built, you could double the square footage of your living space.
#2: Minimal Footprint
The less yard space your barndominium takes up, the more open land you can keep around your home. You can even avoid the necessity of outbuildings by using part or all of the basement for storage and heavy equipment such as water heaters and HVAC systems.
#3: Energy Efficiency
Particularly if you’re using your basement as a living space, you can use less energy to heat and cool your home because stabler underground temperatures keep the temperature moderated and the household comfortable.
#4: Higher Resale Value
A barndominium is already an attractive piece of real estate. Add a basement to it, and you may have a seriously competitive asset. There are many reasons a barndominium with a basement attracts buyers more than other homes.
For instance, basements are versatile. They can be used for multiple purposes at the homeowner’s discretion, such as separate living quarters for extended family or a rental suite.
Potential buyers may also prefer homes with basements for their role in storm protection and for the value they had invested in them through costly installation.
What Are the Possible Challenges of Having a Basement in Your Barndominium?
As many benefits as there are to having a basement in your barndominium, your logistical, financial, and environmental circumstances may preclude the possibility for you. The following challenges may stand in the way:
- High costs: Basements require more money for excavation, concrete pouring and shaping, and expert analysis and evaluation.
- More time: Basement construction takes significantly longer than laying a slab foundation. You may have to wait weeks as opposed to days for it to be finished.
- Local regulations: If an inspection deems the area unfit to serve as a living area, then the basement will be limited to other, perhaps less desirable, uses.
- Extra installation and finishing: Unless you have a walk-out basement (sloped lots sometimes allow this), your basement will likely remain poorly lighted unless you install fixtures for artificial lighting. Other necessary “embellishments” that you might not think to include in your budget are:
- Utilities, such as plumbing or HVAC ductwork
- Insulation, to control temperature and moisture
- Drywall
- Moisture-proof flooring
- Framing, which serves as the skeleton on which hang electric wires, insulation, and drywall
Being aware of potential setbacks ahead of time can keep you from making a commitment you can’t stick to. If you’re on a tight schedule or if your budget just won’t permit it, making a basement for your barndominium may not be the best choice. In such a case, a slab foundation might be the most feasible option.
Frequently Asked Questions About Barndominium Basements
What Is the Cost of Adding a Basement to Your Barndominium?
The ultimate cost of a basement varies based on:
- Its size and design
- Geographical location
- The degree of finishing performed
- Whether utilities are extended to it
Even the smallest, least finished basements require a hefty investment just for:
- Excavation and preparation of the site
- Work to construct the foundation
- Measures to ensure proper insulation, waterproofing, and drainage
A realistic price you may expect to pay for a complete basement project may be between $350,000–$900,000, including materials, labor, equipment, permits, etc.
Is Adding a Basement to Your Barndominium Worthwhile?
Considering the cost required to build a basement, the answer to this depends on how important having a basement is to you. Below-ground square footage costs less than above-ground square footage, so if you’re primarily aiming for more space, a basement is a cost-effective way to achieve that. If your lot is sloped, you may enjoy significant cost savings because landscaping may not be as involved.
A slab foundation or a crawlspace may be a wiser choice, however, for homeowners whose top priorities are speed of construction and a lower price.
Pacific Pole Buildings: Providing Expert Advice and Custom-Made Barndominiums
Pacific Pole Buildings is a rapidly growing company that serves the Pacific Northwest by providing:
- Engineering and design plans in compliance with quality standards
- Pole barn kits made of high-quality materials
- Customized barndominium materials
- Careful, timely delivery
- Referrals to trusted contractors for erection and assembly of our materials
Call Pacific Pole Buildings today to initiate a quote for your pole building project.
