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Barndominiums

Rigid Global Buildings is an AISC-certified, IAS-AC472 accredited manufacturer with 140 in-house engineers and 35+ years building pre-engineered barndominium and residential metal building kits across all 50 states. Every kit is fabricated to your dimensions and engineered to your local building code before it leaves our facility.
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Who Is Rigid Global Buildings?

Rigid Global Buildings manufactures pre-engineered barndominium building kits for residential, shop-house, and mixed-use applications across all 50 states — monitor barns, gambrel styles, hangar homes, modern homes, and farm shops. Every kit ships as a complete package: framing, roof panels, wall panels, trim, doors, and accessories, ready for erection on your site.

Because we manufacture direct, there's no dealer markup and no middleman between your project and our engineering team. You work directly with the people who design and build your kit — from first quote to final shipment.

Price Your Barndominium — building size, intended use, and project location.

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    What Is a Barndominium?

    A barndominium is a steel building converted into a living space. The term covers a wide range of configurations — a simple residential box, a shop-house combining living quarters with a working garage or workshop, a hangar home with aircraft storage, or a high-end modern home with clear-span great rooms and glass walls that only steel can achieve.

    The steel shell provides the structure — clear-span framing eliminates interior load-bearing walls, giving you complete freedom over the interior floor plan. What goes inside is entirely up to you and your finishing contractor. Rigid provides the engineered kit. You control the layout.

    Price Your Barndominium — building size, intended use, and project location.

    Explore panel profiles, frame types, door systems, and accessories available for your barndominium kit.

    Frame Types  ·  Panel Profiles  ·  Accessories

    Steel vs. Wood — What Actually Makes a Barndominium Different

    It's a common misconception that barndominiums are significantly cheaper than wood-framed homes. Site work, foundation, and interior finishing costs are largely the same for both. The real difference is in the structural shell — the frame, roof, and wall package.

    A simple industrial-style steel box will typically cost less than an equivalent wood frame. But once you add the features that make it look residential — standing seam roof, overhangs, hip and valley framing, custom openings — the cost equalizes or exceeds wood frame construction. The clear advantage of steel isn't always price. It's span capability, code compliance, speed of erection, and long-term durability.

    Every Rigid barndominium kit ships with engineer-stamped permit drawings for your specific county — so your contractor can pull permits and break ground without delays.

    Price Your Barndominium — building size, intended use, and project location.

    Barndominium Styles and Configurations

    Rigid builds barndominium kits for every style and application — from simple shop-houses to high-end custom homes. Select a configuration below to explore what's possible.

    The Monitor Barn
    The raised center aisle of the monitor barn gives the structure its distinctive silhouette — historically used for ventilation and storage, today it defines Southern residential style. We build the monitor barn to your exact size specifications with engineer-stamped drawings for your county.
    The Gambrel
    The gambrel roof maximizes your usable square footage on a second level — the curved profile creates more headroom upstairs than a standard gable. Rigid can design a steel mezzanine and stair system to your specifications, or you can add your own wood mezzanine during interior build-out.
    The Hangar Home
    When you want your airplane in the next room. Rigid designs hangar homes with the clear spans needed to store aircraft alongside living quarters — engineered to support the tremendous point loads of hydraulic hangar door systems and the structural demands of large door openings.
    The Modern Home
    Some designs can only be executed in steel. Huge clear-span great rooms, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and cantilevered roof systems require the engineering expertise and manufacturing precision that wood frame construction cannot deliver. Rigid employs in-house engineers and detailers to provide engineer-stamped drawings in every state.
    The Shop-House
    A combined living and working structure — residential quarters connected to or integrated with a working garage, workshop, or small commercial operation. The shop-house is one of the most popular barndominium configurations we build, with clear-span shop bays and a fully finished living side on a single foundation.
    Ready to Design Your Barndominium?
    Tell us your layout, square footage, and project location.
    Price Your Building

    Price Your Barndominium — building size, intended use, and project location.

    “Rigid Global Buildings went above and beyond to make me feel confident in the metal buildings I was purchasing. Their team helped with multiple aspects of my jobsite, kept the project moving, and made the overall process significantly smoother than I expected.”
    Jeff K.General Contractor

    Why Build Your Barndominium with Steel

    Steel barndominium kits offer structural and performance advantages that wood-frame construction cannot match — particularly for large open floor plans, mixed-use layouts, and projects in high wind or snow load regions.

    Clear-Span Floor Plans
    Steel primary framing eliminates interior load-bearing walls — your floor plan is entirely open. No columns interrupting your great room, shop bay, or hangar space. Clear spans up to 300 feet are achievable with pre-engineered steel framing.
    Engineered to Local Code
    Every kit ships with engineer-stamped permit drawings for your specific county — wind, snow, and seismic loads calculated for your project location before the kit leaves our facility. No surprises at permitting or inspection.
    Fast Erection Timeline
    Once the foundation is poured and the kit arrives on site, a steel barndominium shell can be erected in days — not weeks. The dried-in structure is ready for interior finishing faster than wood frame construction of comparable size.
    Long-Term Durability
    Steel does not rot, warp, split, or attract insects. A properly engineered and erected steel barndominium shell will outlast wood-frame construction in virtually every climate — from Gulf Coast humidity to Northern Plains snow loads.
    Mixed-Use Flexibility
    Steel framing supports mixed-use configurations that wood frame cannot — a hangar home with 14-foot door openings, a shop-house with 40-foot clear bays, or a two-story barndominium with a steel mezzanine. The structural system adapts to your layout.
    Complete Kit Ships to Your Site
    Primary framing, secondary framing, roof and wall panels, trim, doors, and windows — every component fabricated to your exact dimensions and shipped as a complete package to your job site. Your contractor receives a complete structural system ready to erect.

    Price Your Barndominium — building size, intended use, and project location.

    How to Choose the Right Barndominium Kit

    Barndominium projects vary widely in scope, style, and budget. These are the key decisions to work through before requesting your estimate.

    Define Your Layout — Living Only vs. Mixed Use
    The first decision is whether your barndominium is purely residential or incorporates a working component — garage, shop, hangar, or commercial space. Mixed-use layouts affect the structural system, door opening sizes, foundation design, and local permitting requirements. Define this before you size the building.
    Size the Building Around Your Floor Plan
    Work backwards from your desired interior floor plan. A 3-bedroom, 2-bath barndominium with a 2-car garage typically requires 2,400–3,200 sq ft of total footprint. Add shop or hangar space on top of that. Width is often the more important dimension — wider buildings allow more open floor plan flexibility without adding length.
    Choose Your Roof Style
    Roof style significantly affects both aesthetics and cost. A standard gable roof is the most economical. A monitor barn or gambrel roof adds architectural character but increases structural complexity and cost. Standing seam roofing gives a residential appearance and superior weather performance but adds to the kit price. Overhangs and hip/valley framing are residential features that add cost but improve curb appeal.
    Understand What the Kit Includes and Excludes
    The Rigid barndominium kit covers the structural shell — primary framing, secondary framing, roof and wall panels, trim, doors, and windows. Foundation, interior framing, insulation, drywall, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and finish work are handled by your local contractor after erection. Budget for both the kit and the interior build-out separately.
    Confirm Local Permitting Requirements
    Barndominium permitting varies significantly by county and state. Some jurisdictions permit steel residential structures straightforwardly — others require additional documentation or have restrictions on residential metal buildings in certain zoning classifications. Your local contractor and county building department are the best sources for permitting requirements in your area. Every Rigid kit ships with engineer-stamped drawings for your specific county.

    Price Your Barndominium — building size, intended use, and project location.

    Common Barndominium Kit Sizes

    Barndominium size is driven by your floor plan, site, and whether you're incorporating a shop or hangar. These are common starting points — every kit is fabricated to your exact dimensions.

    Size Sq Ft Eave Height Common Layout
    30×501,50010–14 ftSmall barndominium, 2 bed / 1 bath + garage
    40×602,40012–16 ft3 bed / 2 bath barndominium with 2-car garage
    50×804,00014–18 ftLarge barndominium with shop or workshop
    60×804,80014–20 ftShop-house with 2-car garage and full living quarters
    60×1006,00016–24 ftLarge shop-house or hangar home
    80×1008,00018–28 ftHangar home with full aircraft bay + living quarters

    Price Your Barndominium — building size, intended use, and project location.

    Serving All 50 States

    Barndominium Kits Delivered Nationwide

    Rigid Global Buildings ships pre-engineered barndominium kits to all 50 states. Every kit is engineered to the local building code and load requirements of the project location before it ships — with engineer-stamped permit drawings included.

    State Spotlight

    Barndominium FAQs

    Common questions about barndominium kits, costs, and the building process.

    What does a barndominium kit include?
    The Rigid barndominium kit includes the complete structural shell — primary framing, secondary framing, roof and wall panels, trim, doors, and windows. Foundation, interior framing, insulation, drywall, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing are handled by your local contractor after the kit is erected.
    Are barndominiums cheaper than wood-framed homes?
    Not necessarily. Site work, foundation, and interior finishing costs are the same for both. The difference is in the structural shell. A simple industrial-style steel box will cost less than wood frame — but once you add residential features like standing seam roofing, overhangs, and hip/valley framing, costs equalize or exceed wood frame. The advantage of steel is span capability, durability, and erection speed — not always price.
    Can I get engineer-stamped drawings for my county?
    Yes — every Rigid barndominium kit ships with engineer-stamped permit drawings specific to your county and state. Wind, snow, and seismic loads are calculated for your project location before the kit ships. Your contractor can pull permits and begin erection without additional engineering work.
    What clear spans are achievable with a steel barndominium?
    Steel primary framing can achieve clear spans well beyond what wood framing allows — from 30-foot residential widths to 100-foot hangar bays. Clear-span framing eliminates interior load-bearing walls entirely, giving you complete freedom over your floor plan layout.
    Do you ship barndominium kits to all 50 states?
    Yes — Rigid Global Buildings ships pre-engineered barndominium kits to all 50 states. Every kit is engineered to the local building code and load requirements of your specific county before it ships.

    Price Your Barndominium — building size, intended use, and project location. That's all we need.