If you’ve been researching barndominiums in Colorado, you may have seen advertisements for barndominium or live/work building kits starting around $60,000.
At first glance, that sounds like an incredibly affordable way to build a barndominium, garage with living quarters, or shop house in Colorado.
But there’s an important question to ask before comparing that price to a quote from a local barndominium builder:
What does the $60,000 actually include?
A building kit and a managed barndominium build are two very different products. Understanding that difference can save you from some major surprises when planning your project.
What Is Included in a Barndominium Kit?
Most barndominium kits are primarily a materials package designed to provide the structural components needed for the building.
Depending on the manufacturer and package, a kit may include things such as:
- Structural framing
- Roofing and siding
- Exterior trim
- Doors and windows
- Engineered building plans
- Hardware and other building components
Some packages are more complete than others, so it is important to carefully review exactly what is included.
What the advertised kit price typically does not represent is the total cost of having a finished building constructed on your Colorado property.
The Costs Beyond the Barndominium Kit
Before a barndominium can become an actual building, there are several additional parts of the project that need to happen.
Depending on your property and county, these can include:
Site Preparation
Your building site may require excavation, grading, access improvements, drainage work, fill or other preparation before construction begins.
Colorado properties can vary dramatically. A relatively flat building site in Pueblo County may require very different preparation than acreage in Custer, Fremont, Huerfano or Chaffee County.
Concrete and Foundation
A building kit sitting on a delivery truck still needs somewhere to go.
Your project may require excavation, footings, foundation work, reinforcement and a concrete slab designed for the building and site conditions.
Permitting and County Requirements
Building requirements vary throughout Colorado.
Depending on the location and project, you may need building permits, engineered plans, site plans and additional county approvals before construction can begin.
Navigating those requirements is an important part of determining the real cost and timeline of a project.
Building Construction
A kit still has to be assembled.
That means labor, equipment, scheduling and construction management must be added to the cost of the materials package.
Interior Framing
If your building includes living space, the interior layout needs to be framed for bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, utility areas and other rooms.
Utilities and Interior Finishing
Plumbing, electrical, HVAC, insulation, drywall, cabinetry, flooring, fixtures and finishes are separate considerations when turning a building shell into a finished home.
Barndominium Kit vs. Managed Build
Here is a better way to compare the two:
| Project Component | Building Kit | VWC Managed Build |
|---|---|---|
| Building materials | Typically included | Included in project scope |
| Engineered plans | May be included | Included |
| Site preparation | Typically separate | Can be included |
| Excavation | Typically separate | Can be included |
| Concrete | Typically separate | Can be included |
| Permitting | Owner may be responsible | VWC handles permitting and county approvals within our scope |
| Building construction | Separate | Included |
| Interior framing | Typically separate | Can be included |
| Spray foam insulation | Typically separate | Can be included |
| Electrical | Separate contractor | Coordinated as needed |
| Plumbing | Separate contractor | Coordinated as needed |
| Project management | Owner responsibility | Managed by VWC |
The biggest difference isn’t necessarily the building itself.
It’s who is responsible for turning a set of materials and plans into an actual building.
Is a Barndominium Kit a Bad Idea?
Not necessarily.
For someone who has construction experience, reliable subcontractors and the time to manage permitting, excavation, concrete, erection and finishing, purchasing a kit can make sense.
But it is important to compare apples to apples.
A $60,000 barndominium kit is not the same thing as a $60,000 completed barndominium.
The final project cost depends on the building size, location, site conditions, foundation, finishes, utilities and how much of the construction you plan to manage yourself.
What Does a Barndominium Cost in Colorado?
There isn’t one meaningful price-per-square-foot number that applies to every Colorado barndominium.
A simple shop with a small living area on a prepared lot is a very different project from a large barndominium on undeveloped acreage requiring excavation, utilities and extensive site work.
When budgeting, we recommend looking at the entire project, not just the building package.
That means considering:
land/site conditions + engineering + permits + excavation + concrete + building + construction labor + interior framing + utilities + finishes
That gives you a much more realistic picture of what it will take to complete the project.
Building a Barndominium in Southern Colorado
VWC Construction is a family-owned Colorado contractor based in Penrose. We build pole barns, shops, garages, agricultural buildings and barndominiums throughout Southern and Central Colorado.
Our barndominium projects can include the building shell, engineering and permitting, site preparation, concrete, interior framing and spray foam insulation. When a project requires trades outside our scope, such as electrical or plumbing, we can help coordinate those portions of the project.
Instead of simply delivering a building package, our goal is to help take a project from an idea on your property to an actual building.
We regularly work with property owners throughout Fremont County, Pueblo County, Custer County, Huerfano County, Las Animas County, Chaffee County, Otero County and surrounding areas.
Planning a Colorado Barndominium for 2027?
VWC Construction is currently planning qualified 2027 barndominium, shop and post-frame building projects.
If you’re comparing barndominium kits, builders or different construction options, we’d be happy to help you determine what makes the most sense for your property.
Request a quote from VWC Construction and start planning your 2027 project.
Quality and integrity still matter.
