Finding an old barn to convert may be the perfect solution to finding your dream home. Thanks to the large and solid structures, it gives great opportunities to create a house that has high ceilings and a lot of space. Not only this, but it offers a more unique charm and historical value, compared to a new build home.
However, converting a barn is a time-consuming process, and can often arise issues along the way. But don’t fear! Today we’re going to discuss some top tricks and tricks to help you achieve the home of your dreams.
Spruce up the outside space with a lick of barn paint
The first thing anyone sees when they come to visit will be the outside! Give the property a good coating of barn paint. With this, you could go subtle and add a simple coat of white or black, or you could help the barn really stand out and go for a bold statement colour to wow guests when they arrive.
Consider an open layout to make the most of your space
Most barns you come across are made up of one big room, and while you may want to just add in walls, this can add time, expense and structure issues. Create a more contemporary style home by keeping things open plan! If you’re looking to make the most of your space, look to build upwards and make use of the extended height and partition there to add bedrooms/toilets.
Not only does contemporary design help with making use of the current space, but it also lends itself to the structures already in the barn. By deliberately creating the space to suit the structure there, you can not only save money by not removing them, but you can also create an interesting & sophisticated area.
Make plans to connect it to essential services
As much as you may love the open space around your barn, this also probably means there isn’t any mains water, electricity, drainage or gas going to the property. You want to make sure to get quotes for these and make them a part of your budget for the property. Even if there was some hooked up to the barn, it’s quite likely to have been derelict for some time – and so it will need replacing.
This could also give you an opportunity to go greener with your energy. Perhaps you want to consider adding in a heat pump to heat underfloor heating instead of electric – this could save both money and energy! As well as this, due to barns usually being out in the open, solar panels could also work well to help produce electricity for the barn.
Keep things toasty with insulation & heating
Given barns are predominantly used for holding animals and stock, most are not fitted with insulation. If you’re looking to retain the vaulted ceilings, make use of the rafters to add insulation between them and the ceiling, and dig underfoot to add insulative protection.
If you have a timber-framed barn, you can simply remove the cladding and then add a layer of insulation in between the frame. Reusing the original cladding is a great idea for both saving money and helping keep the look of the barn.
Make use of the big openings and let some natural light in
Barns tend to not have windows built-in, so you need to work out the best way to get that sun beaming into the area. A creative way to do this is via skylights or even by considering using the big opening of the barn to install a long window panel. These can be done without too much disruption to the original structure which will help when dealing with the Local Planning Authority and save some time.
Thanks for reading!
We hope you enjoyed this article, and that it gave you a few ideas on where to start with your project! We wish you all the best of luck with your barn conversion and hope it turns into the house you always dreamed of.
