THE PROS AND CONS OF CONVERTING A BARN
Nothing quite screams ‘hot right now’ as barn conversions do. It’s not just a fad, we’ve been seeing the rise of interest in barn conversions soar over the past few years and showing little signs of slowing down any time soon.
So, what makes barn conversions so desirable, and do they live up to their high praise? Like most things, the answers lay in the pros and cons, which is why we’ve put our heads together to let you in on what we believe to be the biggest pros and cons of a barn conversion. Then it’s up to you to decide where you stand on converting a barn into a home.
PROS OF BARN CONVERSION
When it comes to barn conversion and living in a barn conversion, there are a handful of great pros that deserve to be known by those interested in such a project. Let’s take a look at the three big ones.
UNDOUBTEDLY UNIQUE
The first positive point of turning a barn into a home is that the home that will come out of this conversion will be undoubtedly unique. A great barn conversion mixes the defining and historical characteristics of a barn with the contemporary touch of modern housing.
If all goes well, you can expect breathtaking high ceilings, large open rooms, handsome exteriors and an all-around good-looking home that stands out from the crowd.
FEEL GOOD FACTOR
Next up is a benefit of barn conversion that can be overlooked. When talking about the design, interior and all of the ins and outs of how this project is going to be achieved, the fact that you are preserving a historical building can sometimes get lost in the shuffle.
Think about it this way: you are breathing fresh life into a piece of history that, if it weren’t for barn conversion, could have been lost forever.
THE LOCATION
If you’re seeking peace and quiet in the countryside, then a barn conversion should pique your interest. Often, these barns are located in rural locations; sometimes, on land where normal houses would not be permitted to be built.
When you convert a barn, you may even be lucky enough to receive an acre or so of land and the potential for striking views of the country is ever-present.
CONS OF BARN CONVERSION
Those are the benefits and sure they sound amazing but it’s also important to look at the downsides of converting a barn to truly know if it is right for you.
PLANNING PERMISSION & MATERIALS
With permitted development rights, it is easier to perform certain works without acquiring planning permission. But what you must remember is that when a barn is a listed building, located in an area of outstanding natural beauty or in a conservation area, you will need planning permission.
While this isn’t the end of the world, it could throw a spanner in the works and put some people off who are interested in converting a barn.
There’s also the added pain of what materials to use – you likely will be asked to use materials that match the original building. This can be a whole challenge in itself.
PRICE TAG
While we are sure you have no illusions about the price of such a project, what you may not have considered are the potential for hidden costs and pitfalls during your project as you try to reach that finish line.
Keep in mind that barns were not made for human habitation, so the work that goes into making this livestock building a home is not to be sniffed at. Along with your project, problems and setbacks may mean you will have to pay more to get the work done.
EASE OF ACCESS
Peace and quiet in the country may be what you most desire but you must also consider whether or not your new home provides ease of access. Remote areas and rural locations can be tricky to find and navigate.
Some of the issues you could potentially face are unsuitable roads for material deliveries and moving vans and bad weather affecting access. So, this could affect the actual conversion project itself and how you would access your property after the project is complete.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There you have just a few very important pros and cons. The difficult part is deciding if the pros outweigh the cons and vice versa. Of course, where the negative aspects are concerned, there are ways around these to make converting a barn the best thing you’ve ever done.
One way of doing so is to work with a reputable and reliable construction company, like Bespoke Norfolk Group. We know barn conversions and how to turn a building into a home. If you’re interested in barn conversion and would like to hear more about what we can do, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.
