Titan Steel Structures supplies the barndominium shell. It does not design your home. The kit is the pre-engineered steel structure and the stamped drawings that go with it, and you arrange the design, the interior planning and the finish with your own designer, builder and trades.
That division matters more than anything else when you shop for barndominium kits, because two packages that look similar can cover very different amounts of work. Start by asking what the framing system is, what materials come in the package, and which parts of the project stay on your side of the line. You can also request a free quote at any point and put your dimensions in front of a person.
Red iron steel and cold-formed steel take different approaches to structural framing. A shell can be planned for open living space, a workshop, a garage or separate rooms, and the package you buy may cover only the structure while the finishing decisions stay with you. Knowing that difference before you shop makes every quote easier to read.
What Is a Barndominium Shell Kit?
A barndominium shell kit is a package of pre-engineered structural components and building materials for a steel-framed building used as a home, a workshop, or both. Depending on the supplier, it can include framing, exterior materials, fasteners and drawings.
A kit is not a finished home. Ask whether the package covers the structural shell only, or whether it also carries materials and services such as insulation, plumbing, electrical work, flooring and fixtures. With barndo shell kits from Titan Steel Structures, the kit arrives with 100 percent of all hardware needed and all parts clearly marked, and the interior work is arranged by you.
For homeowners, a barndominium shell gives you a durable steel structure to build inside. Bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and workshop space are yours to design and finish, not part of the kit.
Red Iron or Cold-Formed: Which Framing System Fits Your Project?
Neither system wins on its own. The right one depends on the building you want, the space you need to keep clear, and what your site and your local building department require.
Red Iron Steel Framing
Red iron steel is the heavy-duty line. Its I-beams form the primary framework and provide the main support for the building’s structure, which suits large open areas for living space, storage or a workshop.
For a barndominium, the question to ask is how the framing carries the space you want to keep open. Open living space, an attached garage and several separate rooms each put a different demand on the structure.
Cold-Formed Steel Framing
Cold-formed steel, also called C-channel, is the less expensive line Titan Steel Structures added in 2025. It uses lighter steel members shaped at room temperature into profiles, and it can suit a residential building where the framing approach matches what the design needs.
Ask how the system affects your planning and your build sequence, and ask the supplier to explain how the framing fits the building dimensions and the site.
What Should You Compare?
Compare the whole package against your project rather than picking a framing system by name or by weight of steel.
- Building purpose: is this primarily a home, or does it also carry a workshop, a garage or agricultural space?
- Space requirements: do you need a large clear area, several separate rooms, or a mix of living and utility space?
- Included components: which framing members, exterior materials and related items are in the package?
- Coordination: will the supplier work with the dimensions and openings your designer has asked for?
- Build planning: what information comes with the kit to help you understand the sequence and the scope?
The best option is the one that supports the building you have planned and gives you a clear path from a set of dimensions to a structure standing on your site.
How Should You Plan the Shell Around Your Layout?
Start with the way your household will use the space, then convert that into width, length and eave height. The shell has to be big enough and open enough for the layout you and your designer settle on, because moving a structural line later is expensive.
Start With the Main Purpose of the Building
Decide whether the building is mainly a residence, a combined home and workshop, or a building with substantial garage or agricultural space. Each purpose sets different priorities.
A family home needs comfortable rooms, a practical kitchen and shared living space. A workshop needs utility space and easy garage access. Agricultural use may need separate access and its own storage.
Plan the Relationship Between Spaces
Open plans create a sense of space by connecting living, dining and kitchen areas, so think about furniture, storage and circulation before you commit. Private rooms need the same attention. Put bedrooms where they are quiet and put bathrooms and utility space where they are easy to reach.
Consider Future Needs
A barndominium may be a long-term home, so leave room for change. You may want more storage, a bigger workshop or a room that can serve more than one purpose later. Future plans also affect where doors, windows and utility runs go, and raising them early is cheaper than altering them once the shell is up.
Review the Building Dimensions
The dimensions of a steel building set the usable space you have to work with. A 40×60 metal building, for example, can carry a range of residential and utility arrangements depending on how much of it goes to a garage or a workshop.
Before you settle on a size, sketch the main areas: living space, bedrooms, bathrooms, storage and workshop. That tells you whether the building size actually fits what you are trying to do. When you have a width, a length and an eave height, send them in with a quote request.
What Does a Barndominium Kit Include?
A kit includes the structural package and, depending on the supplier, exterior materials, fasteners and drawings. It does not include the interior of your home. Ask for a written description of the package before you buy, because the word “kit” covers very different levels of material and service.
Structural Components
The structural package is the core of the purchase. Depending on the design it can include primary framing members, secondary framing, connections and related structural components.
Ask which components are included and how they match the building you have described. Ask, too, whether the package covers the materials for the full structural shell or only part of the framing.
Exterior Materials
Some packages include exterior materials such as roofing, wall panels and trim. Others leave part of the exterior to you. Ask whether the package covers the materials for the exterior you have in mind.
Doors and windows are usually treated as custom features rather than standard kit contents, so if you want a particular combination of them alongside the steel siding, confirm in writing which items are in the package and which you have to source yourself.
Drawings and Project Information
Design information is part of what you are buying. Each pre-engineered steel building from Titan Steel Structures comes stamped and sealed with engineering blueprints that are signed by a licensed engineer in your state.
Ask which drawings you receive and whether they are specific to your building. Ask what further design work you need to arrange separately, particularly for the interior of the home.
Interior Finishing Materials
A structural kit does not carry every material needed to finish a home. Interior walls, insulation, plumbing, electrical work, flooring, cabinets and fixtures are planned and bought separately.
Establish the scope of the package before you compare packages against each other. A lower package price often reflects a smaller material scope rather than a lower total project cost.
Who Arranges the Permit, the Site and the Erector
Titan Steel Structures supplies the kit and the stamped drawings. You arrange the building permit, the site preparation, the foundation and the erector who puts the structure up. Plan those four jobs early, because they set your schedule as much as the kit does.
How Do You Evaluate a Barndominium Kit Before Buying?
Judge the package against the building you intend to put up, not against a price alone. Work through the scope, the fit with your plans, the coordination you will get, and the jobs that stay with you.
Confirm the Package Scope
Ask for a written description of what is included, covering structural components, exterior materials, drawings and any services. A clear scope prevents misunderstandings and makes two packages easier to read side by side.
Review the Way the Shell Fits Your Plans
Check the dimensions, the clear space and the door and window openings against the way you intend to use the building. Getting that right at the quote stage saves changes later in the project.
Ask How the Kit Matches Your Building Plans
The framing system and the building dimensions have to work with the design you have had drawn. Ask how the supplier works with the dimensions and openings you supply, and what information they need from you to do it.
Understand Your Own Responsibilities
Know which parts of the project you are arranging. Depending on the package, that can mean separate contractors, separate material suppliers and separate professionals for specific tasks. Being clear about it early helps you avoid delays and unexpected costs.
Compare the Complete Value
Price matters, but read it next to the package scope, the flexibility of the design and the support you get. A package that fits your project can be better value than a cheaper one that leaves you a lot more to buy and arrange.
Plan Your Barndominium Shell With Titan Steel Structures
Titan Steel Structures supplies pre-engineered steel building kits, including barndominium shells. A well-planned barndominium starts with the right framing system, the right dimensions and a package scope you have read in full.
Tell the Titan Steel Structures team your dimensions, your intended use and your material requirements, and request a free quote for your building. Get a free quote today! – 1-888-807-6006
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Barndominium Kit Include the Interior of the Home?
No. The kit is the shell: the pre-engineered steel structure, the exterior materials in the package and the stamped drawings. Interior walls, insulation, plumbing, electrical work, flooring and fixtures are planned and bought separately by you.
Do I Need a Building Permit for a Barndominium?
Yes. Most counties and municipalities require a building permit. Titan Steel Structures provides engineer-stamped drawings to make the permitting process smoother, but requirements vary by location. Always check with your local building department before starting construction.
How Should I Prepare Before Requesting a Barndominium Quote?
Have your building size, your intended use and any workshop or garage requirements ready, and give the dimensions as width by length by eave height. Those details let a supplier match a building to what you are actually planning.
What Should I Ask About the Kit Warranty?
Ask which components are covered, how long each limited warranty runs and what conditions apply. Get the answer in writing before you buy, so you know exactly what is covered and what is not.
Can a Barndominium Shell Be Used for a Workshop or Garage?
Yes. A shell can hold living space alongside a workshop, a garage or storage. Plan the access, the vehicles, the equipment and the space they need before you fix the dimensions.
How Do I Know Whether a Barndominium Kit Fits My Budget?
Add up the kit alongside the costs it does not cover: site preparation, the foundation, erection, permits and interior finishes. Costing the whole project, not just the kit, gives you a realistic budget before you commit. CALL FOR PRICING NOW: 1-888-807-6006