Barndominium Price Metal barn dwellings range in price from $30,000 to $120,000. These buildings, often known as barndominiums, have the appearance of barns yet provide an open living space. They are less expensive than the ordinary since they feature an exceptionally open layout and no garage. The first metal house company was founded in 1948 by architect George W. Cannon Jr. He believed that a mass-produced steel house could be affordable to many people who needed homes but could not pay high prices for traditional houses. Cannon's company, Cannon Steel Buildings, based in Racine, Wisconsin, sold more than 10,000 houses before it went out of business in 2001. Today, metal houses are made mainly for recreational vehicles or trailers. They are also used as small cabins for vacation homes or fishing camps. However, some metal houses are built with interior finishings and used as permanent home sites. This type of house may be built on land where there is no room for a trailer but can still be put up at a later date if necessary. Metal houses are very durable because they are made with only the strongest materials. There is no wood that can rot or deteriorate in the rain or snow so these houses require little maintenance. The only major cost associated with metal houses is the up front investment required to purchase them. However, once you own one you will never want to live anywhere else!