How to Create Your Structure Estimate

A Complete Guide to Planning Your Barn Project

Creating your ideal barn structure begins with translating your vision into specific details that our project specialists can engineer into reality. Throughout our decades of designing and building premium barn packages, we’ve learned that the most successful projects start with clients who understand their needs and can communicate their goals clearly.

This comprehensive guide walks you through the systematic approach to gathering all the information necessary for your project specialist to provide an accurate estimate for your personalized structure package. Whether you’re planning an equestrian facility, barn apartment, or multi-use structure, these steps ensure your estimate reflects exactly what you envision for your property.

How Barn Pros Creates Your Estimate

To create an accurate estimate for your structure, your project specialist works with you to define the model, size, exterior additions, treatments, and interior options that create a structure tailored specifically to your needs. This collaborative process ensures every component serves both your functional requirements and aesthetic preferences.

What We Need to Provide Your Estimate

Your project specialist requires several key pieces of information to engineer an accurate estimate:

1. Structure Specifications – The specific model, layout, and size that will provide the space and functionality you need for your intended use.
2. Personalization Details – Your preferred exterior additions, treatments, and interior options that create a structure uniquely suited to your lifestyle and property.
3. Site Information – The address of your build site allows us to assess geological and environmental factors in your region that may influence availability for different model options.
4. Functional Requirements – Clear understanding of how you plan to use your structure, from the number of stalls or garage doors to specific layout needs for your activities.

This information enables our engineering team to create detailed, state-stamped blueprints that translate your vision into buildable reality while ensuring compliance with local codes and conditions.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Estimate

Below are the systematic steps we recommend for gathering the information your project specialist needs. Each step builds on the previous one to create a comprehensive picture of your ideal structure.

Step 1: Outline Your Structure Goals

Understanding what you want your structure to accomplish provides the foundation for all subsequent decisions. This clarity guides everything from engineering requirements to personalization choices.

Define Your Structure’s Primary Purpose

Your intended use affects engineering requirements, permitting processes, and available options:

• Residential living space with horse stalls, garage, storage, or hobby areas
• Equestrian facilities for horses, livestock, equipment, or related activities
• Storage and workshop space for vehicles, equipment, or hobbies
• Multi-purpose structures that combine living space with agricultural or storage functions

Determine Your Structure Type

Choose the category that best matches your vision:

• Barn apartments or barn homes – Residential structures that combine barn aesthetics with modern living comfort
• Traditional barns – Agricultural structures designed for animals, equipment, and storage
• Shops and garages – Clear-span structures optimized for vehicles, equipment, and workshop activities

Select Single or Multi-Level Design

Consider whether your needs are best served by:

• Single level (no loft) – Maximizes ceiling height and creates open, airy spaces
• Multi-level (includes loft) – Provides additional storage or living space while maintaining efficient footprint

Once you’ve defined these foundational elements, you can filter and explore models that meet your criteria on our structure pages.

Step 2: Define Layout and Size Requirements

With your goals established, identify specific structures that align with your vision. We recommend printing the floor plan elevations for sizes that interest you and sketching your intended spaces directly on these documents.

Working with Floor Plans

Our structure pages provide responsive floor plan documents that adjust based on the size you select. These plans can display various configurations including stalls, garage doors, or open space arrangements, allowing you to visualize different layout possibilities.

Print the floor plans that match your preferred size and use them as worksheets to sketch your specific space requirements. This visual approach helps ensure your layout serves your intended activities efficiently.

The above are examples of printed floorplan elevations from the structure pages. These are what can be marked up and sketched upon.

Define Specific Space Requirements

If applicable to your structure type, determine and sketch the following details onto your floor plan elevations:

• Number and location of horse stalls
• Garage door quantities and placement
• Wash bay requirements
• Tack room needs
• Bedroom and bathroom counts (for residential structures)
• Man door locations
• Additional specialized spaces or features

Your project specialist can provide layout suggestions and offer optimization tips based on your specific requirements and intended use patterns.

Step 3: Gather Visual Inspiration

Visual references help communicate your aesthetic preferences and ensure your project specialist understands the look and feel you want to achieve.

Explore Customer Showcase Galleries

Our customer showcase galleries provide extensive inspiration and allow you to compare different features and designs across various projects. These galleries can be filtered by use case and structure type, making it easy to find examples that match your vision.

Save photos that resonate with you and note specific features or design elements you’d like to incorporate. Share these images with your project specialist to communicate the visual aspects of your vision effectively.

Review Structure-Specific Galleries

Each structure page includes a dedicated gallery showcasing that specific model in various configurations and settings. These galleries demonstrate how different personalization options affect the overall appearance and functionality of each structure type.

Step 4: Understand Available Model Options

Personalizing your structure to match your lifestyle and aesthetic preferences requires understanding the full range of available options. Our comprehensive model options introduce you to the various ways you can customize your structure.

Key Personalization Categories

Review the available options in each category to understand how they might enhance your structure:

Exterior Additions

• Dormers for additional loft space and natural light
• Shed roofs for expanded covered areas
• Cupolas for ventilation and architectural character
• Timber accents for enhanced visual appeal

Exterior Treatments

• Wood siding options including Douglas fir tongue and groove and cedar board and batten
• Soffit enclosures for weather protection
• Gable end treatments for visual contrast

Interior Options

• Loft configurations (1/3, 2/3, or full-width)
• Ceiling and wall finishes
• Specialized door packages

Specialized Features

• Horse stall packages and equipment
• Wash bay and grooming facilities
• Custom door and window configurations

Your digital catalog and our Model Options sheet provide detailed information about these personalization possibilities. Note the options that align with your vision and discuss them with your project specialist.

Like the example structure galleries, make note of the feature options that resonate with you and share them with your project specialist.

Step 5: Record Your Preferred Model Options

Each structure page includes an interactive form titled “Choose and record your model options here!” This tool displays the available exterior additions, treatments, and interior options for your chosen structure model, allowing you to create a personalized feature list with photo examples.

Using the Model Options Form

This form provides only the features available for your specific structure model, ensuring you’re working with realistic possibilities. The visual format helps you understand how different options will look and function together.

Additional options that may be available depending on your structure model and site conditions include:

• Raised sidewalls for increased interior height
• Wrap-around porches for outdoor living space
• Modified post configurations for additional open areas
• Custom deck configurations

If you have questions about options that don’t appear in the dropdown menus, don’t hesitate to ask your project specialist about availability. Our grid-based engineering often allows for creative solutions that aren’t immediately obvious.

Step 6: Collaborate with Your Project Specialist

Throughout your research and planning process, your project specialist serves as your expert resource for guidance, clarification, and creative problem-solving. We’re available via phone, email, or video chat to support your vision development.

How to Leverage Our Expertise

You can approach this process in several ways:

Independent Research Approach – Complete all the above steps on your own to create a comprehensive “vision board” with all your desired structure details and features, then bring this complete package to your project specialist for refinement and optimization.

Collaborative Approach – Work through these steps directly with your project specialist, leveraging their experience to explore possibilities and discover solutions you might not have considered.

Hybrid Approach – Begin your research independently, then engage your project specialist when you have questions or want to explore specific options in greater detail.

Regardless of your approach, we encourage open communication about your complete project vision. Our team has created thousands of successful projects since the 1980s, and our goal is to make yours equally successful. The more you share with us, the better we can support your vision and suggest innovative solutions.

Step 7: Schedule Your Estimate Review

When you’ve gathered all necessary details about your structure model, design, and features, schedule a comprehensive review meeting with your project specialist. This consultation serves to confirm your specifications and address any technical considerations related to your option combinations.

What to Expect During Your Review

This collaborative session may involve some refinement as you work together to optimize your layout and features for maximum functionality and value. Your project specialist brings decades of experience to help ensure your choices work together harmoniously.

Once you’re completely satisfied with your selected structure model, size, layout, and features, your project specialist will create your detailed project estimate. At this point, you’ll make your $10,000 deposit, officially launching your project and initiating the engineering of your personalized blueprints.

Moving Forward with Your Project

With your estimate completed and deposit made, your journey shifts to the practical elements of bringing your structure to life. The next phase involves site assessment, permit research, builder selection, and timeline establishment.

Our comprehensive resource library provides detailed guidance for each of these crucial next steps. Your project specialist remains available throughout this process to provide guidance and answer questions as your project progresses from vision to reality.

The structures that truly last have the right foundation—both in engineering and in thoughtful planning that anticipates your needs while delivering immediate functionality. This systematic approach to creating your estimate ensures your investment delivers the quality, craftsmanship, and lasting value that defines every Barn Pros structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to create a structure estimate?

The timeline depends on how quickly you work through the planning steps and schedule your review meeting. Most clients complete their research within 1-2 weeks, and once you’ve gathered all necessary information, your project specialist can typically provide your detailed estimate within a few business days of your consultation.

Can I change my structure specifications after receiving my estimate?

Yes, you can modify your specifications before making your deposit. However, significant changes may require a revised estimate to ensure accuracy. Once you’ve made your deposit and engineering begins, changes become more complex and may affect both timeline and cost.

What if I’m not sure about certain features or options?

This is exactly why we provide project specialist consultations. Our team can help you understand how different options affect both function and aesthetics, recommend combinations that work well together, and suggest alternatives you might not have considered.

Do I need to have my builder selected before getting an estimate?

No, you don’t need a builder selected to receive your structure estimate. However, having your builder identified early in the process can be helpful for timeline planning and coordination. We provide resources to help you find qualified post-frame contractors in your area.

Can Barn Pros help if I want features not shown in the standard options?

Absolutely. Our grid-based engineering approach often allows for creative personalizations beyond our standard offerings. Discuss your specific needs with your project specialist to explore what’s possible for your particular project and site conditions.

What happens if my site conditions affect my structure options?

Our engineering team accounts for local geological and environmental factors when creating your blueprints. If site conditions require modifications to your original specifications, your project specialist will work with you to find suitable alternatives that maintain your vision while ensuring structural integrity.

Related Resources

Planning and Preparation:

• Planning Checklist: How to Prepare to Build Your Barn – Complete project organization guide
• Understanding Your Project Investment: Barn Pros Cost Calculator – Explore project costs and financing scenarios

Regulatory and Site Preparation:

• The Building Permit Process: Cost, Timeline and What to Expect – Navigate regulatory requirements with confidence
• Preparing to Build on Your Land – Site assessment and preparation guidance

Construction Team Selection:

• How to Find and Choose a Barn Builder – Guide to selecting qualified contractors

State-Specific Building Guides:

• How to Build a Barn in Washington State
• How to Build a Barn in California
• How to Build a Barn in Colorado
• How to Build a Barn in Idaho
• How to Build a Barn in North Carolina
• How to Build a Barn in Oregon
• How to Build a Barn in South Carolina
• How to Build a Barn in Tennessee
• How to Build a Barn in Texas

Understanding Barn Construction:

• Barn Anatomy: Essential Terms and Timeless Styles – Key terminology for effective communication
• Understanding Post Frame Construction – Benefits of post-frame building methods

Ready to transform your vision into detailed plans? Our project specialists combine decades of building experience with comprehensive structure knowledge to help you create a building that perfectly complements both your property and lifestyle. Contact us to begin your estimate process and take the first step toward creating your ideal barn structure.