Building a lovely new home is a significant decision that can change your life for the better. A customised, beautiful new space for you and your family can be the perfect home environment for you, allowing you to live happily and peacefully. Of course, everything from the materials you pick to the barn frames you consider can enhance your incredible new NZ space. 

A barn frame made from ethically sourced timber can help to create a space that truly feels like home. This beloved material has been used and adored for decades, and you can feel its wonders if you choose it for your home. 

But why should you choose a timber barn frame over alternative options? What eco-friendly benefits does this material offer?

You’ll have plenty of decisions to make when building your gorgeous new barn home in New Zealand. Choosing from different barn frames, setting an appropriate budget and choosing your team of builders are all crucial parts of any successful barn home project. Today, we’ll focus on one option that’ll significantly impact the appearance, longevity and comfort of your home – your choice of cladding. 

Cladding is attached to the exterior of a building’s walls, acting as a protective layer of defence that can keep the interior safe from the elements as well as add to the home’s insulation. As you can imagine, it also greatly contributes to the home’s appearance. All in all, your choice of cladding is extremely important for both aesthetic and practical reasons. 

So, let’s go over various cladding options you could choose for your barn home, as well as what qualities you should keep in mind when making your choice.

Different Cladding Options To Consider For Your NZ Barn Home

Like barn frames, you can choose from plenty of different looks and types of cladding. For barn homes, timber is a great, popular choice because of its raw beauty and its natural insulation properties. Because it’s such a versatile material, timber can be used in many ways:

Weatherboards. This option is also known as clapboard or bevel siding, and is a common choice for barn homes with that classic rustic charm. These consist of horizontal boards that are installed with a slight overlap. Timber weatherboards come in a variety of profiles, so you can pick one that suits your specific tastes and visual goals. 

Vertical Shiplap. This choice offers a contemporary twist for more traditional barn frames and barn aesthetics. These boards are installed similarly to weatherboards with an overlapping profile, but they’re instead placed vertically. This option is rather versatile and can be suitable for both modern and rustic-inspired barn home designs, depending on the look you’re striving for. 

Board And Batten. This cladding consists of wide vertical boards with narrow wooden strips, which are also known as battens, to cover the joints in between each board. This unique style adds plenty of character to a home’s appearance, evoking a sense of prime craftsmanship and care. 

Blending Materials. Remember that you don’t have to stick to one type of cladding for your entire barn home. You can make your home more visually interesting by mixing materials, such as timber in one area and brick or stone in others.

Coloursteel Cladding. If you’re more interested in modern aesthetics, rather than classic rustic visuals, then Coloursteel cladding may be right for you. This beautiful, low-maintenance metal cladding is a very durable and versatile choice available in a range of colours.

What To Keep In Mind When Choosing Your Cladding

When discussing your cladding options with your home builders, be sure you think about these factors:

Durability. Go for high-quality timber that’s durable, hardy and resistant to decay. You’ll want cladding that’s prepared to handle New Zealand’s climate conditions and varied weather. Durable materials are also more likely to last longer, as they’ll be able to handle everyday wear and tear better. 

Sustainability. Timber is already a great choice for eco-conscious individuals because it’s a renewable resource. Still, you may also want to check if your timber is from sustainably managed forests or other reputable sources. 

Maintenance Requirements. Before you choose any kind of cladding, always take care to understand its maintenance requirements. Some types may require regular staining or other kinds of upkeep, whereas others may have a more hands-off approach. 

Budget. Naturally, you’ll want to stay within the budget of your entire barn home project. This should be something that’s always in your mind, whether you’re choosing barn frames or picking out materials. Remember that while some timber species may have a higher upfront cost, they could offer long-term savings in longevity and maintenance.

Installation. Regardless of the cladding you choose, make sure your home builders are experienced and know how to install it correctly for maximum functionality and visual appeal. 

Aesthetic Style. After you’ve sorted out practical matters, be sure you also think about looks. Choose cladding that complements the architectural style of your planned barn home.

Creating Your Perfect Barn Home Retreat In Aotearoa

From choosing your cladding to picking out the best barn frames for your needs, we at Heritage Timbercraft are here to be your reliable partners for your barn home project. We’re thrilled to have created many stunning homes in the past, and we look forward to building many more.

Do you dream of one day living happily in a well-made, expertly-designed barn home? Contact our team on 027 4266679 or reach us through our website to get the process started.

Together, we can make your barn home dreams come true.

Barn homes have effortlessly captured the imagination of homeowners seeking a blend of rustic charm and contemporary living. Built with thoughtfully designed barn frames, these unique dwellings offer the allure of spacious interiors, soaring ceilings and a connection to the countryside, making them an increasingly popular choice for those looking to escape the stressful hustle and bustle of NZ urban life.

One issue you may encounter when dreaming up your ideal barn home is that you may not know where to start. What kind of look should you go for? Are there certain design elements you should favour? Where can you find excellent barn home builders in New Zealand?

Marvellous Design Ideas For Barn Homes In Aotearoa

If you browse through barn frames and projects online, you’ll notice something immediately – you can do so many things with a stunning barn home.

Embrace Open Concept Living. One of the defining features of barn homes is their open, airy layout. Embrace this characteristic by opting for an open concept floor plan that maximises space and natural light. Consider removing interior walls to create a seamless flow between dining, living and kitchen areas, perfect for entertaining family and friends.

Open floor plans can make a living space feel larger, inviting and free. Consider creative floor plans and sizable barn frames to make proper use of your space without making it feel crowded or empty. Look at other designs and ideas online to get inspiration for your lovely barn home.

Here at Heritage Timbercraft, our barn frames have a standard lower story stud height of 2.7m, which also creates a sense of space. Additionally, by using door heights that are higher than standard heights, such as doors that are higher than 2.2m tall, you can extend the feeling of spaciousness in your home. Having larger doors can also help your space feel more connected to the outside world, creating a better flow between the interior and the exterior of your barn home. 

Opt For Minimalist Finishes. Keep your barn home feeling sleek and sophisticated with minimalist finishes and clean lines. Choose simple cabinetry, streamlined hardware and understated fixtures to create a modern aesthetic that doesn’t overpower the space. Minimalist design allows the beauty of the barn’s architecture to shine through while providing a serene backdrop for everyday living.

Minimalism is perfect for allowing the beauty of barn frames and rustic-inspired homes to shine through without the need for overly complicated design elements. 

Bring The Outdoors In. Celebrate the natural beauty of your surroundings by incorporating large windows and sliding glass doors that frame picturesque views of the natural world around your home. Enhance the home’s connection to the outdoors by incorporating outdoor living spaces such as cosy covered porches, patios or decks where you can relax and enjoy the fresh air year-round. These wonderful places can help you stay connected to the beautiful natural wonders of Aotearoa from the comfort of your magnificent home.

Once your house is built and ready for you to call it home, you can go even further by incorporating biophilic designs and ideas into your rooms.  Have houseplants in every room, consider indoor gardening and more to bring the natural world in. Biophilic design elements can bring you a sense of calm and peace, and many view them as a must-have for any comfortable home.

Play With Colour And Texture. Experiment with colour and texture to add visual interest to your barn home’s interior. Consider using a neutral colour palette as the foundation and adding pops of colour through furnishings, artwork and accessories. Incorporate materials such as timber, stone and leather to create texture and warmth throughout the space and highlight the appeal of barn frames and homes.

If you’re unsure how to choose your materials or fixtures, you should speak to your barn home builders to discuss your preferences and needs. They’ll use their skills and experience to recommend what suits your tastes the best. 

Create A Cosy Retreat. Transform your barn home into a cosy retreat by incorporating inviting furnishings, plush textiles and layered lighting. Add warmth and ambience with a fireplace or wood-burning stove, perfect for cozying up on chilly evenings. Create comfy seating areas where you can unwind with a good book or gather with family and friends for lively conversations.

Prioritise Energy Efficiency. Make your barn home as comfortable and sustainable as possible by prioritising energy-efficient design features. Invest in high-performance insulation, energy-efficient windows and airtight construction to minimise heat loss and reduce utility costs. Consider incorporating eco-friendly renewable energy sources such as solar panels or geothermal heating to further enhance your home’s efficiency.

Designing And Building Your Wonderful New Barn Home In Aotearoa

Designing your dream barn home is an exciting opportunity to blend rustic charm with modern amenities. By embracing these design elements and exploring your possibilities, you can create a stylish and sustainable home that celebrates the best of both worlds – and at Heritage Timbercraft, we’re here to help you make your project a total success. 

With years of success and experience with countless successful projects, our passionate team is proud to have helped make New Zealand more comfortable and beautiful for our treasured clients. To speak to us about your opportunities, please feel free to email our design team at peter@heritagetimbercraft.co.nz

Embrace the rustic appeal and modern class of barn frames and homes; speak to us at Heritage Timbercraft.

Building your dream barn home is an exciting endeavour that requires careful planning, keen attention to detail and sturdy barn frames. From selecting the best materials to ensuring structural integrity, every step of the construction process plays a crucial role in creating a strong, beautiful house that you’ll be proud to call your New Zealand home. 

In this guide, we’ll explore essential tips for building a barn home with a strong foundation, ensuring warmth, strength and timeless beauty for years to come.

What To Do If You Want To Build A Magnificent Barn Home In New Zealand

From choosing from the right barn frames to knowing which builders to work with, you’ll have plenty of decisions to make. Before you start your project, consider these tips to make sure you’re successful:

Choose the Right Materials For Your Home. The foundation of any barn home lies in the materials used for construction. Opting for high-quality materials like New Zealand-grown Macrocarpa or Douglas fir ensures structural integrity, durability and timeless beauty. These materials provide strength and add character to your home, creating an inviting atmosphere that stands the test of time.

For Antique Barns the type of wood as well as barn design are crucial considerations and our team is here to help select the barns that are made of suitable material and have the beam sizes and configuration to meet the NZ engineering requirements. This is important as not considering this from the start can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands in steel portal frames that should not be necessary if the barn is doing what it was made to do!

Prioritise Structural Integrity. It’s vital that you choose from barn frames that are designed to meet NZ’s structural integrity and strength requirements and not just beauty. A strong foundation begins with a solid design. Our team are experts at developing a comprehensive plan that prioritises structural integrity and have developed a range of single and double story barns as well as trusses that meet these requirements in 90% of sites in NZ. We consider factors such as load-bearing capacity, earthquake resistance and weather durability to ensure your barn home can withstand the test of time.

Think about the area you’ll live in and make sure your barn is suited to that kind of climate. For very dry climates Douglas Fir can work for external situations but in wetter areas heart Macrocarpa or hardwoods are a must.

Customise Your Floor Plan. When choosing your barn frames, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to settle for home designs as they are – you can customise your plans to perfectly fit your needs. Each barn home is unique, reflecting the individual tastes, location and budget of its owner. Take advantage of customisable floor plans to tailor your home to your specific needs and preferences. Whether you’re looking for an open-concept layout or a cozy, intimate space, customising your floor plan allows you to create a home that perfectly suits your lifestyle.

Focus On Design Details. Attention to design details can elevate your barn home from functional to magnificent. Incorporate architectural elements such as exposed timber beams, feature stairs, bookcases, window-seats, vaulted ceilings and large windows to add visual interest and charm to your space. Pay special attention to finishes and textures, choosing options that complement the beauty of your timber frame while adding warmth and character to your home.

Plan For Energy Efficiency. Building a good home is not just about aesthetics but also functionality and sustainability. Incorporate energy-efficient features into your home’s design, such as insulated walls, double-glazed windows and passive solar design principles, to reduce energy consumption and lower utility costs. By planning for energy efficiency from the outset, you can create a comfortable, eco-friendly home that stands the test of time.

Consider Your Budget. Constructing a house can be costly, but by creating a realistic budget, you can bring your barn ideas to life without breaking the bank. Try to come up with a budget that you can afford but that also allows you to choose the barn frames, materials, design elements and more that satisfy your needs. While cost shouldn’t be the only factor you consider, it’s a very important thing to keep in mind.

Work With Experienced Professionals. Building a barn home is a complex project that requires expertise and experience. While the average person doesn’t have this knowledge and skills, a qualified team of builders can help you ensure your project is a total success. Search for builders who have experience working with timber and barn frames, as they’ll be able to help you fully realise your barn home dream.

When choosing your barn home builders, be sure to find a team with experience with the type of home and design you’re planning. Additionally, they should be professional and have excellent communication skills. If you don’t have much experience with home design and building, you may want to let your builder manage the project, as they’ll know how to ensure everything gets done correctly and on time.

Bringing Your Dream Barn Home Into Reality

Building a barn home is a rewarding journey that requires careful planning, attention to detail and collaboration with experienced professionals. If you take the right steps, you’ll be relaxing in your gorgeous new home in no time. 

Here at Heritage Timbercraft, we’re thrilled to make New Zealand a more beautiful and comfortable place with our charming home designs and commitment to excellent results. If you’re planning to build a new barn home, we encourage you to come and see our barn frames, home designs, services and more.

If you’re ready to speak to us, you can reach our team on 0273799213 

Live comfortably and happily in a durable, beautiful and long-lasting home built by Heritage Timbercraft.