If you’ve spent any time researching barndominiums or residential pole buildings in Utah, Idaho, or Wyoming, you’ve probably come across the terms “warm shell” and “turnkey.” They come up often in conversations with homeowners, and understanding the difference can help you decide which option is the best fit for your project.
What Is a Warm Shell?
A warm shell is the perfect middle ground between a basic structure and a move-in-ready home. It includes the essential building elements such as the foundation, framing, insulation, windows, doors, and exterior finishes, but leaves the interior ready for your finishing touches.
Many homeowners choose a warm shell when they plan to tackle interior work themselves, hire their own subcontractors, or spread out the finishing process over time.
What’s Included in a Warm Shell Build
While every Beehive project is custom, a typical warm shell includes:
- Pier footings, frost wall, and post-frame structure
- Fully finished exterior (siding, roofing, trim)
- Insulated walls and ceiling
- Installed windows and doors
- Framing ready for utilities and interior walls
At that stage, you have a fully enclosed, weather-tight building ready for plumbing, electrical, drywall, flooring, and all the details that make it feel like home.
What’s a Turnkey Barndominium?
A turnkey barndominium takes things one big step further than a warm shell. It includes every element needed to make your space move-in ready.
When Beehive customers choose a turnkey build, our team helps them select custom interiors from the many options we offer and coordinates each phase with trusted partners to bring their vision to life.
What’s Included in a Turnkey Barndominium
While every turnkey project is unique, each one includes all the essentials found in a warm shell plus the complete interior build-out. This typically covers:
- Plumbing and electrical systems
- Drywall and interior finishes
- Interior doors, trim, and flooring
- Cabinets, countertops, and fixtures
- Paint, lighting, and the final touches that bring it all together
Every turnkey barndominium is fully customized, creating a space that’s built around your needs and ready to enjoy once construction is complete.
Why Some Homeowners Choose a Warm Shell
A warm shell lets you take the reins on finishing the building out while still getting the trusted quality Beehive is known for. Here’s why it’s often the go-to option for Beehive homeowners:
- Financial flexibility: You can complete the interior at your own pace and spread out costs as you go.
- Design freedom: Take the lead on interior design and plan the finishes and features that bring your vision to life at your own pace.
- Hands-on approach: Ideal for owners who want to be part of the process and handle certain aspects themselves.
Why Others Choose a Turnkey Barndominium
A turnkey barndominium offers a true one-stop-shop experience, with Beehive handling every step of the build and delivering reliable craftsmanship from start to finish. Here’s why many homeowners choose this full-service option:
- Move-in ready: Enjoy a fully completed space that’s ready the moment construction wraps up.
- Seamless process: We manage the entire build from start to finish, so you don’t have to coordinate multiple contractors.
- Time savings: Our organized planning and scheduling keep your project on track and help you move in sooner.
Which One’s Right for You?
It really comes down to how involved you want to be and what fits your goals. A warm shell is perfect if you like to stay hands-on or want to complete the interior at your own pace. If you’d rather have your space fully ready to live in right away, a turnkey barndominium is the way to go.
No matter which direction you choose, you can count on Beehive’s quality craftsmanship, our industry-leading 10-year warranty, and a building that’s made to stand strong and look good for decades.
Ready to get started? Contact us today to plan your warm shell or turnkey barndominium—or explore our predesigned barndominium plans to find the perfect starting point for your dream home.
FAQs
Can I add interior walls and finishes to a warm shell later?
Absolutely. With a warm shell, all the groundwork is done, so it’s ready for electrical, plumbing, drywall, and the finishing touches whenever you are.
Can I customize a turnkey barndominium?
Turnkey barndominiums are completely customizable. Our team helps you choose interior layouts, finishes, and design features so your turnkey build feels uniquely yours.
Does Beehive offer predesigned barndominium plans?
We have a selection of predesigned barndominium plans that can be used as a starting point for either a warm shell or a turnkey build. Whether you want to handle the interior finishes yourself or have our team complete the full build, these plans make it easy to visualize your space and customize it to fit your goals.
Do warm shells qualify for financing?
Many lenders in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming offer financing for warm shells, especially if you plan to finish it into a primary residence. We’re happy to connect you with trusted lenders familiar with warm shell financing.