Tag Archives: pre-designed barn kit

Why the DC Approach Benefits Builders

 

Most of us are familiar with the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” but what about “It takes a village to raise a structure?” When you consider all the moving parts that go into designing and building a structure from the ground up, it’s hard to imagine a construction project moving forward with even one key player missing from the picture.

At DC Structures, we understand the value of teamwork better than anyone, especially when it comes to collaborating with our clients’ contractors and those within our Builder Network. Having been builders ourselves at one point, we know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of the design and prefabrication process and have taken great care to ensure our approach and products center the needs of builders at every stage – even past the point of kit delivery.

From our custom design capabilities to our industry-leading Simple Build System and world-class builder support, our company offers several ways for builders to engage with our team, utilize our expertise, and streamline their processes to achieve the best results for their builds. If you’re a contractor interested in working with DC, here are a few reasons to consider partnering with us for all your design, off-site manufacturing, engineering, and material procurement needs.

One-Stop Design Shop

Whether you’re seeking custom design plans, structural design assistance, or a complete interior design solution, our team is here to help you with any design-related needs for your projects. Using state-of-the-art 3D design software, our experienced designers can take your ideas for a one-of-a-kind structure and transform them into a dynamic 3D model that you can explore and modify in real time. Within this same program, our team can also develop a structural model of your building and identify all connection points, placements, dimensions, and quantities for your framing components to ensure total accuracy and efficiency for construction.

For a complete look at our design capabilities, visit our Builder Network Offering page to learn more about our architectural design, structural design, interior design, and plan library services!

Premium Materials Supply

Headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, our team offers exclusive access to some of the most valuable timber exports in the world, including select-grade Douglas fir, Western red cedar, and coastal redwood. Our close mill-direct relationships allow us to source the finest heavy timbers in the region at competitive pricing, which we can then pass on to you and your clients. Because our team buys lumber in bulk, we also benefit from additional discounts on various wood products ranging from standard 4” x 4”s to cross-laminated timbers and beyond. With DC sourcing your lumber for you, you can create incredibly beautiful and durable buildings that your clients will love and that work within your budget.

Nationwide Engineering

Our engineering partner – licensed in all 50 states – is available to review your design plans anytime you need them for a project. Whether you designed your structure through us or need engineering help with existing design plans, our engineering partner can step in to ensure your plans comply by local and regional building codes.

Simple Build System

Our Simple Build System is designed to make your installation process faster, better, and more accurate than ever before! Using our CNC precision woodcutting machine, our team will turn your design plans into precisely pre-cut, pre-drilled, and individually labeled pieces of framing lumber, which we will then bundle together in wall sections and ship directly to your job site. By prefabricating your framing components prior to construction, we can guarantee a smooth, time-saving construction process that results in:

  • 30% to 50% fewer framing hours than conventionally built structures
  • Considerable time and money savings for you and your clients
  • A far less labor-intensive framing process
  • And reduced noise, dust, and pollution on the job site

Learn more about the benefits of our Simple Build System by watching our Best Practices: Simple Build System video here!

On-Call Builder Support

Just as we would never want to leave clients in the dark on their project details, we would never want to leave builders with unanswered questions or concerns during construction. That’s why we offer on-call builder support that allows you to speak with an experienced team member whenever you need guidance in the field. We also offer a library of instructional videos for visual assistance and a helpful 3D CAD viewer that you can use to view, zoom in, and explore your 3D structural model while on-site. From the time your pre-engineered building kit is delivered to move-in day, you can count on our team to be there for you every step of the way.

Referrals, Referrals, Referrals

Finally, working with a reputable company like DC Structures also means having the opportunity to work with dozens of amazing clients across the country. We get hundreds of calls each month from prospective clients all over the nation, from California to Texas to New York, and would love the chance to pair them with an experienced builder, like you, in their area.

Want to learn more about how our approach benefits builders? Give us a call today at (888) 975-2057 or email us at [email protected] to speak with our builder network representative.

15 Ways to Use Our Barn Kits

Something we pride ourselves on here at DC is the incredible versatility of our barn kits — not just in the sense of what you can do with your design, but what purpose they can ultimately serve on your property. From backyard party barns to wineries and even “bat caves,” we’ve converted our building models into all types of structures for our clients and continue to surprise customers with the many unique configurations we can achieve.

Though it may be hard to visualize the possibilities for your barn kit at first, there are plenty of ways our team can help you create a one-of-a-kind structure that fully encompasses your needs and style. If you’re eager to get started but feeling unsure of what you want to do with your building model, here’s a glimpse at the numerous options available for your custom barn design. 

Barn Home

Let’s say you love the look of our Oakridge Apartment Barn Kit but want it to function as a barn-style home for you and your family. With the help of our talented in-house designers, you can easily create a beautiful, long-lasting residence based on our Oakridge or any other barn design you see fit! We offer hundreds of customization options for your structure to ensure your barn home matches your personality and taste. We can also combine multiple building kits to create an all-encompassing residence that meets your every need. 

Barndominium 

Barndominiums are all the rage with millennials, and it’s not hard to see why. With their classic barn-style appearance and multi-use layouts, barndominiums make attractive and efficient structures that can serve several unique purposes on your property. It’s important to note that many barndominiums on the market are metal-built structures, whereas we frame ours with select grade FOHC Douglas fir heavy timbers. Before investing in a barndominium, consider what type of barndominium you’re looking for in terms of material use, style, and function. 

Event Venue 

Whether you’re planning to build an all-inclusive wedding and event venue or a simple gathering space for small parties and celebrations, we offer dozens of pre-engineered barn kits designed to suit your needs. While most of our wedding and event venue projects started as event barn kits, we’ve transformed several of our other barn designs into breathtaking event venues that our clients and their customers love. 

Hobby Workshop 

Any hobbyist knows how important it is to have your own personalized workspace. With a prefabricated barn kit from DC Structures, you can turn your design into a fully built-out workshop tailored to your needs and passions. We offer a complete line of garage and workshop kits designed for the modern tinkerer or creative professional. However, we can take any barn kit in our collection and transform it into your ideal workspace. 

Vehicle & Outdoor Equipment Storage  

While many homeowners store their vehicles and outdoor equipment in their garages, others may find that their existing garage doesn’t provide adequate room for all their storage needs. In these instances, having a detached storage barn or garage makes a practical solution that will increase the value of your home and keep your prized possessions safe and secure. 

Winery/Brewery 

Have a vision for a winery or brewery in your state? We want to hear it! At DC Structures, we’ve designed a handful of wineries for clients in Oregon and Washington and would love the opportunity to expand our portfolio of DC-designed wineries and breweries. Our team has also transformed our barn kits into stunning distilleries for clients nationwide and could help you create a production space and tasting room that aligns with your business plans. No matter the complexities of your build, we’re here to help you get your ideas off the ground in any way we can. 

Church 

Worship centers come in all different shapes, sizes, and styles, from massive gothic cathedrals to quaint gable-roofed chapels. While we’ve designed a few religious centers in our signature post and beam style, we can transform any of our barn kits into an original worship space that more closely matches your vision. 

Man or Lady Cave 

Who doesn’t love having a personal space to retreat to from time to time? With a detached man or lady cave on your property, you can enjoy some much-needed self-care in a relaxing atmosphere that’s all your own. Whether you envision a sports-themed den or something like our client’s infamous “Bat Cave,” our team can help you create the right look and vibe for your private oasis. 

Business/Office Space

Our barn kits aren’t exclusive to residential uses — you can also transform your kit into a commercial building centered around your business needs. We’ve crafted numerous commercial office spaces for clients in various industries and will collaborate with you to find the right floor plan, features, and size for your individualized workspace.  

Horse Barn 

If you’re seeking a beautiful home for your horses, look no further than our line of pre-engineered barn kits! We offer dozens of open-ended barn designs that you can modify and personalize according to your equestrian needs. With hundreds of premium options and upgrades to choose from for your horse barn, you can create a high-end equestrian facility that perfectly suits your lifestyle and those of your horses. Explore our gallery of horse barn projects to see what you can do with your barn kit! 

Indoor Sports Court

Whether you do or don’t consider yourself a sports fanatic, you have to admit that owning a private basketball court sounds pretty cool. With a custom recreational space in your backyard, you can work out, practice your skills, or play 2-on-2 with friends any time or day of the week. 

Artist Studio 

This option applies to all creatives, from painters and musicians to photographers and ceramicists. Our barn kits offer the ideal setting for those looking for a secluded space where they can be as loud, messy, or downright genius as they need to be.  

Mother-in-Law Suite 

Sharing space with anyone outside your immediate household can be challenging, especially if you’re not used to having a packed house for the holidays. With a mother-in-law suite or backyard ADU, you can offer your friends and family the privacy of a separate guest bedroom while freely enjoying your house after a night (or multiple nights) of entertaining. 

Collector’s Gallery

You have an impressive collection that deserves its own showroom, and we have a line of barn kits that will make your memorabilia shine. With the help of our talented designers, you can create a barn-style structure that brings your collection together in one magnificent space.  

A Harry Potter-Themed Bar 

This last suggestion is partially a joke, but mostly Sirius. We would love to help you design a Harry Potter-themed bar — or any movie-themed bar, for that matter — on your property. While a barn might not be the most authentic portrayal of Harry Potter architecture, we can work with just about any vision you have for the space and help you transform your kit into a magical space that any muggle would adore. 

Ready to get started on your barn project? Call us at (888) 975-2057 or request a catalog today