Barndominium Builders in Loudon, TN

Barndominium builders in Loudon see a town that sits right on the Tennessee River with plenty of open ground around it. Loudon is the county seat of Loudon County, was incorporated in 1850 after settlement in the 1790s, and takes its name from Fort Loudoun, a colonial-era fort several miles south in Monroe County. The town counted 5,381 residents in 2010 and 5,991 in 2020, an 11.3 percent gain. It covers about 13 square miles at an elevation of 863 feet, and it is the largest community in Loudon County by area, which gives it a more rural feel than its neighbor Lenoir City.

A young county with a lot of water

Loudon County was formed on May 27, 1870, from parts of Roane, Monroe and Blount counties. It was briefly named Christiana County before being renamed Loudon a few days later. The county covers 247 square miles, and about 7.3 percent of that is water. Fort Loudoun Dam holds back Fort Loudoun Lake on the Tennessee River, the stretch below the dam is part of Watts Bar Lake, and Tellico Dam created Tellico Lake on the lower Little Tennessee. The county had 54,886 residents in 2020, up from 48,556 in 2010.

Start with the county codes office

For land outside town limits, Loudon County government lists a Planning and Codes Enforcement department. That is where zoning questions and building permit requirements for an unincorporated parcel begin. A few questions we ask on every Loudon County property: 1. Is the parcel inside Loudon's city limits or in the county? 2. What zoning district is it in, and does it allow a single-family home with a large attached shop? 3. Are there recorded deed restrictions or a homeowners association with rules on metal siding? 4. Is there public water, or will the home need a well? 5. Is any of the parcel near the river or a creek and inside a mapped flood zone?

The septic evaluation on rural acreage

Acreage outside sewer service needs an approved septic system before the house can be finished. The state's TDEC septic FAQ explains that an environmental scientist visits to decide what type of system the site needs, may ask for a site plan or soil mapping by a private soil consultant, and needs the grass and brush mowed around the house site and evaluation areas. Property corners and the house pad should be staked, and the ground should not be cut or filled ahead of the visit. If a permit is denied, TDEC sends a written notice with the reasons, which at least tells you what to change.

Soils in the valley

The farmland around Loudon is part of the Ridge-and-Valley country of East Tennessee. USDA soil descriptions for that region include the Dewey series, formed in limestone residuum with a clay or silty clay subsoil, much of it cleared for row crops, hay and pasture, and the Fullerton series, a cherty limestone soil where roughly two-thirds is cleared and used mainly for pasture. Old pasture is often a straightforward building site, but clay subsoil still calls for footings designed for the actual soil, and Dewey areas can be pitted with sinks and depressions worth noticing before choosing a pad.

Climate and the building shell

Loudon's climate is humid subtropical, with an average annual daily high around 71 F, a low around 46 F, and about 50.8 inches of precipitation spread fairly evenly through the year. On a barndominium we use that to guide roof drainage, insulation and HVAC sizing. The NWS office in Morristown lists Loudon County storms in its tornado appendix and names April as the peak month, so we design the frame connections and anchorage to the code wind requirements and pay attention to large door openings, which take a lot of wind load on a shop wall.

Close to Lenoir City and Knoxville

U.S. 11 connects Loudon to Lenoir City about 7 miles to the northeast, and from there I-75 runs on to Knoxville. Loudon is part of the Knoxville metropolitan area while still offering larger tracts.

Call (865) 273-0759 or

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