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The Benefits of Modular Barns

Prefabricated Modular Barn Benefits

Pre-engineered, prefabricated modular barn benefits by MD Barnmaster. Modular barns have significant benefits over traditional wood construction buildings and barns. Besides the structural integrity advantages, MDB’s modular components are much safer than wood-based products. Just those two benefits alone, structural integrity and fire retarding material, amount to a very compelling reason to choose MDB modular barns. But, there are other reasons pre-fabricated modular horse barns outperform traditional barns.

Comparing the benefits of MDB Modular Barns vs Conventional Barns

Construction savings:
Streamlined construction process saves the buyer a significant amount of time, material waste, and field labor. MBD has been perfecting modular barn technology since 1975. MDB designs, engineers, fabricates and assembles each barn section prior to shipping to the prefab barn kit to the build site ready for final assembly. Quality control management throughout the construction process significantly reduces on-site activity, disturbance of the environment, theft, and inherently speeds up the build time to as little as 8 weeks. (Final on-site assembly can either be completed by the buyer or by an MDB professional building contractor.)

Quality Workmanship:
MDB manufactures all the components of the modular barn in a controlled environment at their Ontario California factory. High quality materials, stringent manufacturing process management and quality control inspection protocols ensure unsurpassed quality workmanship every step of the way.

Modular Versatility:
If you can dream it… we can build it. Versatile modular engineering from MDB can deliver anything from a shedrow barn for a small property, a 100-stall breezeway or back to back barn for a professional equine or veterinary facility, or a state-of-the-art, elaborate, custom dream barn complete with living quarters. MDB can design your barn to your specifications and incorporate colors/materials to match existing property structures or lifestyle. Plus, with endless modular possibilities, we can pre-engineer your modular barn to meet your personal or professional needs today, which you can easily expand for tomorrow’s needs.

Structural Integrity:
Built to stand the test of time. MDB’s laminated wall panels are integrated into the proprietary wall channels and welded to form each wall panel section required for each barn plan. MDB’s exclusive certified roof panels are leak-free. The frame of the barn kits is fabricated from 14-gauge galvanized steel that will last a lifetime. When the entire MDB barn is assembled it creates a structural integrity that outperforms the average conventional barn in handling heavy snow loads, high winds and even jarring earthquakes.

Safety – Health & Welfare:
Modular barn benefits include significant safety features which continues to be one of our the greatest assets in choosing a modular barn over conventional structure. As the innovator in modular barn technology since 1975, MDB set the bar for safety features.

  • Proprietary wall panels come with a lifetime kick-proof and chew-proof warranties.
  • Lifetime kick-proof warrantied wall panels are designed to flex and absorb kicking shock that prevents kick through, injury and wall damage.
  • Lifetime chew-proof warrantied all panels are chew proof so horses cannot digest wood/splinters that can cause health issues such as colic.
  • MDB also eliminates the hazards of decaying, bacteria harboring wood and dangerous exposed rusty nails.
  • Zero% fire spread rating means you enjoy peace-of-mind knowing your horses or livestock have the best safety protection against a hay fire or other fire spreading in the barn.

Maintenance savings:
MDB modular barns are built to withstand the test of time. They’re insect and weather resistant. They require minimal maintenance (spray wash for easy sanitizing). Standard modular barn materials include a 40 year outside wall and roof paint system. Compare that to conventional wood structures that decay over time and require frequent maintenance to prolong their lifespan. Traditional barns can expect ongoing expense of painting or sealing, roofing, wall and stall repair. Decaying wood barns are a health hazard to horses and livestock. They attract insects, harbor disease and loose boards can expose hazardous nails.

Warranty:
We’re as serious about barns as you are about horses. MDB sets the standard for the best warranties on all their modular barns, buildings, equestrian facilities and other structures. MDB includes a lifetime kick-proof and chew-proof warranty on wall panels with a zero % fire spread rating. Standard outside roof and walls come with a 40-year paint system.

Prefabricated Modular Barn Benefits at a Glance

Prefabricated Modular Barn Benefits

Prefabricated Modular Barn Benefits. We’re as serious about barns as you are about horses… Build a Better Barn, isn’t just our motto… it’s our passion to be the best that drives us every day! Start by exploring our online barn builder app to get a general feel for design and color choice. It’s a fun and easy way to get a quote. Or contact us to find a rep in your area and they can walk you through the many design options or take your own design and make it a reality.

WE OWN THE EXPERIENCE – The leading barn and equestrian facility builder since 1975.

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The Benefits of Spring Cleaning

Spring has finally sprung for most of the country, and many of us look forward to a thorough Spring Cleaning! Open the windows, let some fresh air in and do some deep cleaning.

There are some obvious health benefits to a thorough cleaning because it rids your house of allergens and bacteria that have been hanging around all winter. The physical act of cleaning can not only help reduce stress, but it can be a form of exercise as well. Check out how many calories you can burn while cleaning here.

The benefits of Spring cleaning extend to your barn. You have spent the Winter cleaning your horse stalls daily because a dirty stall can pose many health problems for your horses. Stalls full of manure, urine, and dirty bedding can make your horse susceptible to thrush, cellulitis, breathing and skin problems if they spend an extended amount of time in a dirty stall.

Wood walls are impossible to keep clean – they harbor germs and bacteria, and they attract birds, pests and dust. Many surfaces are inaccessible and splinters, sharp edges and nails can pose safety risks as well as damage manes and tails.

All walls in an MD Barnmaster barn are manufactured with a laminated steel panel with smooth surfaces. This design makes the walls Kick-Proof and Chew-Proof as well as providing a 0% Fire Spread Rating. And another added benefit? MD Barnmaster barns are easier to clean and therefore healthier for your horses.

spring cleaning

The smooth surface of an MD Barnmaster wall does not absorb dirt, germs and bacteria like wood walls do, and they can be hosed off and easily cleaned with any disinfectant. There are no inaccessible corners, leaving no place for spiders or other unwanted guests to hide. Deep cleaning is easier, reducing the time you spend on maintenance, and your horse stays healthier and happier. As an added bonus, our walls come in a variety of colors to help you further customize your barn!

Read more about our health and safety features, and then call us today so we can help you Build a Better Barn. If you can dream it – we can build it!

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Linda’s Dream Barn

Linda Parelli and MD Barnmaster have teamed up to create her dream barn. From concept to creation, we’ve documented the process for you to follow along the journey.


Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

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Comparison of MD Barnmaster Barns to Pole Barns

Horse barns range in quality and cost from simple pipe panel loafing sheds to custom glamour barns designed to complement high end estate homes.  Most horse housing falls somewhere in between.  Buying decisions often involve consideration not only of initial cost, but also safety, maintenance and longevity.  MD Barnmaster provides the best value, safety, ease of maintenance and longevity in the horse housing industry.

Barn Price

MD Barnmaster often offers the best price for even the most basic horse housing and certainly the best value when safety, maintenance and longevity are considered.

Pole barns are the traditional choice in most parts of the country because they are commonly seen and people are familiar with them.  They are only the cheapest option for buyers interested in “do it yourself” projects.  In those cases, contractors often erect the shell; usually wood poles, inexpensive truss systems and thin gauge sheet steel.  The owner can then use 2X6 lumber to build stall walls and stall fronts using hardware store materials.

The price advantage disappears if the owner cannot or chooses not to use his own labor to build the barn.  Pole barns also become much more costly if the owner wants a more attractive finish than the exposed wood components and sheet steel finishes of a pole barn.  Pole barns become even less competitive if owners demand safety, ease of maintenance and longevity in horse housing.

Barn Fire Safety

Wood burns, and fires spread rapidly in wood frame barns.  There is almost no way to prevent wood frame barns from burning and horse barn fires almost always end badly.  Sprinkler systems are expensive and may or may not prevent deadly smoke conditions.  Wood stall walls and fronts can be replaced with zero fire spread walls like MD Barnmaster’s, but the added expense normally drives the cost of the pole barn higher than MD Barnmaster because MD Barnmaster stall walls double as barn walls.  Even with MD Barnmaster stall systems, pole barns still have wood structures that burn.   MD Barnmaster barns are zero fire spread, which means that even if a fire starts in a hay pile or elsewhere, it will not spread beyond the original source.  This can mean the difference between life and death for your horses.

Wood Barn Chewing/Cribbing
horse chew proof barn stallsHorses chew wood, and chewing often leads to cribbing.  Anybody that has had a chewer or cribber knows that those stable vices are to be avoided at all costs.   All surfaces exposedto horses in MD Barnmaster stalls are metal, horses can’t chew MD Barnmaster’s metal stall systems.  As a result, horses are far less likely to become cribbers if they live in an MD Barnmaster stall.

Kicking Safety

Horses can easily kick through a wood wall or stall front.  Even if owners don’t mind repairing their stall walls, kicking through stall walls can seriously injure horses.  MD Barnmaster’s metal clad stall interiors prevent kick throughs and MD Barnmaster guarantees it.  MD Barnmaster walls also flex slightly when kicked, reducing the shock to horses’ legs and feet.

Other Barn Injuries

Wood stall walls, especially damages walls, can have slivers and other sharp edges that can injure horses and pull coveted manes and tails.  MD Barnmaster stalls have no sharp edges, assuring that horses stay clean and show ready, without unsightly or health threatening cuts and scrapes.

Health

Pole barns are almost impossible to keep clean.  Unless they are finished on the interiors with smooth surfaces, the exposed wood trusses, rough sawn treated posts and other exposed lumber attract birds, pests and dust.  Many surfaces are inaccessible.  Even accessible surfaces absorb dirt and bacteria.  MD Barnmaster barns are finished with smooth surfaces straight from the factory.  They can be disinfected and kept clean and new looking with minimal effort, leaving time for actually enjoying the horses that live in them.

Mobility

Many horse owners change locations from time to time.  In most cases, the amount one receives on the sale of a property for barns and other buildings does not approach the original cost.  Pole barns cannot be moved without huge expense, normally exceeding the value of the cost of building a replacement.  MDBarnmaster’s modular design allows our barns to be moved from one property to the next in a cost effective manner.

Beauty

Pole barns can be made very attractive.  The cost of enhancing the exterior of a standard metal pole barn and finishing the interior often drives the price much higher. MD Barnmaster barn have clean smooth finishes straight from the factory and can be enhanced with wood and other traditional finishes to meet even the most demanding aesthetic standards while still providing all of the safety, health and ease of maintenance advantages.

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Hood River Barnmaster Barn Still In Superb Condition After 28 Years of Use

At MD Barnmaster we are very aware of the fact that our barns are strong, durable, and weather-proof. Nevertheless, we are always excited to find another example that showcases just how long-lasting and timeless our barns prove to be.

Chuck Bartok, a sales associate for MD Barnmaster, recently went to Hood River, Oregon to meet with Barbara Hanel about building her new 8 stall, 16 foot breezeway, gable style MD Barnmaster barn. While Chuck was there he couldn’t help but notice her 28 year old Barnmaster barn that was in superb condition.

Twenty-eight years ago, Barbara chose to go with Barnmaster (now known as MD Barnmaster) because she liked the design of their barns and she needed a barn that was well-insulated for colder climates.  She chose a 16 foot breezeway so she could easily maneuver her large horses and she chose two-inch barn walls because of frequent cold weather and intense snow in Hood River, Oregon.

In fact, not many places in the United States dish out as much wear and tear to buildings as Hood River, Oregon.  With winds up to 93 miles per hour and some of the highest snowfall in the country, the weather is definitely ruthless.  All MD Barnmaster barns are fully engineered for wind and snow loads.  Barbara’s barn is no exception and considering the outstanding condition of Barbara’s barn, you would never guess that this barn has been through so much snow, rain, and wind over the last several years.

Along with expected weather damage over an extendedperiod of time, you might also expect to see plenty of wear and tear from constant use.  Barbara uses her barn every single day and there have been horses in the stalls every day for the last 28 years.  Barbara’s large Warm Blood horses inflict a lot of abuse on their stalls, but Barnmaster’s stall walls don’t show it.

After nearly three decades of use, this barn looks great and is still functioning perfectly.  Thanks to MD Barnmaster’s kick-proof and chew-proof stalls, they are still solid.  If you know anything about wooden barns, you know that the stalls end up with chew marks and kick-throughs aplenty, which is dangerous for horses and increases the cost of ownership.

When it came time add another barn, Barbara knew immediately who she would choose to build it…MD Barnmaster of course!  Her new barn will be installed this year and we fully expect to return in another 28 years to see both barns still standing and in excellent condition.

See the interview with Chuck and Barbara below!

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Tryon Equestrian Center Taps MD Barnmaster To Build New Barns

Where do you turn for top-flight horse barns when planning a large new equestrian center geared toward re-imagining an entire portion of the equine industry?

The obvious choice, is MD Barnmaster, the country’s leading provider of modular equestrian barns. MD Barnmaster was tapped to install the stables at the new Tryon International Equestrian Center in Tryon, North Carolina.
Construction of the MD Barnmaster barns at this new equine facility began in early March 2014. MD Barnmaster of the Carolinas, operated by Scott Brookins, is installing the barns at this fantastic new equine development.

The Tryon barns are Raised Center Aisle structures with cross breezeways for easy access. Overall, the four new MD Barnmaster barns at Tryon International Equestrian Center will provide nearly 500 stalls. The largest barn has 160 stalls. All of the stalls have black powder coated stall fronts with tongue-and-groove spruce wood fronts.

Tryon and all of Polk County, North Carolina have long been noted equestrian destinations. However, the new center – part of the $90 million White Oak Plantation master-planned development —targets a new equine industry segment not currently being served in the area.

The new Tryon International Equestrian Center will host a variety of large riding events that will put the area on the equestrian map worldwide.

“Polk County is known for the equine industry here but not at this level,” said Cathy Ruth, Polk County planner, during an interview with WLOS New 13, the local ABC affiliate.

She noted that dressage owners, trainers and competitors are the intended target. Currently, high level dressage riders travel from New York, to Florida, and to Europe. Tryon will provide an exciting new venue.

“We are extremely excited to be part of this spectacular facility. The fact that the principle owner of the Tryon facility reordered MD Barnmaster barns after we installed them in Wellington confirms that our state-of-the-art modular barns are perfectly suited to large, world class equestrian facilities that understand and value our product’s integrity, safety and ease of maintenance,” says MD Barnmaster CEO Bruce Thomas.

To learn more about the MD Barnmaster/Tryon International Equestrian Center partnership click here.

The new Tryon International Equestrian Center is part of the 1,000-acre development by Tryon Equestrian Properties at White Oak Plantation. When finished, in addition to the state-of-the-art equestrian center featuring the innovative barns from MD Barnmaster, the development will include homes, a golf course, restaurants, retail stores, spa and wellness center and more.

 

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Barn fires — every horse owners’ worst nightmare

Barn fires — every horse owners’ worst nightmare.  The recent months have seen an unusual increase in the number of tragic stable fires.  A March 10th barn fire near Chicago, IL, killed six horses at a small race horse farm.  A February 21st barn fire at a Michigan Thoroughbred farm killed 27 horses and sent an injured employee to the hospital. A barn fire in New Jersey in January killed 22 show horses. These are just three of the past year’s most recent horrific fire incidents. Barn fires like these are a serious cause of death and injury to horses and can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage and losses.

Barn fire tragedies, however, are often preventable.  It’s important to know the facts about fires and to take the appropriate safety precautions.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), defective or improperly used heating equipment is the number one cause of barn and stable fires.  During cold winter months, stable owners may rely on any number of the following:  space heaters, heated buckets, portable water heaters, etc.  Each one of these, if defective or improperly used, can present an increased fire risk.

NFPA also reports that nearly half of all barn and stable fires occur between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., a time period when there is less likely to be a watchful eye present.   Also of note, more stable and barn fires happen during the months of January, February and March, times when those devices previously listed are more likely to be used but when there may be less traffic in and out of the barn in general.

The barn structure itself can be a major contributor to how quickly a stable fire spreads. Stables are often wooden structures, and they are often airy and filled with combustible materials such as wood stalls and hay.

One way to lessen the impact those factors can have is to store combustibles properly, manage hay well and keep barns neat and clean. Today, however, there are also better options in terms of the structures themselves that can lessen the risk of devastating barn fires.  An obvious way to decrease the risk of a tragic barn fire is to make sure your stable is the safest choice possible.  Barns like those available from MDBarnmaster can greatly reduce fire risk.   MDBarnmaster barns have been given a 0% flame spreading rating.   Not only is the all-steel exterior structure of an MDBarnmaster barn extremely fire safe, it is chew proof and kick proof as well making these structures both safe and low maintenance. Combined with a stall system that has been perfected over the last 30 years, MDBarnmaster barns can offer great peace of mind to horse owners and equine professionals.

Beyond giving your horses or ponies the safest possible home, here are some additional safety tips to help reduce your risk of experiencing a devastating barn fire.

Be prepared.  Inspect all electrical equipment thoroughly when it is put into use.  Then, inspect this same equipment on a regular basis throughout the winter or months of use.  Do not use equipment or cords in poor condition.  Avoid running excessive electrical cords.  Be sure you have working fire extinguishers in the barn and make them easily accessible. Check fire extinguishers periodically as part of your regular maintenance and care. Make sure electrical fixtures in the barn are free of dust, dirt, cobwebs, chaff, hay or other combustible materials.  Keep your barn clean and as free of dust, trash, oils, cleaning rags and other fire hazards as possible.  Keep barn aisle ways clear.  Have a barn evacuation plan in the event of a fire.  Also, keep halters and leads easily accessible to each horse in case a quick evacuation is needed.

Barns can be retrofitted with sprinkler systems.  New barns may be built to include these.

Consider inviting your local fire department out to tour or inspect your facility. See if they have suggestions.  Address how easy your barn is to reach for them. Will their big trucks be able to access your property and get to your barn?  Address any concerns fire professionals might have as soon as possible.

Store fuel or fuel tanks well away from the barn.  If possible, store hay and other combustibles in a separate structure.

The 2011-2012 winter season has resulted in a higher than normal number of barn fires. Take steps to make sure your barn and horses don’t become more tragic statistics. Pay attention to barn fire safety matters and keep MDBarnmaster stables, with their 0% fire spread rating, in mind to upgrade your equine home to the safest barn possible.

For more information on preventing Barn Fires visit: www.firesafetyinbarns.com

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Do Your Barn Plans Include Enough Space for Safety?

BARN AND AISLE-WAY SAFETY

A stable aisle is a driveway, foyer and living room all in one. Because a stable aisle has busy traffic and multiple uses, a badly designed or poorly maintained aisle can be annoying and even dangerous. Whether you’re designing new barn plans or improving an existing setup, consider the following aspects of aisle-way safety as you plan:

Keep your barn clean and clear of debris Dimensions — Aisle-ways should be at least eight feet wide to allow two horses to pass without crowding each other as well as enable a person to walk through the barn without being nipped by occupants on either side of the stall doors. This width also allows very large horses to turn around safely. Aisle ceilings should be constructed either very high (nine feet or more) or very low (around seven feet). The optimal height depends upon the horses stabled. If the ceilings are high enough, a rearing horse won’t reach the rafters. If the ceilings are low, he’ll connect before gaining the momentum to damage his poll or face.

  • Floor — Avoid using slick asphalt or smooth concrete as aisle-way footing. If money is no object, consider interlocking rubber “paver” bricks for a safe, classy flooring requiring little upkeep. Texturized concrete, which incorporates coarse particles for extra traction, and stall equine mats placed over slick surfaces are two less expensive options that provide clean, durable surfaces. Dirt and stone-dust floors are cheap and safe, but both require maintenance to keep them smooth and dust-free.
  • Lighting — Mount light fixtures where they will pose no hazard of contact by horses.Lights should illuminate the barn aisle fully and cast light on the sides of cross-tied horses being examined, groomed and tacked up. Cold-proof fluorescent lights are inexpensive to run and cast a more consistent light than incandescent bulbs.
  • Clutter — Even the best-designed barn aisle becomes dangerous when feed cans, saddle racks, wheelbarrows, and other objects create an obstacle course. For safety’s sake, adopt a minimalist policy for maintaining your aisle. Crossties, stall cards and blanket racks are really all you need in the aisle-way area. If your tack and feed rooms can’t hold everything else, consider adding an extra shed outside the horse barn to store overflow equipment.
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How Barns Have Evolved: Dutch, Crib, Bank, Round, & Prairie Barns

From the days when Thomas Jefferson envisioned the new republic as a nation dependent on citizen farmers for its stability and its freedom, the family farm has been a vital image in the American consciousness.

As the main structures of farms, barns evoke a sense of tradition and security, and communicate closeness to the land and community by the people who built them.
Even today, the rural barn raising presents a forceful image of community spirit. Just as many farmers built their barns before they built their houses, so too many farm families look to their old barns as links with their past. Old barns are often community landmarks and make the past present. Such buildings embody ethnic traditions and local customs; and they reflect changing farming practices and advances in building technology

Historic Barn Types

Dutch Barns

The first great barns built in this country were those of the Dutch settlers of the Hudson, Mohawk, and Schoharie valleys in New York State and scattered sections of New Jersey. On the exterior, the most notable feature of the Dutch barn is the broad gable roof, which in early examples (now extremely rare) extended very low to the ground.
On the narrow end, the Dutch barn features center doors for wagons and a door to the stock aisles on one or both of the side ends. A pent roof (or pentice) over the center doors gave a slight protection from the elements. The siding is typically horizontal, the detailing simple. Few openings other than doors and traditional holes for martins puncture the external walls. Their massive and simple appearance makes Dutch barns seem larger than they actually are.

To many observers, the heavy interior structural system is the most distinctive aspect of the Dutch barn. Mortised, ten oned and pegged beams are arranged in “H”-shaped” units similar to many church interiors, with columned aisles alongside a central space (here used for threshing). This interior arrangement, more than any other characteristic, links the Dutch barn with its Old World forbearers. The ends of cross beams projecting through the columns are often rounded to form “tongues,” a distinctive feature found only in the Dutch barn.

Relatively few Dutch barns survive. Most of these date from the late 18th century. Few remain in good condition, and almost none are unaltered. Yet the remaining examples of this barn type are still impressive with the functional simplicity of their design and the evident pride the builders took in their work.

Bank Barns

The bank barn got its name from a simple, but clever, construction technique: Built into the side of a hill, the barn permits ground entries from two levels. The lower level housed animals, the upper levels served as a threshing floor and storage. The hillside entrance gave easy access to wagons bearing wheat or hay. The farmer could also drop fodder through openings in the floor to the stabling floor below. The general form of the bank barn remained the same whether or not it was actually built into a hillside. Where a hill was lacking, a farmer often created an earthen ramp to the second level.
The long side or axis of a bank barn is usually parallel to and on the south side of the hill. This placement gave animals a sunny spot to gather during the winter. To take further advantage of the protection its location afforded, the second floor extended, or cantilevered, over the first. The overhang sheltered animals from inclement weather. The extended fore bay is one of the most characteristic features of these barns. In some bank barns, the projecting beams were not large enough to bear the entire weight of the barn above. In these cases, columns or posts provide structural support for the overhang.

Most of the earliest examples of bank barns have narrow-end side walls of stone or brick, with openings for ventilation. “Curing” green hay can generate enough heat to start a fire through spontaneous combustion; therefore, adequate ventilation in the barns was vital.

Crib Barns

Crib barns are another significant barn type in American agriculture. They are found throughout the South and Southeast, and are especially numerous in the Appalachian and Ozark Mountain states of North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. Crib barns are composed of one to six cribs that served as storage for fodder or pens for cattle or pigs. The barns may or may not have a hayloft above. Crib barns were typically constructed with un-chinked logs, and sometimes covered with vertical wood siding. Most unaltered examples of early crib barns have undressed, wood shingle roofs. In time, tin or asphalt roofs replaced shingle roofs. The rustic appearance of crib barns is one of their most striking features.

The cribs often face a covered gallery or front aisle-way. In another arrangement, a central driveway separates the cribs. This latter arrangement defines the double crib barn.
In some double crib barns, the second story hayloft projects over the ground floor, resulting in a barn of striking appearance.

Round Barns

George Washington owned a round barn. In 1826, the Shaker community at Hancock, Massachusetts built a round barn that attracted considerable publicity. Despite these early examples, round barns were not numerous until the 1880s when agricultural colleges and experiment stations taught progressive farming methods based on models of industrial efficiency. From the late 1800’s until the 1920s, round barns appeared on farms throughout the country, especially in the Midwest.

Round barns were promoted for a number of reasons. The circular form has a greater volume-to-surface ratio than the rectangular or square form. Therefore, a circular building uses fewer materials than other shapes, which saves on material costs. Round barns also offer greater structural stability than rectangular barns. With self-supporting roofs, round barn interiors can remain free of structural supporting elements, creating vast storage capabilities. Many believed the circular interior layout was more efficient because the farmer could work in a continuous direction.
There are examples of multi-sided barns — frequently of 12 or 16 sides — built before “true round” barns. Most early examples of round and multi-sided barns are wood sided, while later ones tend to be brick or glazed tile. Interior layouts also underwent an evolution. Early round barns placed cattle stanchions on the first floor, with the full volume of the floor above used for hay storage. In later barns, the central space rose from the ground floor through the entire building. Cattle stanchions, arranged around a circular manger, occupied the lower level. The circular wagon drive on the level above permitted hay to be unloaded into the central mow as the wagon drove around the perimeter. The last stage of round barn development features a center silo. Silos became regular features on the farm in the last decades of the nineteenth century, and this is reflected in barn design. In some cases, the silo projected through the roof of the round barn.

The claims for the efficiency of the round barn were overstated, and it never became the barn standard as its proponents had hoped. Nevertheless, a great number were built and many remain today the most distinctive farm structures in the communities in which they stand.

Prairie Barns

A peak roof projecting above a hayloft opening is one of the most familiar images associated with barns. This feature belongs to the prairie barn, also known as the Western barn. The larger herds associated with agriculture in the West and Southwest required greater storage space for hay and feed. Therefore, prairie barns are usually much larger than other style barns. Long, sweeping roofs, sometimes coming near the ground, mark the prairie barn; the extended roof created greater storage space. Late in the nineteenth century, the adoption of the gambrel roof enlarged the storage capacity of the haymow even more.

Affinities of this barn type with the Dutch barn are striking: the long, low roof lines, the door in the gable end, and the internal arrangement of stalls in aisles on either side of the central space are all in the tradition of the Dutch barn.

Other Barn Types

There are many other barn types that have figured in the history of American agriculture. As with Dutch barns, some reflect the traditions of the people who built them: Finnish log barns in Idaho, Czech and German-Russian house barns in South Dakota, and “three bay” English barns in the northeast. Some, like the New England connected barn, stem from regional or local building traditions. Others reflect the availability of local building materials: lava rock (basalt) in south-central Idaho, logs in the southeast, adobe in California and the southwest. Others are best characterized by the specialized uses to which they were put: dairy barns in the upper mid west, tobacco barns in the east and southeast, hop-drying barns in the northwest, and rice barns in South Carolina. Some historic barns were built according to patterns developed and popularized by land-grant universities, or sold by Sears, Roebuck and Company and other mail-order firms. Still others fit no category at all, attesting to the owner’s tastes, wealth, or unorthodox ideas about agriculture. These barns are also part of the heritage of historic barns found throughout the country.

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