In recent years, steel barns have become a staple in American farming. Be it rural Texas or agribusinesses, steel structures have gained popularity amongst farmers, ranchers, and commercial agribusinesses. No matter what project it is, metal barns are available. Come see for yourself some of the advantages of metal barn building.
Highlighting The Benefits Of Having Steel Barns In Today’s Farming Practices
Fast Assembling
Pre-engineered metal barns (also referred to as prefab) are designed, cut, drilled, and forged in the factory. That’s why they are quick to install. They just need to assemble on-site. This vastly reduces wastage. If there are any metal shaving or small pieces, they can be collected and sold to the nearest scrapyard. Metal is 100% recyclable; hence, it will end up being reused.
Additionally, less manpower is required. This reduces the timeline of construction and labor charges. If you live in an area with a changing climate, you can save a lot of time and avoid any costly weather delays.
Multi-Functional Structures
Do you think your metal barn can only be used as a plain old barn? Think again. There aren’t just one or two but multiple applications of steel barns. Have a look at some of the most popular ones below:
| Farm vehicle storage | Workshop | Crop storage barn |
| Horse barn | Hay & feed storage shed | Riding arenas |
| Outbuildings | Living quarter | Barndo | Dairy farm |
| Chicken coop | Barndominium |
Clear Span Interior
Who does not appreciate open spaces? Metal barns come with an option of clear span, i.e., structure without internal support columns. There is no obstruction, and you get maximum use of the available square footage. This kind of building is excellent for establishing manufacturing facilities such as a dairy farm.
You get complete freedom to design an internal floor plan. This type of barn can be easily repurposed for another use.
Customization Features
Some people may think of metal barns as dull, grey buildings that all look the same everywhere. But that is far from the reality. Nowadays, metal buildings can be easily transformed into anything you want them to be. Some of the favorite customization features often sought after are:
- Color – monotonous, two-tone, or matching to an existing building for aesthetics.
- Incoming natural lighting – skylights, solar tubes, clerestory windows, or translucent panels.
- Ventilation – gravity vents, louvers, turbine vents, ridge vents, dampers, HAVC systems, framed openings, supply & exhaust fans, etc.
- Customizable doors – sliding doors, double doors, roll-up doors, walk-in side doors, etc.
- Other add-ons – insulator, vapor barrier, gutter, downspout, structural trim, etc.
You can even add other personalization features, such as solar roofs, lean-tos, finished flooring, or landscaping.
Low After Care
Honestly, who has time for everyday cleaning? Steel barns are easy to clean and maintain. They do not require special tools or equipment. There is no need to stain panels and frames, re-paint the exterior, or check for pests every now and then.
To clean your metal barn building, you can use a garden hose, mild detergent, and a soft bristle brush to scrape off any stain on metal panels. Then, let your barn air dry before storing tools and equipment.
Corrugated vertical metal panels are designed to glide off any debris, rainwater, and melting snow from the top toward the ground. You can collect this water by installing a gutter and downspout in a collection tank for further use.
Resistance To Natural Elements
Metal barn building is resistant to a number of natural elements. Let’s study them one by one to see how that works.
Pest Resistance
Metals are not ideal places for termites to build colonies. You see, metal is an extremely dense material. Metal barns can be designed without trusses, which give no room for birds to rest or nest.
In addition, metal panels are not easy to chew through and are not easily entered by rodents or other predators. This, in turn, protects your livestock and storage grain from being eaten.
Fire Resistance
Insulation in steel barns minimizes the heat flow. This feature also slows down fire from spreading at a faster rate. Moreover, metals are non-combustible materials. They do not catch fire easily. So, you can keep gas cans and paints in a metal garage.
Resistance To High Speed Wind
Some certified steel buildings can withstand high-speed wind of up to 170 miles per hour. This speed covers most of the hurricanes and tornadoes. So, your barn won’t be airborne any time soon.
Snow Load Tolerance
You can get certified metal structures that can take up to 40 lbs. of snow per square foot without structural failure. That’s because steel has a relatively high load bearing capacity than wooden or resin material.
Metal Barn Building As Cold Storage
For many agribusiness owners and farmers, storage areas that keep items dry, safe, waterproof, and under a regulated temperature are a necessity. That’s something that can be easily achieved with steel barns. One can use insulation and a vapor barrier along with the HAVC system to retain a specific temperature throughout the barn.
Not only will all perishable items be safe & hygienic, but they will also retain their quality for long. This will help achieve more profit.
By And Large,
Metal barns are budget-friendly and versatile structures that offer durability and functionality with little maintenance. They can be certified to withstand high-speed winds, snow load, seismic activities, and extreme weather conditions.
When buying a new metal barn building, be sure you are buying from a reputed and experienced metal dealer. You can get a free quote for comparison to land the best deal. They are easy to install, need less labor, and will aid in lowering your operational costs. Steel barns are the future of agricultural operations.