Things You'll Need
- Drafting table
- Paper and tools
- Computer Automated Design software (CAD)
- Photographs of barns
Instructions
Design a barn to hold horses or other agricultural animals by preparing the interior and the exterior to suit the chosen animal. Horses need separate stalls and hay bins for feeding. In addition, a tack room will hold all the necessary saddles, bridles and horse-grooming items.
Build a crop barn to store hay and grain, keeping it from the ravages of wind and rain. Crop barns are often less expensive to erect and farmers often choose a simple round-top style to reduce wind sheer while providing protection.
Plan to spend a little extra to ensure a strong foundation and cut corners, if you must, in other areas,. Some farmers find it cost effective to reduce the overall square footage of the barn in order to build a better foundation. The integrity of the entire barn depends upon the strength of the foundation.
Insulate a barn where you will spend a lot of time or where temperature fluctuations are severe enough to cause contraction and expansion of the wooden beams. This is where the real purpose of the barn becomes evident. Insulation is important but the barn must be watertight before installing.
Choose building materials that enhance the purpose of your barn. A simple metal barn is fine for storing agricultural equipment and hay. A Yankee barn, built with post and beam construction is a prospect for future conversion into a living area since the structure is very strong. Stone barns are time consuming and expensive if you don’t have local access to native stone but few barn styles look as inviting as the nostalgic draw of a stone barn.
Research barn photos and integrate your needs with a style that accommodates your building site and your budget. The general rule is to build the largest barn with the best materials you can afford to keep from building another one in just a few years.