8 Tips for Planning Your New Post Frame Barn or Agricultural Building
The time is approaching; that time of year when we start planning out new construction projects around the farm, getting ready to replace that old barn or shed that just isn’t what it used to be. Here are 10 great tips for planning out your new post frame barn or agricultural building project. Make sure you address these with your post frame ag building contractor before you start the project!
8. CONSIDER WHAT IS BEING STORED
Are you storing harvesting equipment like combines? Or will you be housing livestock? These considerations will help you choose the best size and layout for the new barn.
If you need to get some ideas on how to lay out the barn building plan, take a look at our ag building gallery and barn gallery. Here, you’ll get a feel for the possibilities. Remember, we can customize a building to suit your particular use as well.
7. WHERE WILL THE BARN BE BUILT?
It’s not just about the building. Will you easily be able to move equipment or livestock in and out of the barn? Make sure you choose a location that you don’t need to perform massive grading work or do a lot external modifications like ramps just to have proper access.
6. THINK ABOUT THE WEATHER
How you orient the barn can make a big difference on the ways sunlight and airflow will effectively heat or cool the inside of the barn. If you’re housing horses or dairy cattle, even if they don’t spend a lot of time indoors, you will want to make sure they stay cool in the summer and warm during the winter.
This also brings proper ventilation to mind. Ensuring that you include functional style features like cupolas and other airflow elements can be crucial.
We can help you choose or design the best barn that suits the weather conditions for where you are located, as well as what will be kept in your new barn or agricultural building.
5. BUILDING MATERIALS
Modern barns don’t need to be all wood anymore. We use a lot of incredibly durable metal for both roofing and siding materials, though we also do shingled roofs as well. The metal roofing and siding systems used by Conestoga is guaranteed, depending on the grade, for as long as 50 years.
This also helps make raising a barn a very fast, efficient process as with metal materials no substrates like OSB sheathing needs to be used to hang siding or put down shingles.
4. GET THE COLORS YOU WANT
If you already have a few barns and you’re adding a new one, or even replacing an old barn, don’t be worried that the new barn won’t fit in with the crowd. 3.
3. WORK WITH THE RIGHT BUILDER
Plenty of construction companies and contractors claim to know how to build a barn, but very few have the same award-winning level of highly-reviewed experience as Conestoga. Not only do we have an incredible gallery of barn projects and plans that you can dig through, you can also look at some reasons why people choose us for their barn and agricultural projects.
2. KNOW THE CODE
While we can help with this part of the planning process for your new post frame barn, it is very important that you know the building codes for your township or municipality, as well as the zoning regulations for your land or parcel.
Important limitations can be placed on different land areas through zoning, such as how many structures can exist, and even what can be stored in them. Different requirements will exist for livestock barns as opposed to barns used to store farm equipment like tractors, combines and trailers.
1. MAKE SURE IT IS ON SCHEDULE
You know when your new barn needs to be completed. Not every builder is the same, and many times buildings will go over budget or be completed beyond the original estimated date. This is why we place a lot of importance on proper planning.
GET A FREE QUOTE TODAY
We’re ready to help you get started on your new barn project. Contact us today for a free estimate!