The Modular Barn Has Come A Long Way
By Nikki Alvin-Smith

Today it is hard to tell the difference between a modular or stick built barn. The modular barn has developed both in design and customization to such a high degree that horse owners can enjoy the convenience of an ‘instant’ barn on site, without compromising on form, function or fit for their individual needs.

The Amish have long been appreciated for their fine carpentry craftsmanship and work ethic, so it was not difficult to predict that with the development of delivery equipment from horse to motorized vehicle, they would lead the charge in barn building for the modular market.

The popular run-in shed and shed row design modular structures are the most affordable horse and livestock shelters for those on a tight budget. With their portability these buildings are turned out in fine style directly from Amish factories and delivered nationwide. The advantage of purchasing directly from an Amish owned company is reflected in both price and the wide availability of design options that you can customize with no middlemen involved in the process. A company with a wealth of experience in the barn building business and agricultural life in general will be able to address questions you didn’t know you needed to ask and can significantly impact your ultimate happiness with the finished design and product features.

If you are a horse trainer/competitor that spends time between the North East and Florida and want a quick and inexpensive 2nd farm build for your snowbird zone property, the shed row with its handy anchor system and easy building upgrades for hurricane protection is an excellent investment and great way to leverage your limited capital funds.

The monitor barn design, which was developed for its flexibility to house both livestock and store grain and feed supplies with good ventilation, developed out of necessity and offered a great improvement for horse and livestock owners. Learn about its history here. As the monitor barn principally breaks down into three convenient parts, the monitor barn design transitioned quickly into a modular barn.

The development of the center aisle barn for horses was a natural progression from the homesteader monitor barn design, as it offered a larger aisleway space, stalls were larger, and the center aisle offered a convenient space for tacking up and working on the horses. Depending on whether you want loft storage space above, the center aisle barn is offered as either a high profile or low profile barn. The reason that the gambrel roof design gained popularity historically was that it provided additional loft space for hay and grain storage.

As horse health benefits from good ventilation, maximizing ceiling height has become an increasingly attractive factor to the horse owner when selecting the style of their barn. 

The advent of modern building materials such as Smartside siding, provide an almost maintenance free option for barn building. The traditional board and batten is still widely utilized, and there are so many options with stains and colors that any structure can be customized to complement the homeowners existing buildings on the property.

Aside from the fact that barns constructed in a factory assure the purchaser of tight quality control and a reliable timeline for construction unaffected by poor weather, modular builds provide an unparalleled convenience for the horse owner.

There are no multiple building materials piles to trip over or work around, no construction crews parking all over the lawn and making a din while construction progresses. There is less risk of nails and other foreign objects being left behind for a horse’s hoof to step upon, and generally less hassle and less mess than when building a stick built barn.

By far the most pressing reason to opt for a modular barn over stick built construction is the known cost, as all details can be qualified in advance and contracted. A ‘to the penny quote’ provides sincere piece of mind and optimizes the opportunity to secure financing if needed. Larger modular barn building companies will also offer financing through a 3rd party to aid you in securing quick and easy financing. Some modular barn building companies offer complete warranties and guarantees of satisfaction that are well worth the paper they are written on.

The new podcast, “Stall to Stable” provided by Horse Radio Network alumni, Helena Harris, provides a great insight into all things modular horse barn with her interview with Jill Siragusa, Chief Marketing Officer at Horizon Structures LLC. The company is a leading modular barn building company and is located in the heart of Amish country in Lancaster County, PA. Additionally, Horizon Structures is Amish owned and operated by the Zook family.

For further information into the differences between prefab and pole barn building, you can also visit https://www.horizonstructures.com/blog/prefab-versus-pole-barn-whats-difference