Introduction:
 The
danger of being “as-good-as.”
When we hear people say, “this barn or shed is as-good-as
any other, we see red flags go up. Think about it. Who would
want their legacy to read:
John
was a dedicated guy and he was good as anyone else at his
work. “Yuch.”
Janet
was focused and she was as good as anyone else at what
she did. “Ugh.”
There’s
no way you would find claims like that very welcoming and
you certainly wouldn’t want it to be true. To be “as
good as” means to be average, mediocre, do the ordinary,
unremarkable, or routine.
 Well,
a yard barn purchase shouldn’t be approached that
way either. Who wants a barn that’s as good as?
You
want a barn that:
• Exceeds
your expectations
• Solves your challenge
• Betters your property
• Improves your storage
• Liberates your garage
• Projects beauty
• Exudes quality
…and lasts forever—you get the idea!
With
that in mind, here are the basics on how to buy a barn.
PRICE
Very
often it costs much more in the long run to buy a low value,
low priced, low quality barn or shed. A barn or shed that
doesn’t meet your needs, requires repairs, doesn’t
hold up, lacks quality and durability, is made of low-end
materials, doesn’t allow you to customize, and just
plain wears out; clearly costs more in dollars and aggravation
than purchasing a premium quality barn or shed to begin
with.
 What’s
more, no company can honestly afford to offer high quality
at low prices. Low price means that something is missing
or inferior with the barn or shed you purchase. Paying
less means you get less, one way or another. The key
is to look at value and durability...good old fashioned, “get
your money’s worth.”
STYLE
If you’re buying a barn or shed, you want it to look
right; not squatty, not too wide, and not too flat on top.
Who wants to look out and see a barn or shed that is dorky
looking? You want a barn or shed that’s properly
proportioned with the perfect roof pitch and wall height—that
looks right!
 The “look” of
a yard barn is going to be important to you. Consider
it carefully. A Colonial is not only visually different
from a Saltbox or a Gambrel or a Cabana but the style
of a barn directly affects function, space and application.
When buying a barn you’ll want to have access to
a variety of styles to better meet your expectations
and personal taste.
This
is especially important because your barn or shed either
fits with your property or setting, and compliments your
home, or it doesn’t. And if it doesn’t that’s
all you’ll focus on every time you look at it.
Style says a lot about your taste. Will people have a
positive feeling to the barn’s presence? Is it
pleasing to look at?
Does is make you feel good?
CUSTOMIZE
 The
last thing you want is limited choices on what your
barn can and can’t have. You’ll want
flexibility with customizing features. If you go
with a pre-fabricated barn it will be dropped off
the back of a truck and what you see is what you
get. Pre-fabricated barns or sheds are restricted
in height due to Department Of Transportation regulations.
That means when their truck is on the highway, the
barn or shed can only be a limited height. That means
the barn will have a short ceiling and outside peak
height. That accounts for the typical squatty look.
• What
if you want extended gables?
• What if you decide to have a rolling door and
two transom windows?
A
barn that is already built leaves no customizing choices,
and no personalization.
• Can
you add windows or move them?
• Can you add or remove a transom window?
• Can you add a rolling door or double door or
a specialty door?
• If you want a loft for storage, can they do it?
In
other words if you can’t customize or compromise;
then you settle.
But
not only are there limits to customizing the barn structure
and design but you are very limited as to where the barn
can be placed on your property.
QUALITY
 It’s
a shame that a topic like quality even needs to be
discussed but it does. If you look at any number
of barns and sheds, here’s a simple test. If
you simply stand up on your toes and drop down, does
it make the structure shake? The floors are often
only half inch plywood (which is unfinished) and
in some barns and sheds you’ll even find some
kind of composite flooring. If the floor is bouncy,
beware.
Inferior
lumber and shoddy construction are telltale signs of
what you are getting. Ask about key factors like:
• Look
closely; get a sense of the durability of the structure.
• Do the walls feel lightweight?
• Are the walls tongue-in-grove?
• Look up at the trusses. Are the gussets generous
size to provide strong support?
• Where
does their lumber come from?
• Ask if the lumber used has been kiln-dried and
stored inside.
• Warping is a big problem when that’s not
the case.
• Good or bad fit of the cut lumber where wood joins
together is also another clear sign of lacking quality.
• Do they use stainless steel nails and screws?
• Does the barn come with heavy duty hinges and hardware?
 If
any issues like these are apparent when the structure
is new, it will only downgrade as time goes on. These
types of quality problems apply to metal as well as
wood barns/sheds.
Then
there are quality issues of craftsmanship and attention
detail.
• Is
the barn or shed you’re buying built by automation
or by carpenters who hand craft the structural portions?
• Do they use screws?
• Do they use notched construction on the structural
interior walls?
• Is the barn or shed built in a controlled environment?
• Where does the lumber come from?
• What grade is the lumber?
• Are the shingles at least 25 year rated and
do you get a choice of styles and colors?
• Are the barns or sheds left outdoors for long
periods of time waiting to be sold?
• Does the barn or shed have a ridge vent?
• Does it have vented soffets?
• Are the floor joists treated lumber?
• Are the floor joists at least 16 inches on
center and pressure treated?
• Is the floor three quarter inch finished plywood,
tongue-in-grove?
 Each
and every one of these questions directly affect the longevity,
usefulness and quality of your barn or shed. Don’t
overlook any of them.
• What
if you want your barn or shed placed in a section of
your property that is inclined?
• What kind of base or foundation is required?
• How difficult is it and how much expense does
it add to the budget?
• Are they recommending concrete tubes or pored
platforms and why?
• Is that actually required?
• Does the company take the time to come out to
your property and do a site assessment with you?
 These
are important questions to deal with before buying.
BEAUTY
Is the barn proportioned to the classic New England look
and feel? Keep in mind you will have a fairly sizable barn
or shed on your property. Will it be pleasing to look at
over the years?
CREDIBILITY
 You
are not merely buying a barn or shed but you are
buying the company behind it; the people who designed
it and built it.
• Has
the company been in business very long?
• Do they have years of satisfied customers?
• Are they specialists? What is their reputation?
• Do they exhibit a real passion for barns?
• Are they interested in what “you” want?
Keep
in mind that you are not just purchasing a barn/shed;
you are getting an entire “experience.” The
question is, what kind of experience do you want?
SUMMARY
 Purchasing
a barn or shed is an important decision. You will
be best served by using these above points to make
a good decision and to make the process enjoyable.
Better
Barns is ready to talk with you and answer any questions
related to yard barns and sheds. Building practical,
lasting, beautiful barns is a family passion for us.
We do not use any kind of high pressure tactics.
In
fact we have never had to “sell” a barn.
We help people determine what type of barn or shed will
meet their needs and dreams. Simply put—our barns
sell themselves. That’s the way it should be.
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