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Can you Guess How Red Barns Became So Classic in the USA?

Lately, at Sapphire Construction, we have red barns on our mind. And for good reason. One of our latest projects, a barn in Sedalia, stands out in the field. In one sense, it is a classic red barn. But the cute equestrian digs are built with modern durability and strength. Here are a couple of photos of the little red barn in Sedalia. We hope our clients love their fun color choice.

Naturally, we wondered why so many farmers in the eastern and midwestern part of the USA paint their barns red. Red barns are certainly rare in Colorado. A little research tells us a great deal about how the red color became popular. n you guess why? Granted, red does look good in contrast with the muted colors and greens in nature. Here is the scoop.

The History of Red Barns

Once upon a time, farmers in Europe sealed the wood on their barns with oil, often linseed oil. This is a tiny -colored oil that comes from flaxseeds. Some would mix it with skimmed milk and lime to create a longer-lasting and hard seal. Linseed oil is still used on fences, etc. Another popular additive was used. Ferrous oxide or rust was known to kill fungus and moss that might grow on the barns. This substance turned the mixture a red color.

In her GRIT article entitled “Why Are Barns Red?” Morrison Colorado writer Catherine Lazers Bauer eloquently describes the bright red barns that “dot the countryside with flashes of scarlet.” Bauer notes that European barns or small but the early American settlers built huge barns. Barns were hand-hewn structures that the same styles from the mid-1600s to mid-1800s. The wooden barns had to be sealed and strong enough to protect grain and animals through some the tough weather.

The homemade sealants morphed even further. Taking information from Native Americans, some farmers created Indian Red. This recipe used the blood of stock mixed with clay and the whites of wild turkey eggs. To get a deeper mahogany shade, they added turkey blood. These more organic stains could not be used outdoors but were commonly used to stain interior surfaces. Remember, building materials did not exist back then.

And they also say red barns are warmer inside. Thank goodness, laboratories now develop paints for our metal buildings to last for decades. Soon the red of the Sedalia pole barn will be stand out of the snowy foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Colorado Builders Specializing in Outbuildings

For information about Colorado post frame buildings, pole buildings, pole barns, and metal buildings for Storage, Hobbies, Farm & Ranch, Livestock, Equestrian, and Commercial uses, contact Sapphire Construction, Inc. at (303) 619-7213. Our team custom designs each building using high-quality, engineer-tested materials from Lester Buildings.