A new barn is a practical addition to any farm but can also add huge value to your property. In this series, we’ll tell you how to get the barn of your dreams.A barn can be many things. For most of us it is usually the heart of a property, whether you use it for your horses or other farm animals, to store your classic car collection or as a workshop. But if you are planning to create your dream barn, there is a long list of things you need to think about before you start.
Bigger is usually better. Most barns get used for storage over-flow from the house and all the equipment and “bargains” that most people who live on a farm quickly accumulate.
DIY or Builder?
Before you even begin, you should consider who will build your barn. While a simple barn might look like an easy project for a committed, determined amateur, these days there are is raft of rules and regulations that you need to take into account.
Michael Anselmi of building company Customkit recommends to most of their clients to at the very least consult a professional builder.
“The way it all is now, with councils and bylaws and getting building consents, you have to be far more up with the standards and council expectations. A floor plan and four elevations and a bit of a site plan isn’t going to cut it these days.”
1. Decide what you want a barn for
This might seem to be obvious – you want a barn – but what do you want to use it for? Better yet, what might you be using it for in five years time? Have you got:
- Horses or other livestock that you show, and accompanying floats or trailer?
- A ride-on lawn mower?
- A motor bike?
- A boat?
Define your barn’s use by sitting down and making a list of the things you definitely need, the things it would be nice to have and the things you definitely don’t want. Ask friends and neighbours about their barns and find out what they would do differently next time. If you see a nice barn, ask the owner if you can take a look. Research at this early stage can save you time, worry and money.Once you’ve narrowed down what your requirements are, think about other people’s. Michael Anselmi says his most common piece of advice to barn-building clients is to think of what a future owner may use it for.
“Versatility. Don’t build something that is specifically for you, a barn that wouldn’t interest anyone else except someone with your specific interest. The amount of time people spend in one place I’d say is about six years, then they sell up, often they go bigger. But if they’ve built a barn that isn’t practical for other people to utilise, they really do narrow down their re-sale margin and really the whole point is the re-saleability.”
The most versatile barn is one that is as open-plan as possible so internal walls can easily be moved in future by someone with different needs to your own.
2. Site choice
A good barn site will also make life easier. Ideally you want to build on well-drained soil on a high point so water flows away from the building, and you don’t want to it block a lovely view.
Your block may limit where you can put your barn. Your council will have rules on how far a barn can be from a boundary or a residence so check with them before you choose an area.
Your site may also be steep, in which case you may need to consider one with a small footprint and two-storeys.
The best site is one with good drainage, but if you plan to use the barn as a stable for livestock you also need to think about orientation. To get good air flow through a barn, work out where the prevailing wind is coming from and then rotate by 45° - this gives you some air flow but doesn’t turn a central aisle in a stable or shelter into a wind tunnel.
If you tend to get wind from all sides depending on the time of year, another option to consider is a barn that can be opened and closed up – for example it may have roller doors on all four sides.
Other things to consider
As you would with a house, you should consider how much sunlight and shade will be created around the building that may affect you, your home, paddocks or livestock.
- Is it far enough away not to cast a shadow or upstage your house?
- Is it close enough to water power supplies?
- Is it easy to get to it or do you need to add a driveway?
- Can you put a water tank next to it so you can utilize water off the roof?
- Is it close to the house that it’s a comfortable walk?
Nadene Hall
NZ Lifestyle Block magazine