Modular Barn Companies in the Southeast?

[meredithcarter]

I really like the Horizon modular barns with all their different layouts, options, etc., but being in central AL, I think the cost to have one delivered and set up here will be cost-prohibitive. I’ve done a little searching but haven’t really found any similar companies that do center aisle modular barns closer to home. (I can get a shed row delivered from a company in Tennessee, but DH isn’t sold on that style and would prefer at least a center aisle, but loves the look of monitors). Does anyone know of any companies that I may have missed in my search? Or, anyone have good recommendations for reasonably priced barn builders in central Alabama (between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham)? We are casual riders so want something that looks nice on our property and is safe for the horses…but it doesn’t have to be too fancy.

We are working on clearing our land and getting it fenced and ready right now, so we still have a while before we will be building, but I’m trying to go ahead and plan and get an idea of costs.

Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[Bluey]

I heard that MDBarnmaster had a representative in FL?

Their barns are as fire proof a barn as you can have.

[meredithcarter]

@Bluey Thanks! I’ll check into them. We are not opposed to doing work ourselves, so I had looked at possibly buying a pole barn kit and just having a “barn raising” party–but even that gets pretty pricey when you put in certain options (insulation, dutch doors, etc.)–so I thought it may be more efficient and not much more expensive to have one dropped off. I’m really pretty torn about the overall design of the barn…luckily, we have a while to figure it out! Thanks for your input

[pasolover2]

Have you checked out National Barn, they make modular barns, including what you are looking for. We checked in with them when we had our barn built, a 20x40 and they gave us a quote and showed us the materials used. We ended up going with someone else and built a larger barn, but National Barn seems to be pretty highly rated by some here. http://www.nationalbarn.com/

[meredithcarter]

@pasolover2 Thanks so much! I hadn’t heard of them. I’ll definitely check them out! Do you remember if they were fairly reasonably priced? I like a 36x36, but I had thought of doing something like 24x40 and having it enclosed but not a center aisle. Is it a kit where they ship you the materials and you build, or they deliver the modular pieces and put them together for you?

[pasolover2]

It has been at least 3-4 years ago when we priced out a 20 x 40 and it was 20,000 including stalls which were really nice. You have the option of them delivering the materials and you doing the build or they will do it all. We were going to let them build as it was just my husband and I, but we were put in touch with some men who done steel building construction and they quoted me a price of 15,500 and that is a 30x50 with five stalls. They done all the work, including insulation for us and they said it was the first barn they had ever built. They done a nice job, so maybe you could also check with some of the steel building construction people, who do warehouse buildings, etc. and see if they would be interested in building one for you. I had the old stalls removed from the old barn and put in the new one, reason for the 15,500 quote. But we did see the models by National Barn and they were nice and would have gone with them if not had these steel construction company recommended to us.

[csaper58]

@meredithcarter

I really like the Horizon modular barns with all their different layouts, options, etc., but being in central AL, I think the cost to have one delivered and set up here will be cost-prohibitive. I’ve done a little searching but haven’t really found any similar companies that do center aisle modular barns closer to home. (I can get a shed row delivered from a company in Tennessee, but DH isn’t sold on that style and would prefer at least a center aisle, but loves the look of monitors). Does anyone know of any companies that I may have missed in my search? Or, anyone have good recommendations for reasonably priced barn builders in central Alabama (between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham)? We are casual riders so want something that looks nice on our property and is safe for the horses…but it doesn’t have to be too fancy.

We are working on clearing our land and getting it fenced and ready right now, so we still have a while before we will be building, but I’m trying to go ahead and plan and get an idea of costs.

Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Will Horizon sell you a set of blueprints and a material breakdown sheet so you can have their barn built at an acceptable price? Can’t hurt to ask.

Morton builds good quality barns. www.mortonbuildings.com/projects/stable

I would recommend talking to your feed dealer, farrier, and anyone else in the area, about barns that they love, why they love them, and who built them.

Pay close attention to what features are ‘must have’ in the climate of central AL.

National companies design and build for mass appeal, not for region specific needs.

[TheHorseMutterer]

I just bought a kit from DIY Pole Barns back in November. I’ve been really happy with their customer service and prompt help. The kit itself seems to be quality. The structural poles are a bit different than any of the local builders I have talked to have seen (laminated 2xs instead of solid wood), but a guy who used to sell Morton buildings told me all the kit companies (including Morton) sell those now. Not a huge issue, but something to think about.

The kit looks simple enough to put together yourself - the plans are exceptionally detailed and DIY basically says they give you literally everything to put it together. Like giant Legos, really. I haven’t gotten mine up yet (long story that is no fault of DIY’s), but the plans have really made an impression on all the builders I have talked to. The barn itself should look quite nice once up. They have tons of options and the price is reasonable.

I DO have a recommendation of a builder not to use out of south GA. PM if you would like the name. :no:

[meredithcarter]

@csaper58

Will Horizon sell you a set of blueprints and a material breakdown sheet so you can have their barn built at an acceptable price? Can’t hurt to ask.

Morton builds good quality barns. www.mortonbuildings.com/projects/stable

I would recommend talking to your feed dealer, farrier, and anyone else in the area, about barns that they love, why they love them, and who built them.

Pay close attention to what features are ‘must have’ in the climate of central AL.

National companies design and build for mass appeal, not for region specific needs.

It definitely wouldn’t hurt to ask Horizon, all they can say is no!

And good idea–I’ll have to pop into the local feed store and see if they have any recommendations. Thanks for your ideas!

[meredithcarter]

@TheHorseMutterer

I just bought a kit from DIY Pole Barns back in November. I’ve been really happy with their customer service and prompt help. The kit itself seems to be quality. The structural poles are a bit different than any of the local builders I have talked to have seen (laminated 2xs instead of solid wood), but a guy who used to sell Morton buildings told me all the kit companies (including Morton) sell those now. Not a huge issue, but something to think about.

The kit looks simple enough to put together yourself - the plans are exceptionally detailed and DIY basically says they give you literally everything to put it together. Like giant Legos, really. I haven’t gotten mine up yet (long story that is no fault of DIY’s), but the plans have really made an impression on all the builders I have talked to. The barn itself should look quite nice once up. They have tons of options and the price is reasonable.

I DO have a recommendation of a builder not to use out of south GA. PM if you would like the name. :no:

That’s interesting about the laminated 2xs, but I think I have seen those in use before. Did you order stalls through them, or just the actual building? Any other features that you added? I’d love to see pictures once you have it up!! When you go through the ordering process and are ready to order, do they send you a rendered design of what your barn will look like so you can make sure everything is how you want it before the materials arrive?

I don’t think I’ll be using anyone out of south GA unless they also do work in central Alabama, but if they do, please PM me the name!

[meredithcarter]

@csaper58

Pay close attention to what features are ‘must have’ in the climate of central AL.

National companies design and build for mass appeal, not for region specific needs.

Good point! That’s the only thing I would worry about if we went with Horizon since they are located in PA. I will definitely need something cool and airy for our hot and humid summers.

[meredithcarter]

@pasolover2

It has been at least 3-4 years ago when we priced out a 20 x 40 and it was 20,000 including stalls which were really nice. You have the option of them delivering the materials and you doing the build or they will do it all. We were going to let them build as it was just my husband and I, but we were put in touch with some men who done steel building construction and they quoted me a price of 15,500 and that is a 30x50 with five stalls. They done all the work, including insulation for us and they said it was the first barn they had ever built. They done a nice job, so maybe you could also check with some of the steel building construction people, who do warehouse buildings, etc. and see if they would be interested in building one for you. I had the old stalls removed from the old barn and put in the new one, reason for the 15,500 quote. But we did see the models by National Barn and they were nice and would have gone with them if not had these steel construction company recommended to us.

Thanks! I went ahead and got a quick quote from them on what we are thinking and it seems reasonable for what we asked. Thanks for the recommendation–I don’t think I had run across them yet, so I may have missed out if it weren’t for you!

[TheHorseMutterer]

@meredithcarter

That’s interesting about the laminated 2xs, but I think I have seen those in use before. Did you order stalls through them, or just the actual building? Any other features that you added? I’d love to see pictures once you have it up!! When you go through the ordering process and are ready to order, do they send you a rendered design of what your barn will look like so you can make sure everything is how you want it before the materials arrive?

I don’t think I’ll be using anyone out of south GA unless they also do work in central Alabama, but if they do, please PM me the name!

They do send a rendered set of pictures to you once you have designed it all. The sales folks have been great at getting everything to me before I pulled the trigger. I can send you the plans that came with mine so you can see it. I also bought stalls from them (the whole shebang is DIY). I have ridge vents, ventilated eves, and a small porch that I added to mine.

Shoot me a PM with your email address and I’ll send you what they sent me as far as drawings and such. I’ll also give you the name of the builder - I know they sell and install across the southeast.

I’m having a hell of a time trying to find a builder that is willing to put this kit up at a reasonable price near me. If you go with a kit and want someone local to put it up (DIY didn’t have any preferred builders in my area), wait until you have the builder lined up before you buy the kit. Lots of the builders I have talked to won’t touch someone else’s kit or aren’t interested in putting up a kit barn. It’s kind of a niche space, apparently. Not sure why when I can produce almost step-by-step instructions that make it look like a piece of cake to put up…

I found this thread after searching a bit on CoTH that has links to a DIY kit barn. Looks awfully nice once it’s put together. Mine won’t be this nice since it’s been sitting in my pasture in pieces for a couple months now :rolleyes:
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/around-the-farm/330743-barn-builder-in-ma-metal-siding-type-barn?495139-Barn-Builder-in-MA-Metal-siding-type-barn=&highlight=barn+builder

[gypsymare]

Beware of National Barn Company. They do not stand behind their franchisees. NBC out of Hanover PA ripped me off of my $10k deposit and the owner is facing multiple felony convictions and close to $1Mil in theft.

The parent company did NOTHING.

[meredithcarter]

@gypsymare Wow! That’s really good to know! Thanks so much for the warning. I hate to hear about your $10k! I can’t imagine. I hope you are able to receive some kind of restitution.

[meredithcarter]

@TheHorseMutterer I sent you a PM earlier! If we ordered from DIY Pole Barns, I think we would probably build ourselves. But it’s good to know that we need to vet builders beforehand if we do decide to have someone else build it.

[Bluey]

@meredithcarter

@TheHorseMutterer I sent you a PM earlier! If we ordered from DIY Pole Barns, I think we would probably build ourselves. But it’s good to know that we need to vet builders beforehand if we do decide to have someone else build it.

We ordered our metal covered arena and barn kit from Denton, TX Rhino buildings.
We had quotes from several other companies, two local ones that were, for the same barn kit, one almost double and another more than double!

Rhino recommended several builders that would erect it for us, for us to get bids from, but we were putting it up ourselves, which we did without any trouble.

They ship nationwide, one of their contractors was from FL, that had a crew in our area putting up another of their barns.

If you are just looking now, you may want to see what they have and if it may fit what you want and your budget.
Their engineers and fabricators were very good, specs for our area on wind and snow loads, every piece was accounted for and properly labeled, was super easy to line them up as we would need them and go bolt them in place.

If we had to build a barn again, that is who we would use again.

[TheHorseMutterer]

@meredithcarter Just shot you an email!

[meredithcarter]

@Bluey Thanks! I’ll check them out, too! Thanks for the recommendation!!

[fourfillies]

Horizon is a classy outfit. I’m about 50 miles from them in PA. And it gets hideously hot and humid here (similar to ATL). Siting can play a big role in seasonal comfort.