Just purchased a 10 acre property in Warrenton area. Currently has a very “backyard friendly” 4 stall barn. I have yet to measure it but I do believe it is about 36’ x 36’. Morton is not far from us in Culpeper. Wanting to hear experiences and ball park pricing from folks who have used Morton and built the following: 10 stall barn with 2 wash racks, feed and tack room, moderate sized (under 1000 sqft apartment) above, with a decent sized loft. (See attached pictures of my “blueprints” if you’d like.) I should note that I am an Equine Nutrition and Rehab/Lay-Up specialist, so this facility would be tailored for that purpose. – Would you use Morton again? If not, how would you do it? While my husband and I are extremely handy, there’s zero chance we can build a barn of this size on our own. Anyone have recommendations on who else I should consider? Muchas Gracias my COTH friends.
As a rehab specialist, you may understand the wisdom to considering building human dwelling on the ground floor.
At least basic rooms below, the less needed above.
Anyone with any kind of handicap will at some time not be able to handle stairs.
Maybe you can add some kind of elevator?
Morton is a higher end type barn as far as cost is concerned.
People that have those sure like them.
The only complaint I have heard time and again is that you have comparatively few options.
They will say they will build what you want, then convince you they know better and you end with what they want to build.
Many are happy with that anyway, just not be surprised if you have to insist about some they may not want to build.
Consider getting bids from several companies up front, comparing apples to apples, before deciding.
Building is a frustrating experience all around, so much keeps coming up and it always seems to take longer than expected, cost more than we thought and still have to make adaptations, compromises all along.
Knowing that up front is a big help, you can lower your expectations and/or have a bushel full of patience on hand.
We put up a Morton barn in 2006…found out barns are only as good as the crew building them. Lots of problems and safety issues with ours that had to be corrected–one that was major. Never again.
I put up a Morton six stall w/ feed room and half loft in 1998. I have not had one bit of trouble with it and would use them again. They got my barn up in a week, just in time to get my horses in before a blizzard struck.
Can’t chime in on Morton’s barns, but I feel differently than Bluey regarding the apartment.
A little loft/studio apartment sounds perfect. Since it will be inhabited by caretakers, I do t think you have to worry about making it accessible by people with disabilities.
I am building one myself this winter over the two tack rooms in my bar, and will have big windows overlooking the arena and stalls for easy flashlight-enabled stall checks.
Habitat for humanity has proven to be a wonderful resource for the other small spaces I’ve built. They often have donated materials from large box stores when they are close to an end of production on flooring, tile and things like that.
I was talking from experience, having worked in a barn with a wonderful apartment in the loft.
Had a horse mishap and then those stairs were a serious handicap for long time.
Have talked to others in similar situations, why the warning.
Look into small residential elevators.
In the total high cost of such barns, the cost would be very reasonable.
The idea that people with disabilities are some sort of special “other” is not really right. Disabilities can be temporary as well as permanent. As horsemen especially, we’re all one bad day away from being unable to climb stairs, whether for weeks or months or forever. There’s also the possibility of guests or loved ones.
Breaking a leg would suck, but imagine how much more it would suck if it also meant you had to find a temporary place to live while you recovered.
No affiliation with either but IMO BandD will get an equivalent or better product with less (but still some sticker shock). They are MD/PA based but Warrenton would be well within their range. Their work at McDonough School is gorgeous and holding up very well.
This place listed on Zillow has a nice example of a barn/apartment combo. It has a 10 stalls with 2 bed / 2 bath apartment all on the same level. It’s a very pretty place and the apartment portion looks nice and not too small. Maybe consider something with a single aisle and a ground level apartment for ease of use. (no this is not my place though I would love to have it!!)
I priced Morton but found we got much more by going with an Amish builder. We’re in Ohio but would think you have them in your area too? For the same price, we’re getting a builder that specializes in barns/indoors, it’s totally custom w traditional foundation on one side, perma columns on the other side, windows all along the top of the indoor, huge cupolas and on and on.
I suppose I should have clarified that there is an existing house on the property, my husband and I will be living there, but I work with several vets who come in from out of state so I’m sure they would appreciate having their own space after working on patients all day.
Morton is now employee owned and not at all the same company it used to be. I tried to get them to quote a barn for me and the guy who came out, very begrudgingly, quoted an astronomical price and never returned another phone call. I find them disappointing.
On another note, I do have a loft apartment in my barn. It’s awesomely handy, but the stairs are a concern. Everything is a trade-off. I like having it upstairs, good use of space, keeps the barn footprint smaller, great views of the mountains. But the climbing stairs at altitude can be hard for flatlanders who visit and, yeah, injuries or illness would be an issue.
Bottom line: barn apartment is great! However you do it!
@js, I can’t see the apt in that barn. Pictures show a deck with railing, but the side and front view of the barn don’t have a place where that deck would be?
We’ve built several projects over the years. We invited Morton to bid on our first project but they were very rigid on what they would build and so “over the top” on pricing, we never bothered to ask them to bid on any future projects.
However, I would second the idea of reaching out to the Amish companies. We’ve used them for our largest projects and we couldn’t be happier.
Slightly off course; your apartment will need plumbing as will your wash stalls. Consider whether it might make sense to keep them in the same vicinity, i.e. put the wash stalls at the #5 and #8 stall location, which would position the wash stalls under the apartment and keep the plumbing all in the same part of the barn.
Another observation is, an apartment that is 20’x24 is 480 square feet (minus whatever the footage the stairwell takes up) and a bit on the small size for many people, unless you are a Manhattanite.
@OneTwoMany I also saw the maths error in the drawings, 20x24 is 480 but OP indicates 960 sq ft. While 480 sq ft is fine for an efficiency apartment, I’d also move the wash racks to stall positions eight and five, back-to-back style so each aisle has its own wash rack, which makes for an easier change later in life (boarding barn, trainer/owner barn, etc). Then, unless you were planning on a two story apartment in that area, I’d have the apartment the whole width for a 1152 sq ft apt or a titch smaller, if your county says second homes must be under 1000 sq ft. That will also help with future resale. How were you planning your entry into the second floor? I see a door on the outside, but an interior stairway plus what I imagine is a second floor deck entry, might make your county happier… I know many require two points of exit in case of fire. If that’s the case, you may lose space in the feed or tack room for a staircase of some sort, or one of the wash racks? Sometimes a window that can be opened is enough, but where would it open?
Overall I like the barn design! Moving the stalls to the outside gives you eight stalls with runs instead of six, and I’m a fan of attached runs :yes:
The apartment is on one side of the aisle, I think the deck is on the back of the barn. If you look down the aisle you’ll see one wall is stalls the other is the wall of the apartment. The kitchen sink window looks out to the barn aisle the living room to the outside.
