A classic wooden barn, complete with a hay loft, tack room, and box stalls for the horses, is a thing of real beauty, but it isn't always practical, especially in today's profit-driven farming climate. Many of these magnificent structures were built a half-century or more ago from readily available wood and stone, simply because those were the most affordable materials for farmers to obtain at that time. Today's farmers can still choose to build big wooden barns, but there are some very good reasons to take advantage of modern steel fabrication techniques and products, instead. 

Steel fabricated buildings can save time and labor costs 

Wooden barns and sheds are designed to use posts at key stress points to strengthen the structure and support the load. All these posts inside of a livestock barn or shed can limit the farmer's ability to use a skid steer or bucket loader to handle routine manure removal, feeding, and animal care tasks. Instead, these chores may have to be handled the old-fashioned way, with a wheelbarrow and manure fork, which often means hours or days of manual labor and the costs associated with that. Steel-fabricated buildings, however, can easily be constructed as clear-span structures, with no interior posts or supports to get in the way. This means that keeping the barns and livestock sheds clean and sanitary can be handled more easily by machinery, taking only a fraction of the time required for manual removal. 

Steel-fabricated buildings are more fire-resistant

Barn and stable fires are terrifying and happen all too often. Whether caused by faulty heating equipment, spontaneous combustion of hay or crops, or some other reason, barn fires cause millions of dollars in losses annually, as well as tragic losses of human life and livestock. Wooden barns are especially at risk for fire, simply due to the combustible materials used in their construction. As a wooden barn ages, the lumber used in the wooden structure dries out and becomes even more at risk of catching fire, especially if the barn is located in an area where wildfires are a frequent problem. Unlike wooden barns, stables, and sheds, those that are constructed using fabricated steel are naturally resistant to fire and more likely to survive a fire, should one occur inside or outside the structure. 

Steel-fabricated buildings hold their value without extensive maintenance

Farmers who plan to sell their farms at some point in the future should always strive to make improvements to their farm that will continue to add value to the property. By choosing to replace old wooden structures with steel-fabricated buildings, farmers can help their property hold its value as the years pass. Instead of paying to have a wooden barn or shed repainted every few years, farmers who opt to replace old structures with buildings constructed of fabricated steel are freeing themselves from these future maintenance costs. In fact, most steel-fabricated buildings will not rust through decades of use, with no need for painting or coating. 

Steel-fabricated buildings can be constructed far faster than a comparable wooden structure

Time is money on the farm, and when the need arises for a new barn or shelter, farmers usually need a quick solution. When a new building is needed to shelter expensive farm equipment, house livestock, or provide space for other farming needs, opting for steel fabrication can mean having a building ready for use within just a  few weeks, instead of months or years. This is possible because much of the fabricated steel can be cut and shaped by the manufacturer, making it far easier for the builder to work with. 

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of using fabricated steel in your farming operation, start by contacting a steel fabricator or manufacturer in your area. These experts can provide specific information to help you choose the right gauge and type of steel for each new building on your farm. Check out websites like http://mmbco.com to learn more about steel fabrication.