QUESTION:
What is the advantage of an RCA Verses a standard Gable style roof line?

ANSWER:
The two most popular roof designs for a barn are Gable and RCA (Raised Center Aisle). They are both very functional, with the gable being less expensive due to the material savings and ease of installation. The RCA, while costing a little more, has at least three important advantages:

# 1. The raised center aisle design has a very pleasing esthetic effect and pretty well defines the use as a home for horses rather than just another building.

# 2. The opening between the roof levels provides excellent cross-through ventilation.

# 3. The continuous openings, running the length of the barn, provide interior lighting throughout the barn.

Blue Ribbon uses a 2 ft x 12 ft window truss to support the upper roof system. The truss is manufactured with 2x2 and 2x6 galvanized steel tubing. The truss is divided into three 4 ft x 2 ft openings. We do not require any solid panels to provide support for the upper roof section. While it would be easy enough to install solid panels in some of the openings, it would certainly be counter productive for at least two of the 3 reasons for the additional investment. Solid panels do not provide ventilation or a source for outside light. I personally feel that the esthetics are compromised as well but that is only an opinion.

QUESTION:
Do you need windows on your RCA?

Answer:
Most of the barns that I have built in the Southeast do not have windows mounted in the RCA truss. The reason being, they are not required unless the owner wants a toasty warm building during the 4 to 6 weeks a year that it gets cold. Slider windows, by design, reduce the ventilation area by 50% even when they are open!
My advice has been to omit the RCA windows and see how much you miss them during one winter season. If you find that you really want them, you can purchase them at any time in the future. The windows are specially designed for our trusses and are simple to retro fit. The customer can install or I will install for you.

QUESTION:
Is the BR Barn available as a do it yourself “KIT”?

ANSWER:
NO. It is not a “KIT”; however, many clients save money by installing their own barn with my assistance and supervision. This is particularly true for distant locations requiring room and board for a traveling installation crew. The barn comes with a full set of drawings and is by far, the easiest barn to erect that is available today. I recommend a couple of days of supervision, which I am happy to provide for expenses only. Some basic skills and tools are helpful. It is hard work but not rocket science!

QUESTION:
Is there any way I can eliminate the galvanized structural strips on the exterior of the barn? Maybe “fancy it up a bit”?

ANSWER:
Yes: The pre-engineered visual attributes have never been an issue in the western states but in the southeast, in planned communities, with building covenants, it is sometimes necessary to do a little “cosmetics” to hide the galvanize. Cross Bucks are also optional on the doors and shutter windows. We are usually able to overcome strict covenants with a few modifications. An example of a barn that has been cosmetically enhanced can be viewed in the “PHOTO GALLERY”. If you will scroll to Shedrow style barns and observe the white barn with the two horses grazing in front. A nice barn but a lot of galvanize showing. The same barn can be seen on the opening page of PHOTO GALLERY (with the white horse), after the addition of seam battens, cross bucks, and a new cupola.

QUESTION:
The raised center aisles look like they would make a nice apartment area. Can this be done?

ANSWER:
Yes and NO! BR can design and engineer 2 story structures, that is, lofts over the aisle. The space above the aisle is designed for light and ventilation so special engineering would be required at an extra cost. It is possible for a secondary contractor to finish off an apartment in a special area that has been provided for, in the barn. This has been done and very successfully. However, this must be done after the fact, by others.

QUESTION:
Can I get a side porch built to store my horse trailer under?

ANSWER:
Yes. However, unless you increase the standard outside height of the walls of the barn, you will have less than eight feet clearance under the roof. This is fine for your tractor and for shading your side paddock but won’t be tall enough for your trailer. One solution other than raising your walls (pricey) is to lower your ground on one side. That is, if you are on a slope and you build up the foundation on the lower side to accommodate the barn, you will provide additional elevation under your side porch. I have photos showing both situations. Check the PHOTO GALLERY.

QUESTION:
We have an existing structure that we would like to convert to a barn. Can we buy the stall components to install in our building?

ANSWER:
Absolutely! A large percentage of our sales are retrofits for existing barns or buildings. Sometimes existing posts and support structures can present a challenge but we can usually overcome them. There is no better free standing stall than the Blue Ribbon component because you still enjoy the zero flame spread, zero cribbing, kick-thru proof walls, and general low maintenance of a regular barn.

QUESTION:
Why would I want Barns of Georgia to build me a barn instead of an out of state dealer?

ANSWER:
I think you just answered you own question. I will provide you with names and phone numbers of multiple satisfied customers. Call and get their opinions of the reliability of Barns of Georgia and our attention to details before as well as after the sale. If you are dealing with an out of state dealer, insist on their list of satisfied local clients as well.

QUESTION:
I understand that Blue Ribbon is the premiere engineered barn. What if I can’t afford the BEST?

ANSWER:
Blue Ribbon is very competitive with the other pre-engineered products. If however, you are on a tight budget and are willing to skip some of the “bells and whistles”, we are proud to offer our Trophy line of barns having the same wall material as our premium barn. Ask me about them!