Metal Barns

If you’re like us, keeping with tradition is important. Sure, we all have to adjust and adapt to an ever changing world, but not at the expense of traditions that remind us of the good parts of the “Good Ol’ Days.”

Tradition is the glue that binds communities and cultures. Tradition is particularly strong and highly celebrated in American ranching and farming communities. Today, even the smaller family run outfits are living a traditionally American lifestyle as anyone. They’re still at work before sunrise, still working horseback, still hanging on to the values and the lifestyle they love.

Why should their adherence to that life and its traditions be important to folks in the big cities? Because these ranching and farming families are the ones providing America’s foodstuff! What’s more, the old school ranchers and farmers are stewards of the land that we all love and enjoy visiting.

All Americans get a special, nostalgic feeling when they pass through rural parts of America. Who doesn’t love the sight of an old barn out in some scenic valley someplace? Especially when it’s still in use after some 150 or so years…

Have you ever wondered why these old barns are usually red? Either a rich, restored red, a faded red, or formerly red…

Well, we wondered that too.

“Back in the day,” ranchers and farmers had to be resourceful (as they still have to be today). They didn’t have the convenience of purchasing things off of the shelf at some local big box store.

These folks needed to develop their own sealants for their barns to protect the structures from fungus, insects, and weather.

According to this Farmer’s Almanac article, barns were typically some shade of red because of the ingredients in the home concocted sealants used. These sealants were linseed oil based and included several other additives including rust. It was the rust that gave the mixture its red hue.

In later years when paint could be obtained and afforded, most people chose to paint their barns red, honoring the ingenuity and tradition of those that came before them.

So when you’re ready to order your VersaTube Building Systems barn, consider being part of that very old tradition - consider ordering your sheet metal in red.

Yes, you’re still allowed to choose green or brown. No, we won’t give you a hard time!