COMPARE HORSE SHEDS AND STORAGE SHEDS

Run In Sheds Shed Row Barns Lean-To Barns Storage Sheds Shed Construction

COMPARE CONSTRUCTION BEFORE PURCHASING YOUR NEXT RUN-IN SHED OR HORSE BARN!

In left column you will find pictures of our standard barn construction (MGC Buildings).

Right column shows the standard barn construction of most other builders.

Our Construction (MGC Buildings) Construction of Most Other Barns

Felt Paper & 30 Year Shingles 25 Year Shingles & No Felt Paper

Wind Braces No Wind Braces Istalled

Wind Braces at Each Post (MGC Buildings) No Wind Braces Used (Most Other Barns)

Oak Post

True Oak Post 4"x4" (MGC Buildings) Oak Post 3.5"x3.5" (Most Other Barns)

8-lite window (24"x40") 6-lite window (24"x28")

8-Lite Window (24"x40" MGC Buildings) 6-Lite Window (24"x28" Most Other Barns)

Shed Bottom Framing Plate MGC Shed Bottom Framing Plate - Others

Bottom OAK Framing Plate (MGC Buildings) Bottom SPRUCE Framing Plate (Many Other)

Are you shopping around for the best deal on your horse barn or run in shed? We suggest to read this information before making your final decision.

When we first started offering wooden run in sheds & shed row barns in the year of 2000, we were one of the few companies specializing in these kind of structures. In fact, we only knew of three other manufacturers building same style of barns. Today, you'll find around 20 different barn manufacturers in Lancaster County, PA & surrounding areas building the same kind of run in sheds and shed row barns. With so many different builders and even more dealers, when you shop around, you will see different prices, and if you would actually come out and visit different manufacturers or dealers and look at their barns, you will definitely see different quality of construction. The bottom line, whoever you decide to purchase your barn from, we strongly recommend to compare construction specifications and to ask as many questions as possible about the barn construction.

Below you will find our construction details and possible differences between our barns "MGC Buildings" and many other barns. We hope, this will help you to ask the right questions when shopping for the barn, and in turn to make the right decision in purchasing one.

1. Framing: We use Rough-Cut Oak Post & Beam style framing with vertical 4x4 posts and horizontal 2x4 girts. Our barns come standard with top & bottom wind wall braces in order to make our barns sturdy. Unlike most other barn builders that use 3.5"x3.5" oak posts, all of our posts used in run in shed and shedrow barn construction are measured exactly 4"x4" (see pictures above).

2. Felt Underlayment: Many shed row barn & run-in shed builders started to eliminate (or have never used) felt paper underlayment (underlayment that is supposed to go under shingles). Instead, they fasten shingles right on top of the bare plywood & offer felt paper as an option for extra cost. If you call any shingle manufacturer or would visit their website, you would find out that all shingle manufacturers recommend the use of felt paper underlayment under their shingles. See manufacturers' recommendations. All of our "MGC Buildings" come standard with #15 felt paper underlayment.

3. Shingle Fasteners: Instead of using roofing nails which are also recommended by all shingle manufacturers, some shed builders use staples to fasten their shingles not knowing that staples might void shingle warranty. Most of builders now use nails, but there are still some that continue to use staples. We always use nails to fasten shingles on our barns.

4. Floor Joists in Tack Rooms: When purchasing the shed or a barn with tack room or wooden floor make sure all the joists are fastened with joist hangers. We feel that joist hangers will provide more support for the floor during delivery and if barn is to be placed on foundation. Joist hangers are always used to fasten floor joists on all of our storage room floors.

5. Top Wind Braces: Some run-in shed & shed-row barn builders don't use any top framing braces (wind braces) on their buildings when they do their wall framing. No matter what other builders say, we feel that the wind braces are necessary to make the walls sturdier, and because of that we made them standard on all of our barns.

6. Shingles: Most of barn builders use 25 year 3-tab shingles on their sheds & barns, which is OK, but will not give you as high of a wind load as 30 year architectural shingles. 25 year shingles have 65 mph wind load. 30 year architectural shingles come with 80 mph wind load. All of our barns come standard with 30 year IKO asphalt shingles.

7. Window Grills: Some horse barn builders use chicken wire to protect their stall windows instead of heavy duty window grills. All of our stall windows are protected by heavy duty powder coated window grills.

8. Windows: Most of manufacturers use 6-lite (24"x28") windows on their barns. These windows are cheaper and will give you less light inside of stalls. All of our barns, "MGC Buildings", come standard with 8-lite windows (24"x40"). Our windows are bigger, look nicer, and will give you and your horses more light inside of stalls.

9. Wall Framing Bottom & Top Plates: There are still some builders that use spruce top & bottom wall framing plates on their so called oak-framed walls (see drawings above). For the longevity of your barn, we feel that it is very important to use either oak or at least pressure treated bottom framing plate in order to have your walls last a long time. If the bottom wall plate is built of regular (untreated) spruce 2x4, there is a possibility for this bottom plate to rot. All of our barns and sheds are built using Oak framing material, including top & bottom wall plates.

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