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turtlehollow

Convert warehouse into barn? How?

10 years ago

We are considering buying a property that has this large monstrous metal building on it. They call it a "barn" but it's really like a big box store inside. DH loves the space (it's ~60x30). In the past, I think it was used as a garage for a firetruck.

Is there a way to change the exterior to make it more aesthetically pleasing? What would be involved?

First picture is the building. Second picture are the real barns on the other side of the property (the look we'd like to integrate with).

Any ideas?

Comments (10)

  • 10 years ago

    Uh....that's not that large a building. Show me the house. And if there isn't one on the property; BUY IT!!!!

    turtlehollow thanked User
  • 10 years ago

    I suppose that if you wanted to spend the money, you could take the roof off and replace it with a gambrel roof structure, which to me says 'barn'. My barn is built to plans from barnplans dot com, and I think their designs have a great, classic look. As a plus, you would gain a huge loft. I'm not sure about the engineering involved to attach said structure to the existing steel walls, though.

    turtlehollow thanked mushcreek
  • 10 years ago

    It wouldn't have to be a gambrel but yes, the roof line, shallow pitch and the oversize, overhead door make it read industrial instead of quaint. Generally money can fix or change just about anything and I'm sure that's the case here but how much you'd have to throw at it to make that happen is the question. If you have a use for the structure then I'd start small - paint the overhead door and the white trim around it to match the siding so it doesn't stick out. Landscape the heck out of it around the perimeter with old fashion shrubbery that has a loose, flowy structure - like Bridal Wreath if that grows in your location. Put up trellises and plant flowing vines to climb. Think about building a really beefy pergola in front of the overhead door, structured in such a way that the operation of the door isn't compromised, but keep the height slightly above normal garage door height - a visual trick to bring the eyes down to a more human scale. Hopefully you don't need the full height of that door opening or it won't work. Something like this

    turtlehollow thanked DLM2000-GW
  • 10 years ago

    That building looks like what I'd call a machine shed, only with just one door on it. They are very common to see on farms in my area. I don't think it looks out of place at all.

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Paint the large overhead door red to match the walls and it will change everything to look more like the smaller buildings to the left. I have to agree that this is a very common structure for many farms and large properties in my area. If you contact the metal building manufacturer, it's probably possible to replace the large overhead door, with a shorter double leaf door and a window above, similar to the photo neonweb posted above.

    turtlehollow thanked Virgil Carter Fine Art
  • 10 years ago

    That's the tractor barn, AKA "machine shed" where you park the big things in the winter.

    Putting slider doors might help, but it's never going to be a "barn" in the traditional sense. Normally you can't alter the roof because they are bolted together on-site.

    Look on the bright side: you have a GREAT play space and workshop.

    turtlehollow thanked User
  • 10 years ago

    It's a tertiary structure. Forget about it. Put the funding in the dwelling.

  • 10 years ago

    paint the door to look like barn doors, but overall i'd do nothing about it until the house is built.

    turtlehollow thanked jkliveng
  • 6 years ago

    had you done that alone or with the help of builders?