Ensure Renovations Go Smoothly With These Tips

Renovating your barn can maximize space, refresh it, and even ensure it works better for your needs. Just as you would plan out the construction of a new barn, it’s important to carefully plan your barn renovation so that it goes smoothly and you’re happy with your completed barn. Whether you’re just starting to explore potential barn improvements or are ready to order Stall Fronts and other barn components, these tips can help you plan a successful barn renovation.

Consider What Other Barns Are Doing Right

Before beginning to plan your barn renovation, get some ideas from other barns. Connect with other barn owners about what features they love in their barns and what they wish to change. If possible, go visit barns and see what you like about their designs and functionality. You may want to implement some of these elements during your own barn renovation.

If you're looking for more inspiration and ideas, be sure to follow us on Pinterest and Instagram, where we share stunning barn designs and renovation tips. You can also visit the gallery or blog on our website to explore detailed tours of our projects, showcasing every element of functionality and design that makes each barn unique.

Look for Quality Barn Components

The barn components you choose, including your Horse Stall Fronts, Barn Lighting, Barn Windows, and more, all significantly impact your barn’s longevity, safety, functionality, and aesthetics. You don’t want to invest in an expensive renovation only to install subpar-quality components in your barn that won’t hold up over time.

As you look for barn components, consider the materials they’re constructed from, whether they’re manufactured in the United States, how easy they are to use, and their lifespan and warranty. For example, our European Stall Fronts are crafted from heavy-gauge, galvanized steel that is 100% American steel. We also handpick metals for their longevity and durability, ensuring a top performance from your horse stall fronts.

It’s equally important to choose a barn component manufacturer you can trust. At American Stalls, we have more than 19 years of experience in the equestrian industry and more than 34 years of experience in the steel industry. We understand the unique challenges horse owners face, and we design horse stall fronts and other barn components to meet your needs specifically.

Choose Barn Components That Support Your Vision

Consider your overall vision for your barn when choosing your barn components. For example, you may want to purchase stall fronts that match the existing horse stalls in your barn. That might mean you need a manufacturer who creates custom stall fronts with an excellent selection of wood and metal options to bring your vision to life. Or you might want to expand your stall size and look for stalls crafted to meet custom dimensions. Trying to accomplish this using off-the-shelf barn components can be limiting and frustrating.

At American Stalls, our extensive selection of products allows us to create barn components to meet your vision and the specific dimensions your barn requires. From Barn Entry Doors to Horse Barn Windows and more, we will work with you to custom design and build the necessary components.

Choose a Contractor Who’s a Good Fit

Your contractor plays a key role in your barn renovation, and it’s essential to find a contractor who’s a good fit for your project. Asking other barn owners who their contractor was is a good place to start. You’ll likely also receive dozens of recommendations if you post in local horse owner social media groups.

Regardless of how you learn about potential contractors, verify that they have successfully built or renovated horse barns and that they have an understanding of horses. Contact their references and ask detailed questions, such as whether the project remained on budget and on time, how well the contractor communicated, and what the barn owner would have changed about the project. Be sure to read any contracts thoroughly and ensure you understand all clauses before signing a contract.

For more guidance on bringing your vision to life, check out our article on how to choose the right contractor for your barn. It covers key factors to consider, ensuring you find a trusted professional who aligns with your needs and goals.

Establish and Monitor Your Barn Renovation Budget

Take the time to create a barn renovation budget, including everything from contractor costs to supplies and barn components. Leave some room in your budget for unexpected costs, and then carefully monitor it as the renovation progresses.

You’ll need to regularly check in with your contractor to verify their spending and projected costs for the remaining portion of the project. By regularly monitoring your budget and how much you’ve spent, you can spot potential issues early on and either prepare for the increased costs or find ways to cut spending in other areas of your renovation.

Plan for Horse Housing During the Barn Renovation

If you’re renovating a barn you’ve owned for years, you’ll need to make plans for how you’ll house the horses during the project. If you’re adding onto the barn, you may be able to use part of it still, so your horses could potentially stay on the property. Make a plan for keeping your horses out of the barn during the day while work is occurring; they’ll be safer and appreciate being distanced from construction noise.

Sometimes, it may be safer and easier to move your horses off-property or out of the barn during the renovation. If you have pastures with run-in sheds, the horses might be able to live outdoors during the project. Otherwise, call around to local boarding barns, book your horses’ stay, and be sure to add this expense to your barn renovation budget.

Identify Delivery and Site Access Options

Before your renovation begins, familiarize yourself with delivery needs. Will you bring in large dump trucks with foundation material for a barn extension? Do you have a truck arriving with new horse stall fronts? Verify the vehicle dimensions and accessibility needs and ensure they can access the site.

In addition to ensuring that the roads to your barn are wide enough and have enough clearance for these vehicles, consider their condition. If you’ll receive deliveries in the spring while snow and ice are still melting, trucks might be unable to travel along soft, muddy roads.

Your contractor can help you evaluate and plan ahead for delivery needs. In some cases, you might need to plan to unload a larger truck onto smaller vehicles for easier access.

Contact American Stalls Today with Any Questions

At American Stalls, we frequently help horse barn owners plan their barn renovations. With our custom-made products, we can design the horse stall fronts, barn lighting, barn doors, and other essentials that you need for your barn. We would be happy to help you plan your renovation. Contact us today at (855) 957-8255 or email us at sales@americanstalls.com to schedule a sales and design consultation or to ask any questions.