Quonset Barns

A quonset barn is a prefabricated metal structure named after the Quonset Point Military Reservation in Rhode Island, where it was first developed during World War II. From the initial design it was made to be a lightweight and portable shelter that could be quickly and easily assembled or disassembled by the soldiers. Today, the quonset hut has become quite the popular choice for agricultural purposes. In fact it has also evolved in its use as well in commercial areas due to its versatility and affordability.

Quonset barns are available in a wide variety of sizes and more so designed to suit your needs. They can be as small as 10 feet by 10 feet or as large as 100 feet by 100 feet, and even larger if desired. Primarily it is as per your specific need requirements. It is always good to sit with your contractor and plan not only for today but even for mid-term and longer term needs as well. 

The primary features of Quonset barns include their durability, ease of construction and versatility. Quonset barns can be easily assembled or disassembled, making them a great choice for temporary structures or those who want to move their building in the future. The structure is one which usually has sloped or rounded walls, making the barn a multifunctional feature.

Construction

As the structure is built it does not have any columns on the interior nor braces. This aids in the ease of construction, and also the speed. Along with this, the structure is supported by the design of the arches. This is a significant architectural advantage.

Customization

Is it an open-ended barn for storage or a closed building, the quonset barn can be made to suit. Along with this in order to protect your investment and stored goods, the barn can be made to include insulation, as well as ventilation windows and doors as needed. Partitions can also be added to ensure that you also get the most use of the space.

Durability

The quonset barn is made of steel. This then means that they are made of some of the most durable materials around. This also can be enhanced to resist any rust or corrosion. Added to this is the structure being able to withstand the weight of a heavy snowfall or the gusts of high winds.

Interior Space

The inside of the quonset barn is completely open, unobstructed space and this can be manipulated as needed. Even though there is no uniform height because of the curved roof structure, they are still quite spacious. Therefore if there is the need to house tractors and heavy duty equipment then yes, and if there is the need to place livestock then yes, and if it needs to be changed into a form of storage this can also happen.

Quonset barns are used for everything from storing hay, livestock shelters, farming equipment, and more.

Quonsets are ideal for use as barns since they're durable, affordable, low maintenance and versatile. Let's go into more detail...

Steel as a Building Material

Let's face it; steel is awesome. It comes with many benefits and is extremely durable, so many people prefer metal barns over traditional wood ones. Quonset huts have become an obvious choice among them due to their numerous benefits and beautiful, long-lasting designs.

Quonset Barns Are Affordable

Farming is not exactly cheap, and formers are not wealthy. Hence, choosing the less expensive options makes sense. Building barns is not cheap enough, but opting for Quonset barns can cut down a considerable amount of costs.  Less building materials are required, not much workforce is needed, and foundation work is not extensive, which makes it pretty affordable.

Long-Lasting

As we said earlier, steel is a very durable material, so that it will last for a long time without any heavy damage. Manufacturers and builders normally give you a one or two-decade warranty, but you can expect your Quonset hut barn to last for an entire generation.

Low Ongoing Maintenance

Steel barns don't need much maintenance, to be honest. They don't rot or rust, neither do they peel, so you are pretty much set for life.

Large Clear-Span Space

Quonset huts come with a great amount of free space, perfect for storing farming equipment, products, or livestock shelter.

No Limit On Expansion Size

One of the great things about Quonset barns is that they put no limit on expansion. In simple words, you can expand the barns to a virtually unlimited amount of free space.

Great DIY Project

Do you like to do things with your own hands? Well, constructing a Quonset hut barn is the perfect DIY project. The reason for that is these semicircular infrastructures are essentially stacked arches that are precut and drilled at the factory, covered by a metal sheet. Most of the work is already done, so all that you would need to do is to assemble the whole infrastructure. They are easy enough to assemble; even an amateur can handle the process.

Cut Down on Construction Time

Quonset huts don't take much longer, to be honest. Most of the work is already done, all you have to do is assemble the structure, and you have storage space ready in a very short time.

No Rotting Or Termites

One of the biggest problems is that barns are susceptible to rot. They can also house termites, which every farmer worth their salt knows how dangerous it is. But Quonset barns are made of steel, which does not rot, and does not give out under termite attack, so you can consider your farming products and equipment to be as protected as they can be.

Fire Resistant

Steel does not catch fire. Whether it's faulty wiring, a lightning strike, a coincidence, or just plain stupidity, you can consider your barn to be as safe as it can be.

Sustainability

Quonset barns are sustainable buildings as they help save at least 50% on heating and cooling costs. Lighting can also be done easily. Even on their own, these steel buildings are eco-friendly enough that most conscious farmers would choose the option just for that.

One of the beautiful things about this type of structure is that all of the pieces come pre cut and drilled from the factory. This makes assembly surprisingly simple. If you can lift 50lbs and use a wrench, you can likely assemble a quonset.

Here's a video showing one of them being built from start to finish.

The cost of your quonset barn is not only based on the size of the barn. It also depends on the key features which you select as needed. Quonset barns are very affordable, as compared to that of traditional buildings as well. With small buildings starting at around $6,000 and larger structures costing more, but the price per square foot decreases.

The cost of construction will also depend on whether you choose to DIY or hire a professional contractor. If you DIY, you will only need to pay for materials. However if you hire a professional contractor and company, you will also need to pay for labor costs. If you consider purchasing a prefab kit, this would save you cost in a number of areas as well as time. The final cost of your project will also depend on any permits or fees that may be required in your local area.

Portable

Quonset barn is designed so that they can easily be moved from one place to another. Thus you don't have to worry about a permanent structure.

Eco-friendly

Most steel buildings are made from recycled materials. When you no longer use the Quonset barn, it can be easily recycled to build another structure.

Versatile

Quonset barns can be used for various purposes, from storage to agriculture to commercial use.

Low maintenance

Unless you want to add extra space to your Quonset barn, minimal maintenance is needed to keep it in good condition. For example, you don't need to worry about painting the metal.