I fondly remember going to horse camp in Story City, IA, and riding horses with friends. Riding horses is something I enjoy doing, but one thing I never thought about is who builds horse barns in Iowa.
Like many Iowans, the first thing that comes to mind when considering a standard pole barn is Morton. And while Morton does build horse barns, there are several other builders you should consider.
In this blog, we'll discuss the advantages of a post-frame horse barn and which Iowa post-frame builder you can call to bring your equine dream to life.
What Is a Post Frame Horse Barn?
When you think of a horse barn, you may not know that many are post-frame built.
In today’s industry, laminated columns or Perma columns, also known as posts, are now used in construction, hence the name post frame.
These posts are driven into the ground and secured by a precast concrete pad with uplift anchors. Columns support the roofing system, so no interior stud walls are needed.
Which Pole Barn Companies Build Horse Barns Barns in Iowa?
Based upon reviews, experience, and knowledge, we’ve narrowed down our list (in no particular order) to bring you the following post-frame horse barn builders in Iowa.
Please note that post-frame builders are not all the same. Here are 7 questions to ask a Quality pole barn builder.
Morton Buildings
Morton Buildings has been serving its residential, agricultural, and commercial communities since 1965. This employee-owned company has over 100 construction centers throughout the country to assist you with both your building and repair needs. They also have eight manufacturing facilities where many of their building components are produced.
Lester Buildings
Founded in 1947, Lester Building Systems, LLC has expanded its territory from "the Eastern Seaboard to the Rocky Mountains and as far south as a line running from Oklahoma eastward through Tennessee and North Carolina." They offer custom pre-engineered post-frame building systems for hobby, commercial, livestock, equine, and farm purposes.
One notable difference is that Lester has dealers that build their buildings. Some dealers in Iowa include A. R. O. Construction LLC, Eastern Iowa Building Inc., Precision Structures Inc., and Tom Witt Contractor Inc.
Cleary Buildings
Since 1978, Cleary Building Corporation has sold over 126,000 buildings that include cabins, homes, and horse, farm, and commercial structures. They are located in Verona, WI, and are a national, family-owned company that prides themselves on putting their customers first.
Greiner Buildings
Greiner Buildings was founded in the 1980s in Washington, Iowa. Their family business has now grown into an established pole barn construction company with 60+ employees and 3 offices across Iowa and Illinois. Their strong values and humble Midwest roots have paved the way for the expansion and strengthening of the business. They challenge the status quo and continue to establish new standards of excellence within the post-frame construction industry.
Gingerich Post & Frame
Gingerich Post & Frame is a family-owned company located in Cedar Falls, IA. They believe in honesty, integrity, and always going the extra mile. Whether you call it a metal building, pole barn, or post frame structure, Gingerich Post & Frame is a local, trusted builder that services most counties in Central and Eastern Iowa.
Wick Buildings
Wick Buildings, Inc. is a privately-held company located in Wisconsin that has constructed over 75,000 buildings since being founded in 1954. They are one of the nation's largest post-frame building companies and offer their services in suburban, commercial, and industrial pole barns, horse housing facilities, on-farm livestock and storage facilities, and animal confinement systems.
What Are the Advantages of Building a Post Frame Horse Barn?
Building a traditional-style wood barn has a lot of character and charm, but the advantages of building a post-frame horse barn are unmatched.
Below, look at some advantages of building a post-frame barn over a traditional stick-built one.
1) Quicker Building Completion
One of the many benefits of post-frame construction is that it only requires a few materials to erect your stall barn or riding arena.
Since fewer materials are needed, this means a quicker construction timeline and finished product.
Plus, advancements in the post-frame construction industry have allowed pole-building timelines to be cut even further.
One advancement is our QLYFT system, which allows our construction crews to finish most of the work on the ground before the building is lifted into position.
Since our crews are planted firmly on the ground, they can better focus on the quality of your building and not worry about losing their balance and sliding off.
QLYFT allows for higher-quality workmanship and much safer and more efficient construction of your equine pole barn.
2) Incredibly Energy-Efficient
Post-frame construction is also incredibly energy-efficient.
Studs in stick-built barns are placed every 16’’ to 24’’ on center. These gaps allow less space for insulation, which creates room for heat transfer (loss).
Meanwhile, pole barn columns are spaced 8’ or more apart. Long spans of fiberglass batts or spray foam insulation can be placed between posts, resulting in fewer breaks (or air leaks).
You will cut down on utility costs, and your horses will be kept cool in summer and warm in winter.
3) Minimal Exterior Maintenance
While maintenance is inevitable on any building, your post-frame equine barn will require less work, so you have more time to spend riding.
Post-frame buildings are extremely durable and can effortlessly withstand the test of time.
Metal is a hardy material, and since your siding and roof will be made up of metal panels, you can rest assured they will require minimal upkeep.
Using our Kynar-500 paint system, your post-frame horse barn will look new for many years.
This top-of-the-line paint easily withstands the sun and won't fade under its harsh rays.
Kynar-500 paint is also resistant to chipping, eliminating the need to repaint panels whenever a noticeable chip appears.
Quality materials produce a quality product, so you can happily focus on your horses and not worry about constant maintenance on your equine pole barn.
4) Plentiful Design Options
Another advantage of building a post-frame building is the design options (both interior and exterior). Horse barn features that can be included are as follows:
Hayloft- Indoor Riding Arena
- Office space
- Seating area/kitchen
- Tack room
- Viewing area
- Wash bay for the horses
- Horse Stall Area
These features allow for a wide variety of design options you can choose from to build your dream equine pole barn.
The type of rider you are could determine how you wish to design your horse barn.
For the more serious rider who is passionate about showing and traveling to competitions, this post-frame horse barn might have more to offer, such as an indoor riding arena and a viewing area.
For the hobby rider who enjoys leisurely rides with their horses after work or on the weekends, this post-frame horse barn might be simpler with just stalls and a hayloft.
Don’t forget about the extra touches too, like cupolas, country squire doors, and versetta stone wainscotting.
5) Superior Structural Longevity
Structural integrity is the most important part of any post-frame building.
As long as your post-frame horse barn has been properly constructed with structural integrity in mind, you’ll be able to enjoy your building for at least 40-60 years to come.
Since quality materials make a quality product, every aspect of your equine pole barn is created to last.
Quality materials such as Kynar-500 paint, Perma-columns, and stainless-steel screws will keep your equine pole barn structurally sound and looking great.
The less time you have to spend calling a post-frame repair crew for repairs on your horse barn, the more time you’ll have to spend riding your horses.
Are You Ready to Build Your Post Frame Horse Barn?
After reading about the top equine post-frame builders in Iowa, are you ready to grab hold of the reins and call for a quote?
Whether you’re experienced with construction or it’s your first time building, our post-frame professionals are just a call away.
They’re here to help walk you through the process and answer any questions you might have.
If you want to get a feel for what your post-frame horse barn will look like, check out our Design Online Tool.
This is a free, custom design feature that allows you to see what your Iowa horse barn will look like in 3D, horse and hay bales included. Plus, you can add it to Google Earth and see what your building design looks like on your property!
No matter how you decide to design and build your post-frame horse barn, we’re certain you’ll love the result.
Just remember to always build with confidence.
Do you have more questions that aren’t covered in this article? If you need help designing and planning, please contact FBi Buildings at 800.552.2981 or click here to email us. If you’re ready for a price, click here to request a quote, and a member of our Customer Engagement Team will help you determine the next steps.