When people come to us looking for a Timber Frame Barn, often times they aren’t fully aware of all the different styles of barns that they can choose from. Today, we’re going to look at 4 basic styles of barns. Obviously, there are many more styles and variations out there, but these 4 barns will give a general idea of barn styles and options.
The Carolina Horse Barn is a Gable Style Barn with an A-Frame roof.
Gable
One of the defining characteristics of the Gable Barn is the distinctive “A” shape and steep pitch of the roof. A very old style of barn that originated in the time of the thatched roof, the steep pitch of the Gable allowed rainwater to run off the roof preventing it from being ruined by moisture. One thing to consider with the Gable Barn is that the attic or loft space available for storage may be less than that of the Gambrel or other styles of barn because of the pitch of the roof.
This barn in Hillsdale, NY is a Gambrel style barn.
Gambrel
The Gambrel Barn has a roof with a double slope on each side. The Gambrel Roof offers the barn the most space for storage, which makes these barns popular as horse barns for their ability to store large quantities of hay and other supplies. A lot of people enjoy the Gambrel barn purely for aesthetic reasons, as the Gambrel has that vintage barn look that many people associate with older, classic barns.
This barn in PA is built into the slope making it a Bank style barn.
Bank
Like its name implies, the Bank Barn is a barn that is built into the side of a hill (or bank). Building a barn into a hill gives easy access to two levels of the barn with an entrance to ground level on both the first and second floor. By having access to both levels of the barn, if it’s built strong enough, one could easily store heavy equipment on either floor of the barn.
This barn in Texas was built in the Monitor barn style.
Monitor
The Monitor Barn has a portion of raised roof in the center of the barn. The Monitor barn has a unique look and gives the builder the option of putting windows along the walls below the raised roof, letting in a ton of natural light. The raised roof takes away some of the storage space that could be available, but the trade-off is a unique aesthetic and natural lighting.
These are 4 basic styles of barn that Vermont Timber Works offers. Any of these styles can be changed or adjusted to meet the needs of our clients, and of course we have experience building and raising all types and styles of custom designed barns.
If you have any questions about Barns submit a question on our “Ask the Experts” page or give us a call at our workshop.
About the Author
i have been raising barns for ten years and before that i lived and worked at river spirit, a organic back to the land kind of commune. in Ca. Since I have had a stroke in Hawaii I found your web sight and wanted to tell you how much i liked it. Especially the photos, they helped me recover some of my timber dreams.
Thank you George. That’s so nice to hear.
– Caitlin
i have been raising barns for ten years or more and before that i lived and worked at river spirit, a organic back to the land kind of commune. in Ca. Since I have had a stroke in Hawaii I found your web sight and wanted to tell you how much i liked it. Especially the photos, they helped me recover some of my timber dreams.
This is good idea as garage for my trucks!
Glad to see this great post.
All looks great to me
Basic barn styles are so nice
Cool! All the barn styles above are amazing.
How long does it take to build something like this?
Hello,
Depending on the frame, it could take a few days to a week to put up. However, our projects, from estimation to erection usually take about 12 weeks from start to finish.
Thanks,
Caitlin
Yes, I agree with you Caitlin!
These are the kind of houses I want to live in.
So nice! I love this barn house style!
We’re planning to have some barn houses in our farm. These designs would be ideal!
Hello there! Beautiful post, I absolutely LOVED IT!
I really liked the article and will apply some of these ideas to my business
Thanks for sharing this awesome information.
Great post you shared.
What a wonderful post! Thank you!
Glad to check this awesome information in here.
Your article is quite helpful! I have so many questions, and you have answered many. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing this great article.
You’ve given some fantastic tips in this article. They will be useful regardless of the size of your home. There will be more clutter the more room you have. We need to feel at peace because we have such a huge family. Your yard is lovely, and I appreciate it greatly. Everyone who comes to your house can see how much work went into it! Inspiring! Thank you for sharing your lovely home and encouraging me to create my own!
Yes, I agree that there are many more styles and variations out there, but these 4 barns will give a general idea of barn styles and options. Fantastic ❤❤❤
Great post! Thanks for this awesome article you shared.
I love the monitor barn, one loft , lots of open space and lots of light. Plan to park my 40 Ford under the loft yes, right in the living room… with a glass garage door, barn doors to cover the garage door…….
Pretty! This is really a wonderful post. Thanks for providing this details.
I’m thinking of putting up a barn to be used as a winter storage for classic cars, boats, etc. as well as having an apartment in one end, with overhead rooms also. Any recommendations?
Great barn styles, I want to live in.
These barn styles are awesome, almost looks like a whole home!
Great style! Kinda want to live in one now
Thank you for this insightful overview of basic barn styles! It’s fascinating to learn about the characteristics and unique features of each type.
It’s great to know that Vermont Timber Works can customize these styles to meet clients’ needs. Looking forward to more barn-related content from you!
This is an amazing barn and design that I like very much. Love it so much.
Ahhh they are all beautiful! I have always loved barns, trees, and the vast farmlands that surround them. There’s something about them that’s truly healing.