Agricultural & Farm Metal Buildings

It depends on your county. In many unincorporated areas of Georgia, agricultural buildings used exclusively for farming purposes are exempt from building permits. However, if the building includes plumbing, electrical service, or will be used for any non-agricultural purpose, permits are typically required. We recommend building to code regardless of permit requirements -- it protects your investment and insurance coverage.

For horse facilities, we recommend clear-span buildings with a minimum 14-foot eave height. Riding arenas typically range from 60x120 to 100x200 feet. Ventilation is critical -- ridge vents, endwall louvers, and ceiling fans keep air moving. Consider rubber or compacted stone footing instead of concrete for arena floors. Sliding doors 12-14 feet wide allow easy horse and equipment access.

We address humidity with proper ventilation design: continuous ridge vents, eave soffit vents, and endwall louvers create natural airflow. For enclosed buildings, we add vapor barriers under the roof to prevent condensation drip. For hay storage, good ventilation is essential to prevent mold. For livestock, we design ventilation rates based on the number and type of animals.

Yes. We can design your building with expansion in mind. End walls can be framed for future removal, allowing the building to be extended. Lean-to additions can be added to sidewalls for covered equipment storage. If you think you might expand, tell us during design -- minor framing adjustments now save significant cost later.

It depends on use. Equipment barns and hay storage can use pier foundations with a gravel floor, which is the most economical option. Livestock buildings may use concrete floors with drains for washdown. Workshop areas need a concrete slab. Georgia red clay requires proper site preparation regardless of foundation type -- we grade, compact, and stabilize the site before any foundation work.