The Solution For Anyone With Too Much Stuff? Barn It!

By John Voket

For some guys, the ultimate dream involves a ’65 Mustang, for others it is a safari in Africa — but Newtown resident Lee Day has always wanted his own barn. And thanks to the capable crew at Bethlehem-based Better Barns, LLC, he went off to work one recent morning leaving a barren yard, and came home to a beautiful new miniature barn complete with a storage loft, windows and a cupola.

As Mr Day tells it, his decision to commission one of these custom-built structures was not made in haste.

“I had been looking at the model for several years, every time I went to Lexington Gardens,” he said of the local garden center that works in partnership with Better Barns to refer potential customers. “I had a shed at our former home, but I always said if we ever move, I’m getting one of those.”

That move came a little over a year ago, and once his family was settled, he made the call.

“I wanted something that was built to last, not extravagant, but something that would ultimately enhance my property and my property value,” Mr Day said. “Truthfully, once one of my friends got one, that solidified it for me.”

The Days use their 10-by-16-foot barn primarily to store pool equipment and supplies. Complete with a decorative stone foundation mask and adjacent stone wall, the modest structure is similar to a shed, but with barn quality construction, outfitting, and hardware.

While Mr Day thought he might save a few bucks going with another company, he was pleased with the level of customer service he received from Better Barns co-owner Bill Hurley.

“I had a certain spot where I wanted it to go, and several other companies that came in either wouldn’t build it on my site, or they said I would have to bring on a second contractor,” Mr Day recalled. “But then Mr Hurley arrived, looked over the site, and said he would be happy to do it.”

Choosing the upscale cedar construction — Better Barns also offers its buildings in white pine — Mr Day worked closely with his contractor to get the most effective configuration of space within, settling on a custom shelving system, loft, an extended roofline, and a cedar cupola. While the company just launched a painting service, the Newtown resident said after some deliberation, he contracted for a painter to match the barn and trim color to his home.

“It was a hard decision, it looked so good in the natural cedar,” he said. Figuring the quality of the Better Barns unit “would last forever,” Mr day was still further pleased to learn if he was to move again, the modular structure could come down and move with him if he so desired.

Better Barns co-owner Alfred Pirrozoli said Mr Day’s experience is similar to most of the Better Barns clients. In fact, he said it validates his decision to shed the trappings of his former corporate marketing job to take over the local company with Mr Hurley about a year ago.

“There’s something wonderful about people sending you cards, notes, and photos celebrating their new barn,” he said.

Mr Hurley, who was also a former corporate type, said he always had a penchant for the trades. “I was always the guy with a clean suit and dirty hands,” he said.

Since acquiring the well-established company, the pair have ratcheted up their marketing and have expanded their installation territory from western and central Connecticut to serve the entire state, as well as parts of New York and Massachusetts.

The pair said the integrity and style of the Better Barns product line attracted both partners to want to invest in the company.

“We know there is a market for everybody in this business, but we wanted something not only affordable, we wanted something built to last,” Mr Pirrozoli said. “This product line is totally customizable, not something dropped off the back of a truck.”

The company’s largest stock barn is 20 by 26 feet, and most of its larger barns can be used for storage, or can be outfitted as a workshop, office, or studio.

One of the most attractive aspects of Better Barns, beyond the products themselves, is the ease of installation. The company installs on a series of solid concrete blocks that can easily be integrated onto any site to speed the installation process.

“We’re almost never on site more than one day,” Mr Hurley explained, “although I do every initial site inspection personally, as well.”

The company also provides all engineered plans, paperwork, and insurance documents to help ease homeowners through the permitting process.

Since the company performs its installations exclusively on blocks, and not on excavated foundations or concrete forms, the work can be performed year-round. But since many homeowners are unaware of this, the company has created its “Winter Barn Club,” offering incentives for homeowners to install their barns during the cold weather season.

The company just extended its “Winter Barn Club” through February 25, which means anyone contracting their installation will receive an extra double door with heavy-duty hardware, and all participants will be entered into a drawing for a cedar cupola with a hand-forged copper top.

Mr Pirrozoli said the smallest stock barn at 8-by-10-foot retails for $4,000 in white pine and $4,800 for cedar, delivered and installed. The 16-by-20-foot configuration retails for $16,000 in pine or $19,200 in cedar. All Better Barns include one double door with heavy-duty hardware, two sash windows and one transom window in cedar, with roofing of 30-year architectural shingles.

All wood materials are kiln dried and stored inside until the day of installation, Mr Hurley added.

Better Barns LLC is at 69 East Street, Bethlehem. Call 203-405-1555 or visit the website at www.BarnsBuilt.com.