You’ve probably seen countless red barns in the countryside, but have you ever wondered why barns are red? Check this out......

Barns weren't originally red. In fact, they weren't painted at all. Early farmers didn't have much extra money to spend on paint, so most of their barns remained unpainted. By the late 1700's, farmers looking to shield their barns' wood from the elements began experimenting with ways to protect the wood.  White paint was more expensive than red paint, so farmers opted for red.

They also experimented in make their own protective paint using a recipe consisting of skimmed milk, lime and red iron oxide which created a rusty-colored mixture that became popular among farmers because it was cheap to make and lasted for years.

Farmers also noticed that painting their barns with this darker color would absorb the sun's rays more than plain, tan wood to keep their barn warmer in the winter months. So red paint spread in popularity due to its functionality and cost, becoming an American tradition that continues to this day.

Barns now come in all colors, but traditional red will always remind us of simpler times.

 

 

 

 

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