Quality

There's Something Different About A Dutch Barn.

Why do Dutch Barns seem different from ordinary storage buildings?

Because They Are Different . . . In Quality and Heritage

Dutch Barns are made according to an old fashioned design, according to old-fashioned methods, and by people who adhere to an old-fashioned work ethic.

Founded in 1985 by Stan and Suzanne Gingerich, a young couple who met at a church in Ohio, the Dutch Barns company has a story that sounds like it was written in another era.

A Demand For Perfection

Stan Gingerich grew up in a Mennonite home in Ohio and very early began working with wood around his dad's cabinet shop.  Through his teens, he labored under his father's guidance on carpenter crews building houses.  Stan's dad was an absolute stickler for quality...in fact, he was well known for saying over and over again, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right."

To Stan, his father was continually emphasizing the details of good craftsmanship and its results...things designed and constructed to last.

Now that heritage lives on at Dutch Barns.  The entire company, under Stan's tutelage and careful eye, is committed to the same meticulous attitude.  Stan is often accused of going overboard on the little things.  In fact, other storage building companies laugh at Stan's pickiness, but our customers don't laugh.  By the thousands they have chosen Dutch Barns' buildings for beauty and quality, both of which stem from Stan's obsessive attention to the details.

Little Company That Grew

During the first year of the company, Stan and Suzanne did every job themselves - - - planning, building, sales, delivery.  They even lived in one of their buildings on the back of the lot!  But word soon got around that Dutch Barns' buildings were something truly special.  More and more customers came, and are still coming!

Now even though the Dutch Barns company is much bigger, the goal is the same: excellence - that perfection of details which you will appreciate for decades to come.

3 Key Details To Look For In a Quality Storage Building

You must, of course, like the looks of the storage building you are considering -- in fact, it's best to think about liking the looks for a long time, because a good Dutch Barn should last for decades if built and treated properly.  Here are some of the details which will assure such long life.

The Wood

Each Dutch Barn is framed with spruce, a stable, quality wood that is resistant to twisting and bowing.  It's clean looking and good to work with, allowing for straight cuts and tight fits.  Spruce is structurally strong, and because of it, a Dutch Barn will not warp out of shape.  Incidentally, all Dutch Barns are framed free of obstructions which allows you to install insulation, paneling or dry walling should you desire.  Even without such interior finishing, a Dutch Barn looks good because of its wood.  Never is a Dutch Barn built with particle board or wood chip board.  The exterior siding is fir and trim is cedar, the best combination for long-term durability and rustic charm -- two big reasons why customers love their Dutch Barns.  In fact, Dutch Barns are built with a much higher grade of exterior siding than most other companies would bother to use, but the result is a building which will last -- and be beautiful -- for a long time.

The Fit

This is where Dutch Barns gets really picky and demands the most from its craftsmen.  Straight lines mean no bowing, so with proper care, your Dutch Barn stays "square" for decades, and tight fit at every joint means your Dutch Barn stays dry, too.  To accomplish this, every piece of Dutch Barns wood is cut straight for the best alignment and tightest fit.  The great emphasis on straight cuts, alignment and tight fit results in an unmistakable "crispness" to the overall appearance....a sharpness which Dutch Barns considers it's real specialty compared to other builders.  Attention to these details, not necessarily noticed by everyone, is why Dutch Barns buildings clearly excel.

The Hardware

Dutch Barns are made with heavy-duty, weather-resistant hardware throughout, including the ornamental T-hinges that provide very strong support for the doors, preventing them from sagging or dropping.  There's a smoothly-operating, lockable, heavy-duty door latch which can be opened from the inside as well as out.  The hardware, like everything on your Dutch Barn, is guaranteed.

More Than Meets The Eye

Interestingly, most people who own Dutch Barns buildings are not aware of all the details that goes into the making of our products.  Take the caulking for example.  You will find it on all of the buildings - it is easy to spot!  However, some of the most important places we caulk are not visible: behind and between certain panel joints, along the bottom edge of the siding on the exterior of the building.

Another note - the caulk we use on the exterior of our buildings is a polyurethane sealant, which outperforms the industry standard 30-year caulk in terms of adhesion, flexibility and durability.  Our costs for using this are considerably higher but we figure the benefits to you are well worth it.

At Dutch Barns we are committed to giving you "the best barn for the buck."  All the little details (including those not seen) that go into making our products help to ensure that you are going to get good use from them for many years, not to mention that it makes it a lot easier on us to keep up with our exceptional warranty.