Admin

Answers

Submit
Rainmaker
698,023
Diana Dahlberg - 1 MONTH REALTY
1 MONTH REALTY - Pleasant Prairie, WI
REALTOR in Kenosha, WI since 1994 - (262) 308-3563

Barns were traditionally painted red due to the accessibility and cheapness of red paint.  Farmers could create red paint out of skimmed milk, lime, red iron oxide and linseed oil to protect the wood of the barn. The linseed oil and red iron oxide gave the paint it's color.  Alexa knows all!

Sep 13, 2018 05:01 PM
Rainmaker
5,590,899
Barbara Todaro
Keller Williams Elite - Franklin, MA
"connecting land with builders"

because rust kills fungus.... thus a red tone....now barns are traditionally painted red.... no paint in those days....

Sep 13, 2018 01:54 PM
Ambassador
2,700,388
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Author, Golfer, Traveler, Retired, Wenatchee, WA

Like Barbara Todaro and Kasey & John Boles said.  According to Farmers Almanac:
Rust was plentiful on farms and because it killed fungi and mosses that might grow on barns, and it was very effective as a sealant. It turned the mixture red in color. When paint became more available, many people chose red paint for their barns in honor of tradition.

Sep 13, 2018 02:18 PM
Ambassador
3,627,697
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Real Estate Svcs.
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Inquiring minds want to know ... and now we know. 

Sep 14, 2018 08:03 AM
Ambassador
6,079,399
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

A barn of any other color is just not a barn!

Sep 13, 2018 07:19 PM
Rainmaker
2,246,536
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Don't really know, but I am sure we will find out soon.

Sep 13, 2018 05:19 PM
Rainmaker
291,119
Allie Angeloni
Long Realty - Oro Valley, AZ

So they stand out when it snows, Fred Griffin?  I do not know, but will read replies below!  Hope that you had a wonderful Road Trip, too. 

Sep 13, 2018 04:25 PM
Rainmaker
809,458
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/barns-painted-red-240. Now it's mostly because when people think barns they think red, traditionally. -Kasey

Added: https://www.livescience.com/33195-barns-traditionally-painted-red.html

Sep 13, 2018 01:54 PM
Rainmaker
2,071,647
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Interesting. 

Sep 14, 2018 09:08 PM
Rainmaker
1,598,652
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

Wow, now I know. 

Thank you.

Sep 14, 2018 09:06 PM
Rainmaker
823,614
Peter Testa
Kiwi Homes - Danbury, CT
Call me for all your Connecticut Real Estate needs

I learned something new here today. 

Sep 14, 2018 05:09 AM
Rainer
509,499
Susie Kay
Ultra Real Estate Dallas Fort Worth - Plano, TX
North Dallas Specialist

I have no idea but I love the color red for barns!

Sep 13, 2018 08:21 PM
Ambassador
7,371,953
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Iron oxide was a cheap dye for early paints.

Sep 13, 2018 07:59 PM
Rainmaker
749,269
Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

I have a red barn ~ Painted it red because it looks good & it's the color my Wife wanted it to be...

Sep 13, 2018 05:43 PM
Rainmaker
5,060,524
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

I don't know why but I guess you have a theory. 

Sep 13, 2018 03:12 PM
Rainmaker
721,412
Richard Bazinet /MBA, CRS, ABR
West USA Realty - Scottsdale, AZ
Phoenix Scottsdale. Sellers, Buyers & Relocations

LOL

I was wondering why the sky is blue. Pass the joint Fred....

Sep 13, 2018 02:38 PM
Rainmaker
858,128
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

I just learned something I never knew before! 

Sep 13, 2018 02:36 PM
Rainmaker
5,722,109
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I grew up in pennsylvania and most the barns are red becuase of the rust but armish most have white, so I wound why?

Sep 13, 2018 02:27 PM
Rainmaker
5,775,569
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Fred,

I never questioned it...

Sep 13, 2018 02:04 PM
Rainmaker
1,827,715
Gary Frimann CRS, GRI, SRES, ABR, SFR
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker, Notary

I always thought it was for the sharp contrast for the crop dusters...  

Sep 14, 2018 10:07 AM
Rainmaker
5,968,383
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

What's with the barn color questions today? No help from me... I'm a city girl... would hardly know a barn if I saw one! 

Sep 14, 2018 09:50 AM
Rainmaker
5,278,226
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

I wish we knew.

Sep 14, 2018 04:27 AM
Rainmaker
506,730
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

As an artist I’d say they are red so they contrast well in a painted picture!

Sep 13, 2018 04:32 PM
Ambassador
5,407,961
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Not sure of the reason but it seems to be a tradition.

Sep 13, 2018 02:42 PM
Rainmaker
532,837
Marie Story
Coldwell Banker - Pinecrest (Miami) - Pinecrest, FL
Broker Associate, Pinecrest (Miami) Specialist

I needed a good laugh this afternoon Fred Griffin - and you have just provided it!  

 

Sep 13, 2018 02:12 PM
Ambassador
3,288,243
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

they are painted red to honor the time they were stained with rust.

Sep 14, 2018 08:21 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,509
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

To attract the hummingbirds of course.

Sep 14, 2018 04:39 AM
Ambassador
2,903,145
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I'm glad I came here to see the answer! I just learned something new, thank you!

Sep 14, 2018 03:11 AM
Rainmaker
4,337,221
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Fred Griffin - thanks for the question, learned from the other answers.

Sep 13, 2018 10:35 PM
Rainmaker
1,714,482
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Quite a question.

Sep 13, 2018 05:42 PM
Rainmaker
8,857,150
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Traditions.

Sep 13, 2018 03:01 PM
Rainmaker
1,316,795
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

communist painters ....

Sep 13, 2018 02:29 PM
Rainmaker
564,644
Maria Sapio
Keller Williams of Central PA - Carlisle, PA
Real Estate Agent- Carlisle, PA. Mariasapio.com

Hmmm - Interesting question -

Sep 13, 2018 02:22 PM
Rainmaker
6,126,827
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

And now I know! A great future trivia question!

Sep 14, 2018 05:20 AM
Rainmaker
1,489,520
Joyce Marsh
Joyce Marsh Lifestyles - Daytona Beach, FL
Luxury Lifestyle Influencer

Interesting, I learned something new today. Thanks. 

Sep 14, 2018 04:24 AM
Rainmaker
259,573
Lesley Wilson-VanGoethem
Innovative Realty Solutions Group - Winter Springs, FL
Residential Real Estate Broker Associate

tradition?

Sep 13, 2018 05:03 PM
Rainmaker
527,804
J.R. Schloemer
Kentucky Select Properties - Louisville, KY

Why not?

We typically have black ones, it may help with curing burley. A few red here and there. 

Also have a bunch of cream/white & green on horse farms here as well.

Sep 13, 2018 04:36 PM
Rainmaker
1,042,898
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

I looked this one up - there are several reason it seems

Sep 13, 2018 03:14 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,764
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

It was a color that was available. 

Many barns are also white and grey

Sep 14, 2018 08:07 PM
Rainmaker
967,176
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

It was the cheapest available paint.

Sep 14, 2018 09:55 AM
Rainmaker
3,044,529
Richie & You
pearlsforthesoul.com - Cedar City, UT
Author & Consultant

I want to know too. I remember them being "red" in the see dick & jane run books and just accepted it

Sep 14, 2018 06:31 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

With any other color Mail Pouch just doesn't pop!

I vote for a conspiracy of the tobacco industry, Pantone and a very futuristic marketing company in 1770.   

Sep 14, 2018 05:51 AM
Rainmaker
6,553,525
Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner
Denver, CO
Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

That is a good question.   Nice to read comments.

Sep 17, 2018 11:03 AM
Rainmaker
1,606,325
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Wow, loving the answers here!  Had no clue!  Thanks for asking this one!

Sep 16, 2018 11:31 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,437
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

No idea.

Sep 16, 2018 05:43 AM
Back to Top
Ask a Question

Our real estate Q&A site is a place where real estate professionals can ask their peers questions so we can all learn and grow as a community.

Members of our community can ask, answer, like, and subscribe to questions. Visitors to our site can read the questions and answers that were marked as “public” by the author.

Recent Questions
View All Questions arrow_forward