Hay barns, equipment sheds, horse barns with a tack room and tractor shops: these are the buildings that farm and ranch owners around Harrah call us about, and the questions are practical. How wide a door does the baler need? Will the roof hold up in hail? Can I keep the price low and add a lean-to later? We build pre-engineered agricultural buildings and answer those questions in plain terms.
Harrah sits in the Cross Timbers country and in Tornado Alley, and summer afternoons often top 100 degrees. That is a hard climate for a building. Wind and hail test the frame and the roof, and heat tests the animals and the equipment inside. We choose the frame, the roof panel and the ventilation to suit, and we show the owner what each upgrade adds to the price.
Plenty of Harrah buyers are not full-time farmers. They are people with a few acres, a truck, a tractor and a pile of gear that needs a roof. A simple three-sided shed or an enclosed barn with a concrete floor is often enough, and we price both so you can compare.
The most common request is an open-front equipment shed, because it is the cheapest way to get a tractor and implements under cover. Next is the enclosed barn with a gravel or concrete floor and one or two large sliding or overhead doors. Horse owners ask for stalls, an aisle and a tack room, and the frame can be set up for all three.
Some owners combine uses: a workshop on one end, hay storage on the other. A pre-engineered frame handles that mix well, and our agricultural buildings page shows common layouts. If you plan to rent space to neighbors, a row of storage bays is the same steel with different doors.
The standard package includes the steel frame, roof and wall panels, trim, gutters if you want them, and the doors. The foundation is a separate item, and it can be as simple as piers under the columns or as heavy as a full slab. We write the scope so you can see which parts are in and which are up to you.
We schedule, coordinate, supervise and inspect the site work, concrete, steel erection and finishes. For a small barn, you may be able to do part of it yourself, such as fencing and gravel, and we will tell you which jobs are best left to the pros.
The ground near Harrah has trees, slopes and clay in places. Think about where water runs before you choose a spot, because a barn at the bottom of a slope will flood. We set the floor above the surrounding grade, slope the pad away from the walls and plan how trucks reach it in wet weather.
Wind direction matters too. Open-front sheds should face away from the prevailing wind, and doors should not be on the windward side when possible. Trees help as a windbreak but can drop limbs on a roof. We walk the site with you and mark what to clear.
Rules depend on the lot. A farm building on agricultural land may be handled differently from one in a subdivision, and the city or county will tell you which rules apply. We ask for the parcel number and check zoning, setbacks and permit needs with the local office before we price.
Utilities are the other item. The city lists a 155 acre industrial park on Reno Avenue, about a quarter mile east of Harrah Road (Highway 270), with city water and sewer and electric service from OG&E. If you build there, utilities are near. On a rural lot, you may need a well, a septic system or a long power run, and those can cost more than the building.
The industrial park and the highway also draw small trades. Highway 270 is four lanes and connects with Interstate 40, and the city says Will Rogers International Airport is 28 miles away via I-40 and I-240. That access suits contractors, haulers and suppliers who want a shop with a loading door. See our agriculture and agribusiness and automotive and fleet pages.
The Kickapoo Turnpike also serves the area, with an exit at East Reno Avenue and another at US 62 (NE 23rd Street). It opened in its southern section on January 5, 2021, which gives drivers an option around the metro.
Hay can heat and catch fire, so we recommend ventilation and a gap between the hay and the walls or roof. Fuel, chemicals and fertilizer should be kept away from animals and ignition sources. Wiring in a barn needs to be protected from dust, moisture and rodents, and a licensed electrician should do it.
Livestock handling calls for good footing, clear exits and no sharp edges. We trim the interior of panels and detail the corners to keep animals safe. For tornado season, a barn is not a shelter, so mark a safer place for people and keep gates open to let animals move.
Size and height are first. After that come the foundation, the doors, the roof material and the insulation. A bare steel barn with a gravel floor is the lowest cost. Concrete, insulation and a liner panel add a good deal, but they also make the building quieter, cooler and easier to clean.
Storage units are a second use for some owners. A row of small bays under one roof is cheap per foot and rents steadily, and our self-storage metal buildings page explains the details. Whether it is a barn or a row of units, the best saving is to pick a standard width and let the length do the work.
Tell us what the building holds, how big your largest machine is and where it will stand. We will return a layout and a price. Neighbors may also like our Midwest City and Shawnee pages.
Measure your biggest machine, including folded arms and mirrors, then add at least two feet each side. Many owners choose a 14 or 16 foot door. Taller doors cost more, so we match the height to what actually goes through.
It can, if it is not designed for it. Ridge vents, eave openings, light-colored roofs and insulation all help. With triple-digit afternoons common, we usually suggest at least basic ventilation.
Yes. We can leave one end open so a new bay bolts on. A lean-to along the side is another cheap way to add space.
Not always. Many barns have gravel or compacted soil. Concrete helps with cleaning and heavy machinery, and a mix of the two is common.
The city reports a water system with room beyond its current use and a wastewater plant running at about 40 percent. That suggests utilities can support new buildings on city service, but confirm your own tap and fees with the city.
Tell us about the site, the building and the schedule, and we will set up a review of scope, schedule and permitting.
See the services, building types and industries we plan and manage across Oklahoma.