What Are Barn Curtains: How They Work

Barns are the second most essential structures in every farmer’s life after their central household. While the intended purpose of a barn curtain determines its possible establishment, it remains a crucial part of the construction materials.

A barn curtain is the most cost effective and versatile way of regulating ventilation and temperature in different agricultural setups. Whether running a greenhouse, growing crops, or rearing livestock, you can never go amiss with barn curtains for your beloved livestock. Even better, you can engage an expert in evaluating the above factors for the most outstanding results possible.

The curtains are typically rigid and ventilated man-made walls created to shield animals against adverse climatic conditions. This blog will dive deeper into barn curtains to prepare you for your next purchase.

History of Barn Curtains

The use of barn curtains (also called Agricultural curtains) began in the early 1900s when farmers started employing canvas tarps to shield their barns and protect the essentials. As years progressed, the designs and types of barn curtains advanced through better manufacturing processes thanks to technological improvements.

Barns curtains from the mid-20th century were made of more durable and weather-resistant materials, such as vinyl-coated polyester, than the initial canvas. Currently, in the 21st century, experts make barn curtains from an assortment of materials, such as woven polypropylene and polyethene, and with various designs and strengths.

The role of barn curtains has also advanced from protecting animals and other essentials to monitoring ventilation, temperature, and humidity while enhancing privacy within the structures. While enjoying the maximum benefits of barn curtains, farmers should look forward and contribute to more great technologies for manufacturing artificial walls.

How Do Barn Curtains Work?

Now that you’ve grasped how barn curtains came into existence and evolved across different years, you can confidently move to learn how the walls function. Barn curtains are made of large sheets of other materials that are hung vertically on the barn sidewalls and can be opened and closed as required.

Materials

As highlighted earlier, modern barn curtains are mostly made from vinyl, polyethene, or polypropylene and can be operated through the push and pull mechanism. Thanks to technology, experts have also developed automated barn curtains which operate by sensing the upcoming or current weather conditions and acting accordingly.

Climate

For instance, when the weather is cold, barn curtains are closed to prevent the entry of unfavourable air while retaining the pre-existing heat and humidity within the barn. In contrast, during summer or when the climate is naturally hot, the curtains are opened to allow fresh air into the structures while facilitating maximum ventilation and achieving a safe surrounding for the livestock and other fundamentals.

By regulating ventilation and temperature in your barns, the curtains can help enhance animal productivity and health while cutting down costs used on energy and other agricultural processes.

Dual Barn Curtains

For more excellent outcomes, farmers can incorporate dual barn curtains, which can be operated manually and automatically. You can also contain other agricultural technologies, such as heaters and fans, into your barn curtains to achieve a more comfortable and fully controlled environment for animals, their feeds, and other items.

Most Popular Types of Barn Curtains

There are four main types of barn curtains across the globe, significantly helping farmers in their daily activities:

Insulated Barn Curtains

Insulated barn curtains are made to mainly regulate the temperature within a barn by offering an additional layer of insulation to the existing walls. They are popular in cold climates or winter when temperatures are significantly low.

Ventilation barn curtains

These barn curtains are designed to enhance airflow within a barn thanks to their mesh-like materials that promote maximum ventilation.

Drop barn curtains

As the term suggests, drop barn curtains are lowered and raised vertically to regulate temperature and airflow within a barn.

Roll-up barn curtains

They are operated nearly similarly to drop barn curtains. Instead of lowering and raising vertically, they are pulled through a rope or cable system to allow for natural light and increase the airflow within a barn. Releasing the string enables the slats to roll back down for closure.

Factors to Consider Before Purchasing Barn Curtains

If you’re looking forward to purchasing barn curtains for your beloved livestock and other agricultural operations, there are various factors you should consider before settling your mind.

For instance, the type of barn curtain you desire should at least align with your requirements, as each design has unique advantages and drawbacks. Also, remember to stay within your budget to avoid financial constraints when purchasing barn curtains.

Climate

A crucial factor for barn curtains is your agricultural region’s prevailing and primary climatic conditions. Farmers in scorching areas might need barn curtains with extra ventilation for maximum protection.

Installation

You should also consider the method of installation you desire, which should strictly align with the type of barn curtains you wish to purchase and other installation requirements.

Maintenance

Every farmer would love to acquire easy-to-clean and durable barn curtains forgetting that the material used should adhere to their prevailing climate condition. For instance, vinyl-coated polyester barn curtains are best suited for dry and hot regions thanks to their strong resistance to UV rays and durability.

Dimenssions

Lastly, farmers should adequately measure their barns’ height, width, and length before purchasing or customizing barn curtains to ascertain that they have chosen the correct size. Completing the list of factors to consider before buying barn curtains is the type of material used.