Fabric Covered vs. Metal/Wood Dairy Barns: Which Offers Better ROI and Long-Term Savings

When it’s time to establish or expand your operations, making the decision between fabric vs. traditional dairy barns isn’t as simple as you may expect. A traditional wood pole barn may seem like the easiest and most straightforward option, but it creates several key gaps in areas of efficiency, ease of maintenance, and the health of your animals. 

Choosing the right structure for your dairy barn isn’t just about upfront costs — it’s about long-term savings, productivity, and animal welfare. In this guide, we compare fabric vs. traditional dairy barns to help you determine which offers the best return on investment.

Consider the Fabric Covered Building ROI

The first consideration for fabric vs. traditional dairy barns is the cost. Not only do you need to consider the cost to purchase and install, but you also need to maintain it over time.Dairy barn projects come in all shapes and sizes, but there are several key advantages to choosing a fabric dairy barn. A fabric roof building:

•  Has a lower cost per square foot than most traditional dairy barn structures. That means you are immediately saving money Not accurate at this time. Wood frame buildings are up to 20% less,. 
• Typically has significantly lower (or even eliminated) utility costs, especially compared to structures requiring electricity for artificial lighting
• Offers faster installation with lower overall dairy barn construction costs for labour and setup compared to traditional structures
• Has far lower maintenance costs for dairy barns than traditional structures
• Lasts for decades when professionally installed

Overall, fabric covered building ROI vs. traditional dairy barns offers no comparison when it comes to cost. Fabric buildings cost less to purchase & install, and contribute to additional savings over time. The fabric building cost savings extend for the lifetime of the structure.

Fabric vs. Traditional Dairy Barns: Is Fabric Safe and Effective for Your Dairy Farm?

While cost-effective dairy barn solutions are an essential consideration, they are not worthwhile unless you have a quality setup that facilitates a healthy living space for your animals and ensures employee safety.

A traditional dairy barn structure seems to be the simple solution, but the reality is that a fabric building could offer several core benefits beyond just a focus on cost savings. When you choose an agriculture fabric building, you’ll notice several improvements to your dairy barn.

For example, one of the core fabric building advantages is to your cattle themselves. These buildings provide the perfect, most natural-like space for your animals. The result is that your cattle are healthy, happy, and more productive than in a traditional barn. When you consider fabric vs. traditional dairy barns from that perspective, you’ll notice:

• The natural lighting in dairy barns contributes to the health of your cattle
• The column-free interior allows you to maximize space, producing a better space for your cattle
• A thoughtful fabric dairy barn design also enhances the ventilation within these spaces, allowing proper airflow to keep animals healthy
• The shadow-free environment can also contribute to a safer workspace for your team, minimizing costs and risks

What Makes the Cost and Value of a Fabric Barn So Much Better?

You’ve seen that the dairy barn construction costs are lower, maintenance is less, and cattle are healthy. When you need sustainable barn construction that actually enhances milk production, here’s why Britespan is the ideal solution:

• The column-free interior allows for a space of 24’ to 210’ wide to any length, providing maximum use of your space
• Hot-dip galvanized steel offers a higher level of protection to the structure, reducing ongoing costs, extending the lifespan, and ensuring reliability in the harshest of climates
• Choose the accessories you desire, including fire suppression, ridge vents, insulation, and doors, in the setup that works for how you need it to

As cost-effective building solutions, fabric dairy barns are a great option. They are no less durable than traditional pole barns and typically can provide you with more versatility over time. As you think about dairy barn construction costs, especially when you desire energy efficiency in dairy barns to promote environmentally friendly production, you need fabric.

Fabric vs. Traditional Dairy Barns: Choose Britespan for the Solution You Need

At Britespan, we offer a comprehensive line of fabric building profiles ideal for your dairy barn. With a wide range of features and customized solutions, you will find that having a fabric building installed is not only more cost-effective but often better for your cattle. Contact Britespan to discuss the style, size, and features that are right for your needs.