Why so many red barns?
Many barns in the northern United States are painted red with a white trim. One possible reason for this is that ferric oxide, which is used to create red paint, was the cheapest and most readily available chemical for farmers in New England New and nearby areas. Another possible reason is that Ferric Oxide also acts a preservative thus painting a barn with a paint rich in this pigment helps to preserve one of the most important structures on a farm. Ferrous oxide in the red paint was poisonous to moss and mold. This kept the vegetation from growing on the wood leading to a longer life for the boards. Vegetation causes wood to retain moisture which in turn leads to premature decay. According to Uncle John’s Big Bathroom Book, farmers learned that red is a color that retains heat well, thus keeping animals warmer in winter. Supposedly, they used milk with rust from nails etc. to make the paint for their barns. Red paint was also the cheapest paint to buy and many barns were painted red
