If you are designing a pole building in West Virginia and plan on using it as a workshop of any kind, lighting will be a critical factor in ensuring that your building is functional. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until the building is complete to decide how you will illuminate its interior. Custom pole barns in West Virginia can benefit from several lighting sources if these potential sources are considered carefully during the design phase.
#1 – Windows
We always recommend that our customers take advantage of natural lighting as much as possible. Windows are great because they can help brighten your barn’s interior and improve ventilation on warm days. Additional windows can quickly increase construction costs, so consider carefully how many you need and where they should be placed.
Custom horse barn builders in West Virginia often install Dutch doors in horse stalls. When the lower half of a Dutch door is closed, and the upper half is open, this helps to illuminate the horse stall’s interior and increase ventilation.
#2 – Overhead Electrical Lights
Electrical lighting is the best way to ensure your barn is well-lit regardless of the time of day and the weather. However, you should also consider how much of the building you will use as a workspace. There is no benefit in lighting an area you aren’t using. Consider separating the lighting in your building into zones. That way, you can turn the lights on wherever you are working and keep them off in areas that aren’t occupied.
#3 – Sidelight Belts
Sidelight belts are typically installed on the walls of pole barns and workshops near the roof. Instead of using opaque steel, a narrow band of translucent siding is installed, allowing sunlight inside during the day. The great thing about sidelight belts is that they are less likely to develop leaks than windows and don’t require electricity to operate like artificial lighting.
#4 – Skylights
Although it is possible to install a proper transparent skylight like you might find in a home, installing a series of translucent panels on the roof that are placed alongside standard steel roofing panels is more common. These panels function much like a traditional skylight but require much less maintenance and are less likely to leak.
#5 – Interior Finishing
Though not technically lighting, how you paint and finish the interior of your building will greatly impact the effectiveness of the light sources you have chosen to employ. White paint or other light-colored paints will help reflect the light inside your building and contribute to greater visibility. Consider this as well when trying to decide if you want to finish out your building’s interior.
MQS Structures – Custom Post Frame Builders in West Virginia
At MQS Structures, we are post-frame and pole barn building specialists. If your barn needs repair or if you are interested in constructing a new pole building in West Virginia, we can work with you to ensure you get exactly the building you want. If you want to build custom pole barns in West Virginia, we can help. We can build a highly functional and attractive building no matter what you need.
Our founder and owner, Caleb Miller, began his building career with his Amish Mennonite family and applies the same work ethic and expert craftsmanship to every building we put up. So, if you are looking for Amish barn builders in West Virginia––you found us!
Call us today at (855) 677-3334, or contact us online to receive a free quote on your next project. We look forward to hearing from you soon! We also offer a free mock-up service on our website to help you visualize what your new pole building in West Virginia will look like.
