bayport@yall.theatl.social to Asklemmy@lemmy.mlEnglish · 1 year agoWhy are barns in the United States often red?i.imgur.comimagemessage-square15fedilinkarrow-up14arrow-down10
arrow-up14arrow-down1imageWhy are barns in the United States often red?i.imgur.combayport@yall.theatl.social to Asklemmy@lemmy.mlEnglish · 1 year agomessage-square15fedilink
minus-squareLaticauda@lemmy.calinkfedilinkarrow-up2·1 year agoActual answer: back in the day the sealant that farmers coated barns with often had iron oxide in it because it helps prevent rot and mold, and the iron oxide would turn the sealant mixture red. Now people just do it because it’s a tradition.
minus-squaredoggle@lemmy.dbzer0.comlinkfedilinkarrow-up1·1 year agoIt also happens to be cheap. Other pigments are hard to manufacture. Rust is easy. Even today red paint is sometimes cheaper, especially when ordered in bulk.
Actual answer: back in the day the sealant that farmers coated barns with often had iron oxide in it because it helps prevent rot and mold, and the iron oxide would turn the sealant mixture red. Now people just do it because it’s a tradition.
It also happens to be cheap. Other pigments are hard to manufacture. Rust is easy.
Even today red paint is sometimes cheaper, especially when ordered in bulk.