Friday, December 17, 2010

Red barn

Why is it that so many barns are painted red? Is it just tradition?

It turns out that centuries ago farmers preserved the wood on their barns with linseed oil. Often they would add ferrous oxide, rust, to the oil for added protection from wood rotting mold and moss. The rust contributed a dark orangish red color which has led to the tradition of painting barns red.

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