Moving an oversized cattle and hay storage building twelve miles to a new building site is no small task, but third generation farmer Andy Keen had a plan.
The original post frame building, constructed in 1976 by Andy’s stepfather’s uncle, was designed to serve as cattle and hay storage. However, in 2024, Andy realized that the now dilapidated building could be put to better use as storage for his growing farm equipment, but it would take time and hard work to get it there.
That’s when he partnered with Tim Friesen of Celerity Builders to make the vision a reality.
“Tim came on board,” says Andy, “and right away, I knew it was going to be good.”
The project had a few big needs, including some structural reinforcement and new doors to fit Andy’s equipment.
Door Options for Post Frame Buildings
There were a few things to consider when looking at door options for Andy’s post frame building, including pricing and design.
“Andy Keen’s door was unique because of the building… and the 50 foot clear width [that he needed],” says Tim. That’s where Diamond Doors came in.
The unique design of the building meant that width and height were limited for certain door styles, but a bifold door could easily maximize the size of the door’s clear opening. Pricing for other door options didn’t come close to what Diamond Doors could offer.
Tim had worked with Diamond Doors in the past, and Andy had heard about the company through a local Hutterite colony.
“We really like the design,” says Andy. He adds that it’s a light door, meaning that a Diamond door doesn’t put excessive strain on the building. “You’re not worried about the hardware and wear and tear.”
Plus, the overall design of the bifold door made retrofitting it to an existing building the simplest option.
“With the type of post frame building [Andy] had, we would have had to do other additions to the building [to accommodate] the weight of the other door styles,” Tim says.
But with a Diamond door? “We were able to just put the door up with a few minor alterations.”
A Bifold Door and Building That Will Last for Generations
Andy is proud of the finished project, saying that he “has a building that my son and my daughter will be able to use, and maybe their kids too.”
The Diamond bifold door is a centerpiece of the entire post frame building, and an integral part of Andy’s day-to-day operations.
“These doors, they just work so smooth and so well,” he says. “You’re never worried about them.”
With the significant investment in the cost of machinery and farm equipment nowadays, it pays to have a place to safely and securely store it. “It’s something that we know pays dividends for our farm in the future,” says Andy.
As a reliable, easy-to-operate, and secure door, a Diamond bifold door plays a key role in protecting farm equipment on Andy’s post frame building.
When asked about ease of use, Andy says that you “hit the button, they open. Hit the button, they go down. That’s peace of mind. We’re glad we chose Diamond Doors.”
Video Transcript
ANDY KEEN: Hi, my name’s Andy Keen. I’m a third generation farmer from Manitou, Manitoba. Our kids will be 4th generation on the farm here.
My stepdad’s uncle built this building in 1976, and he used it for a hay and cattle shelter.
We made a decision last year to move it home to this farm, which is about 12 miles east of where it originally was built.
He didn’t have doors on it. The wind would whip through and you’d get the weather and the snow and what have you in it, so we made the decision we were going to put doors on it.
I first found out about Diamond Doors at our local Hutterite colony here. And we really like the design.
They’re a light door and you’re not worried about the hardware and wear and tear on the door.
We made the decision that we would hire a contractor that would square the building up really good for us. In other words, get it back exactly the way it was.
Tim came on board and he right away, I knew it was going to be good.
TIM FRIESEN: My name’s Tim Friesen. I own and operate Celerity Builders and we are a general contracting company in commercial and ag buildings.
With Andy Keen’s door, it was unique because of the width of the building and he wanted that 50-foot clear width.
We considered some other options. He wanted to see the price point on some different options of doors and so we did explore that. They didn’t come close in price and with the type of post-frame building he had, we would have had to do other additions to the building, the weight of the other doors.
For the building he had, we were able to just put the door up against it with a few minor alterations and make it work.
ANDY KEEN: We have a building that my son and my daughter will be able to use, and maybe their kids too.
The Diamond doors are just an integral part of the day-to-day operations. The investment we have in machinery nowadays, to be able to put that machine away in the evening and protect it from the elements conveniently and know that it’s safe and sound, is something that we know pays dividends for our farm in the future.
These doors, they just work so smooth and so well. You’re never worried about them. Hit the button, they open, hit the button, they go down. That’s peace of mind.
We’re glad that we chose Diamond Doors.
