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Post by horsehappy on Nov 16, 2021 1:59:05 GMT
having just gotten into horses at a late part of my life we decided to buy two horses and now we need a barn or run in. i suggested a barn that is 30 x 26 so we have storage for hay and the tack we need . any suggestions will be appreciated. as to perhaps what we need as a floor plan for lets say if the horse family grown 4 stalls. lol yes i expect it to grow.
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Post by horselover4life on Nov 17, 2021 18:04:13 GMT
Where do you live, as in state and inland, coastal, mountain, desert sort of living conditions as suggestions from me would vary greatly on what the terrain and climate the animals will live in. How handy are you to do some building like finishing off or do you want it constructed to completion?
What kind of budget do you have and how much outside maintenance do you want to do? Painting, or sided? Metal structure? Pole barn style or enclosed from the get-go?
How big are the current horses needing housed as layout of a barn is so important to utilize every inch you can...stall sizes you intend to make? Or a general area for all to hang out in?
Oh, the wheels are spinning on what can be made...
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Post by horselover4life on Nov 17, 2021 18:06:29 GMT
Forget a important one...
Are you limited on size of not being able to go bigger, wider and longer?
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Post by horsehappy on Nov 20, 2021 1:00:37 GMT
Hi im in the north east where the weather is cold.  wet etc.. and i have plenty of room to put up a 30 x 60 barn but i also want to use it for storage for hay and perhaps a tractor. i am fencing in the property with electric braid and posts. and i have 4 horses now all about 15 -16 hands. also i need some room to store hay and perhaps use an outbuilding for most of that. or round bales. we are kinds of handy as we can ask family members to help with the inside. the outside needs to be done by professionals and i want a metal roof. so much to consider  |
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Post by horselover4life on Nov 20, 2021 22:52:21 GMT
OK...so if you have "handy" available and willing... 
I'll share some ideas and things we learned from doing our own and making mistakes..
I would start with a pole barn existence that you can finish and enclose at your whim and want.
Minimum of a 10' rafter height for the safety of your horses, your ability to drive your tractor inside, horse trailer inside and not whack the roof-line and to get a delivery truck of hay inside to stack and store if that is what you decide to do.
Pole barns can come in most any size, are easily added on to and using existing structural posts make great corners for stall walls to be attached to.
My barn is a pole barn. My stalls are 12x12 box stalls and my horses are 16 hands and fit easily, comfortably in each stall so every horse can lie down to rest if they so wish, easily turn around and or stretch out to urinate as geldings do.
This is the link to the thread/story here with pictures shared of what we have/had when we stated our project..
ETA: My apologies as the picture link I had via photobucket is not good anymore...I will try to find and place some of the pictures if you would like...please let me know.  horseadventures.freeforums.net/thread/139/pictures-added-new-barn-progress
What we were told by the pole barn manufacturer we went to directly to purchase is any build is most economical to do sizes in multiples of 4'.... So, 12' stall walls are a multiple of 4' .
Overall size of 36' or 40' would be more economical to purchase with less waste then continue to larger sizes of 44' , 48' so on and so forth. You can go think we were told 60' clear span rafter ability..
A pole barn is also measured for usable space {on mine} from the post corner not roof edge which actually is larger with overhang.
A word of strong advice is we have a metal roof...insulate it or lay a plywood sheathing underneath for noise abatement cause rain falling is deafening and condensation from exhaled air in winter weather then drips on backs when morning sun now warms the roofing and your stabled horses now get soaked as do you working in the barn...on concrete accumulating dripped water makes for slippery conditions dangerous.
Love the metal roof and ease of it but wish we knew to insulate it and or make it quieter for the horses who reside below it...
If you do your hay stored in the barn, place a ceiling over the top of that area if you decide to not put that insulation/barrier or face the possibility of hay stored inside being ruined from drip, drip, drip daily it is going to do. We built our barn in Central Florida, but lived on Long Island having had horses their and I worked in the horse industry for more years than I can count professionally...so learned good and bad, friendly building layout and PITA too... Do gutters and plan for water abatement as it is incredible how much water pours off the roof and makes gully holes in the surrounding dirt quickly which then can make mud or ice in certain weather conditions seasonal.
So many choices of building products can be used in the barn building department...look for local sawmills to start your project and only use P/T lumber for longevity of a very expensive project.
Prefab barns are fantastic and sometimes cost effective.
I happen to find Horizon Structures were not ridiculously expensive and offered many options of design and just looking at their plans...the ideas from them were fantastic. There are many quality builders though who can do basics to allow you to then customize the finishing to your wants.
If you are handy as you say, sounds crazy but look at Tuff Shed products as they are made with 2x4 construction, 16" on center and real wood walls but have a insulating factor to them, minimal exterior maintenance needed {painting} and have a great warranty to start with. A bit of imagination, the building can be custom made to whatever you want basic exterior construction made...they are constructed on your property by a team of company workers.
Love cinder block barns for safety reasons but in winter they are darn cold and damp feeling inside. Summer they can be cooling in morning but also retain heat well into the night.
I can also recommend because of the ground freeze/thaw cycle that no matter what you do you raise that building 12" + above grade to hopefully prevent seepage or flooding from the ground changes that occur every season change worst being winter to spring thaw...pick your barn location placement very carefully to allow prevailing cooling breezes, warmth of winter sun and light to penetrate into the barn.
Make any pad large enough to allow horses to enter and exit off a flat surface and if you plan on exterior cross-ties or using barn overhangs for weather protection from bad weather... 12' wide sound ridiculous but is practical to use, practical to keep your barn insides dry from driving rains/snows and nasties. I personally have no problem laying a concrete pad under a entire structure for level and dryer year-round existence...you must though bed stalls thick and or mat and still use shavings/straw to avoid accumulating stench of urine...beware soaked sand/dirt can also reek unbearable if not properly cleaned and sanitized daily over time.
When you get to electrical...conduit, metal or plastic for all electrical to be run through so no snacking rodents make a meal and fire danger of your barn..
Electrical plugs and many of them so no extension cords and if your plan is heated buckets, at every stall and would suggest GFCI for safety reasons throughout the barn and a few exterior outlets placed too.
Excuse my long and "authoritative" sounding post....it is meant in the friendliest way to make your project enjoyable, cost efficient and friendly a end result derived. My husband and I built all the barn including the actual pole barn, we were part of those who put it up in our yard...a labor of love we enjoyed doing and would only make a few modifications learned by making mistakes... 
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Post by horsehappy on Nov 23, 2021 0:56:10 GMT
im re reading this over a few times,, all great advise,,
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Post by horselady on Nov 27, 2021 1:29:00 GMT
hl4l has said it the best, but consideriing the area you want to build make sure water run off is going away from the barn. i rather not have hay in a loft . who want tolug the hay up than toss it down.?
make the stall doors wider than you think you need. and leave the aiselway about 8 - 9 feet wide so a tractor or golf cart can be driven in to help clean the stalls.
conduit pie over all the wires to avoid rodents chewing
lights in the stalls. on separte switch as well as aisle way and tack room and utility room. and if you are having water inside the barn make sure the stantion is there.
i do not like alot of windows. its wind that goes on the horses backs. and make sure the sliding doors are above the ground so if it snows they do not have to be dug out . so much more thats just a little.
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wet etc.. and i have plenty of room to put up a 30 x 60 barn but i also want to use it for storage for hay and perhaps a tractor. 
