DIY Horse Barn Structures

Selecting the Type of Barn

• The first step is deciding what type of barn or stable you want to build.

  If your horse is mainly an outside animal, you may not need much more than a run-in shed that your horse can use to take shelter from the rain.

  An open-air pole barn is a little more advanced than a run-in shed, in that it has closeable doors, but they are still airy and are great for warmer climates because they let the breeze blow through.

  The most sophisticated style is a fully enclosed barn. The basic concept is that the barn is similar to a house. It has solid walls, doors and windows, and often electricity and basic plumbing. A barn is ideal for an area with severe weather such as bad rain storms or harsh winters, or for horse owners who want to keep their horses in the same building as hay, feed, and tack.

Planning Your Barn

• Structurally, you must make sure your barn meets the codes for where you live. Contact your local permit office to find out what permits you need to build a barn, and what codes you will have to meet to have your barn approved.

  If you live in an area that experiences earthquakes, you will want to build your barn to conform to flexibility standards that reduce the chances of the barn collapsing during a quake.

  If you live in an area affected by tropical storms and hurricanes, you will want to secure the walls and roof with hurricane ties, and might even want to consider structuring your barn out of cement.

  If your area freezes in the winter, you will want a well-insulated barn, a foundation that goes below the frost line (to avoid heaving), and possibly even heaters to keep the space relatively warm.

Construction

• Building a barn should be done with the same care as building a house. If you are not physically fit, you may want to consider recruiting hired help.

  Draw out careful blueprints of your barn, and consider discussing your plan with a construction manager or architect to make sure your plans are sound.

  Make sure the area you want to build on is on flat, high ground. If your barn is on a low spot, it may flood during storms or have drainage problems.

  You also want to ensure that if your horse is already on your property, you keep it well away from the construction area. Nails and other construction tools can be extremely dangerous if your horse steps on them. Also, when the barn is complete, be sure to completely clean the area before allowing your horse access to the barn.