You, your sales representative and an excavator—either one you’ve selected or one supplied by your builder—meet on location to discuss the details of site preparation. You’ll mark out the boundaries of the barn; then work can begin on creating...
Several flatbed trucks turning onto your property will give you the first view of your new barn. Your main responsibility is to make sure that all delivery trucks and construction crews have total access to the site, not only...
A secure, level foundation is one of the most crucial elements of your barn because it affects the stability of the entire structure. Wind, rain, ice, snow and seismic forces all put significant stress on buildings, so the foundation...
The best floor surface for the barn aisle is slightly roughened concrete (a.k.a., cement) because it aids hoof traction. Smooth concrete is more suitable for tack, laundry and toilet areas because it is easier to sweep. Concrete is extremely...
Blanket experts agree that whatever blanket you select, it must fit properly. “A blanket that is too big is actually more likely to cause rubs than one that is too small, and can be dangerous,” warns Liz Wilkinson, product...
Obviously, choosing a fireproof and water shedding roof to eliminate structural damage is more important than aesthetics, but today you have many choices for roofing materials that combine beauty, safety and function, including: steel, asphalt shingle, tile and slate....
The biggest dilemma you’ll face is choosing among the vast array of options and combinations available; again, safety and ventilation should be the most important factors.A general rule of thumb for how big your stalls should be is no...
Many barn manufacturers have affiliations with finance companies to facilitate that part of the building process. You should check out all your financial options before selecting a lender. Home equity loans are currently popular because the interest is often...
Your choice should give equal priority to drainage and ventilation. A barn situated on a beautiful spot will be a misery to you and your horses if, after an inch of rainfall, their stalls look like cross-country water jumps....
Most horse barns today are post-frame buildings, so the “side walls” are 6-by-6 inch columns spaced from 8 to 12 feet apart depending upon the design of your building. Horizontal boards (“girts”), typically 2-by-6s, are nailed to the outside...
