Last Updated on June 15, 2020 by Allison Price
A simple horse barn protects your horses from the sun, wind, rain. It provides enough space for a horse. Are you looking to construct, design and renovate your own barn but you think it’s expensive? We have compiled some options for you in this article on how to build a horse barn on a budget.
Constructing a Horse Barn
Barns should be steady and strong enough to stand up to the weather and the horses. The size of your barn depends on how many horses you have. Construct a barn that is tall enough for your horses to put their heads up high. We have created this simple pole barn project. It uses a sloping metal roof. Simple may it be but it is safe for your horse.
Step 1
Clean the building site. Remove debris, rocks, trees and bushes.
Step 2
Dig the holes for the corner posts. Use treated wood for a structure that will last longer. Add 3 more holes in the front. The area between the corner post and the first post to the center is where you will attach the stall doors.
Step 3
Dig two for the side posts. Add three posts along the back wall. There are five posts in total for the back. The posts should create a slope for the roof.
Step 4
Mix cement to make concrete. Pour concrete around the posts in the holes to secure them. Let the concrete dry for 72 hours.
Step 5
Construct the frame of the barn using treated kick boards. Stack two of it beginning at the ground level along the back and side walls. Install kick boards in the front starting at 5 feet from the left corner post and ending 5 feet from the right. Leave a 5-foot opening at each end for stall doors. Place one kick board level with the top of the rear posts around the interior of the entire barn.
Step 6
Cover the outside walls with barn sliding. You can also use barn tin.
Step 7
Build solid walls inside the shelter and through the center on both sides of the posts. Use plywood or rough-sawn lumber.
Step 8
Build double dutch doors to fit in the two openings of the barn. Use boards as a frame and slats or plywood to cover the frame.
Step 9
Attach three hinges to both sections of the doors. Attach the hinges to the corner posts. Also, attach hook latch to the opposite of the door and hook eye to the middle front post.
Step 10
Cover the roof with plywood. You may also use oriented strand board (OSB). Finish with steel roofing material.
Choices for a Budget Horse Barn
Reliability, functionality, and style is what you need for your new horse barn. If you want to build a horse barn on a budget, you can have all three at a reasonable price. A budget horse barn is a smart choice! We have compiled 5 choices for you to get the barn you want that matches a good budget.
Built Modular
There are two main construction styles for horse barns – modular and traditional. In the traditional construction, the entire barn must be built at your site. Modular construction involves building the main pieces in a workshop. Then assembling the barn at your site. Modular barns are far more efficient and less expensive. It is absolutely your best choice if you want to build a budget horse barn.
One-Story Barn
To reduce the price tag on your barn, opt for only one level during designing. Adding a second floor adds both more material costs and labor time. Material costs and labor time raise the total price of the project. There are many benefits to having two-story barn. But if you want to build a horse barn on a budget, opting for a single-story barn is a wise choice!
Limit the Number of Stalls
Make sure that you are only building the number of stalls that you need to control the cost of your barn. You can build your barn matching the size of your farm. If you expect growing your farm or adding horses, you may want to build extra space now. By doing that, you won’t have to build a whole new barn in the coming years.
Consider the Shed Row Style
The center-aisle and shedrow barns are popular single-story barn designs. Shedrow barns will be your most cost-effective choice. They cost less and are easy to work with because they are built in a simple, stripped-down barn style.
Right Flooring for Your Horse Stable
What your horses will be standing on is also a very important consideration as you build a budget barn for them. Horses stand on their stall floor for long periods of time, which can be hard on their legs. For this reason, you need to choose carefully the flooring.
Soil, Sand or Clay
Choosing to leave the existing soil in place is inexpensive and a healthy option for your horse. But you have to maintain and keep them level and the soil may have to be replaced in time. Clay-based soils also need a lot of maintenance. Damp clay can be slippery and sticky. Sand is often used for stall floors. It is easy on the legs of your horse and non-slippery. It drains well and you can replace it once it becomes very soiled.
Wood
It was once the standard flooring material in horse stables. Horses find it easy on wood floors. Aside from that, it is warm and non-slippery when dry. Treated wood is necessary to avoid rot from urine and liquid spills.
Concrete
Concrete floor is common in stables. It is durable and easy to clean and hard to damage. But it can be slippery, textured concrete is better for stalls and aisles. If horses are kept in for long periods of time, it is safer for their legs if rubber stall mats are laid over the concrete.
Crushed Limestone
This material can be a comfortable and safe stall flooring. The benefit of this is it provides good drainage if it is properly installed. It is also a non-slip flooring. But stall mats or deep bedding will be needed to provide comfortable footing for your horse.
Grid Floors
There are types of grid floors available for stalls. These honeycomb-patterned grids are laid over a few inches of sand or crushed gravel. These are then filled with crushed gravel or stone to make a floor that drains well.
Asphalt
It is a bit easier for the horse’s legs than concrete. It can be made so it drains well. Asphalt is non-slip when first laid but may become slicker over time. It has to be laid thick enough so it does not crack. Disinfecting the porous surface may be difficult but it’s easy to clean. Asphalt is one of the less-expensive options for stall floors and aisles.
Takeaway
We all desire for our horses to stay in a comfortable shelter. The tips above will help you build an inexpensive yet good quality place for your horse to stay. You have the options to choose from depending on your preference and budget.
