3/06/2011
Building the Barn
We finally have our barn.
I'm waiting for rain to see how the drainage is. If we need to, we can move some dirt around to get the flow right.
I found the plans on the internet and hired a builder with a crew to get the main structure done.
It was up in a week, and the horses watched the entire process.
Next is figuring out fitting out the stalls. The plan is for it to be a 3 stall shed row when I'm done.
Since it's starting to warm up here I'm in no hurry to get the walls up.
Right now I'm investigating stall mats and stall fronts. Maybe we can buy a little at a time and be ready for the next winter.

 
Getting it square and laying out the corner posts had to be very precise.

A forest of posts.
 
Ready for the fun work. It was exciting when it started taking shape.
 
I liked how the design used some features to make building easier. I also like the massive posts and doubled 2x8 rafters.
 
Almost ready for the metal roof.
 
I know the hip roof takes longer with all the metal cutting, but I really like how it looks.

This is the part I like. Not trusses, but an open, interesting roof structure.
 
The horses get to use 1/2 of it. One side is open to the pasture with the trees and the other side is open to the main grass pasture. Once there are stalls, we'll have to see how it all works. I do want mats down, so they can stop eating their hay off the dirt.
 
Now we've got their hay stored on this side of the electric tape. It's easier than hauling it from the garage. That might be the first stall to get built, so it's protected all the way around.