Budget vs. Expensive stables?

K

kit279

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 January 2008
Messages
3,612
Visit site
I'm probably going to build a yard from scratch at some point this year and doing my sums to see what I can afford to do. Basically, I'd like to put in 10-12 boxes (not an american barn because of planning issues), haybarn, tack room and washdown box.

Looking at some price quotes, the difference in price between the more budget and the standard stabling is about £5K or thereabouts. Is there a great deal of difference between them? I'm keen to do the yard well and it does need to look pretty smart as it will be used by a professional rider but I wonder whether the extra money might be better spent on stuff we can do ourselves - such as staining the wood etc. The priority has to be the horses though so I won't compromise on cheaper stuff if it actually makes a big difference to the horses' safety/quality of life etc.

Any experiences or recommendations welcome.
 
i put in a new row of wooden stables at my last place, and 3 large mobile shelters. i did a lot of research, got samples of all tongue and groove boarding etc. some of the 'tongues' were so thin that i could snap them off with my fingers... no wonder a lot of wooden stables have the backs pop off etc.
i chose Clydesdale and was really pleased with them, the tongue and groove is very strong and runs vertical (unlike most stable manufacturers') which means the water runs off quicker i guess, they were excellent to deal with and did exactly what i wanted with no problems at all (extra-wide stable doors, things like that.) highly recommended.
 
sometimes theres a difference and sometimes you are just paying extra for the name. Get hold of the spec of each and go through with fine toothcomb, at 5k difference its worth your time!
Look at the guarantees they give, visit some previous customers with their stables, look at samples of the materials (eg standard OSB lining to stable would not hold my 17hh hunters bum when he needs a scratch, so had to upgrade!). Also if you have high winds, make sure you use a local maker who builds to withstand them etc.
 
Totally agree with Haffie's comments on carefully checking the spec. i was shocked by how little some of the budget companies provided. The comment on OSB was on the mark as well. It doesn't even hold a connie - we've had to put in stokbord. Marine ply would be a better option than OSB for competition horses.

OH did the stain on our stables (footprint 124msq) using one of those fence sprays sold at DIY stores.

Recommend getting a builder to do the guttering, rather than the stable installers.

Might be worth doing a post in CR asking what professionals expect in a leased yard.
 
If you are doing the painting yourselves then recommend either using a fence sprayer as niceweatheronly recommends, to make the repeated coats bearable, or use eco paint as generally altho lots more expensive per tin it has many times more pigment in it, which means way fewer coats. For me, doing a small barn by myself, that was a real benefit, also I find it boring painting over something thats already painted! Could only bear to do 2 coats. Also it is linseed oil based and flexes and stretches rather than cracks in extreme weather (which we get lots of).
We used Saltire stables (up in Scotland) and were happy with them. Ironically we had no prob with mini barn, think it was preferred as we are a farm so it kind of looked more farm-y.
 
We built a block of 4 (2 x14x12 and 2x 12x12) plus a 10 x 12 feed / tack room using block work with onduline roof and galvanised ridge and the concrete base. This also included a large concrete yard area 10 feet in front of the boxes and another 20ft x 12 ft, all for less than £10,000. this was actually cheaper than some of the wooden stable companies,, but we did do alot ourselves (handy husband) All we have to do now is render them and paint samecolour as our house. I have some big horses one likes a good bumscratch and the other pushes the door at feed times and i doubt a wooden block would cope with that. Planning was not a problem, none needed as they are within the boundary of by garden. If it has to be wood then go for the best you can afford. A friend has a block by a leading maker and they are looking very tired now.
 
We had a local stable guy build ours, not built from tongue and groove but V Board which is much stronger, 4ft overhangs, high doors filly metalled, lined with full 12mm ply all for the same price (well slightly less) than the 'value' ranges.

Guy based S Linc / N Cambs - if you're local I can pass on his details but build is excellent
 
I have some hancox internals and they are excellent been in 5 yrs.

However i am just having completed 5 14x12 stables with 10ft overhang,tackroom,feedroom,shoeing area and storage barn 120ft long in total.Designed and built to my spec and it is looking fab.It has been done by west of england stabling and the stables are so strong and their quote was much better than any other i had.
I am not very local to you but more than local to see them
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top