DIY Mobile stables - worth it to save money?

[kit279]

I'd like to get a set of mobile stables in so that I have somewhere for the horses in an emergency as full-time brick-built stables probably won't get built for a while. They are a temporary thing so I'm reluctant to spend enormous amounts of money on them and two mobile stables are around the £3K mark.

I know a very nice reliable joiner - would it be worth asking him to build me some mobile stables as then I wouldn't pay the mark up, just the cost of the materials and his labour. Would it actually be any cheaper?

Any thoughts?

 

[Slightly Foxed]

Hmm, not sure. It depends on how cheaply your joiner can buy the materials. I guess the stable manufacturers get their materials in bulk, therefore cheaper. It's worth asking for a quote though.

 

[Honey08]

I'd definately ask one. The stable makers have a huge make up. As you know, anything horsey has money added on (that and weddings!).

Just be exactly sure what you want -ie type of wood, kickboards etc.

I'd consider having mobile field shelters made (they're usually much cheaper, and could go into your fields when your real stables are done..) We had two made - they were about £1100, and then had doors made for them by a joiner for a couple of hundred..

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Or get the stables made by the joiner and then buy some second hand stable doors on eBay, we got some fantastic ones, hard as iron and very very strong, for peanuts, cheaper than having any made and much better wood, and already lined with galvanised metal sheet on top.

 

[joeanne]

Might just be easier and cheaper to buy a set. We looked into making a set a while back and the wood cost more than buying them ready made did!!!