Field shelter made from scaffolding

[ABC]

Hello

Random question, can you make a field shelter out of scaffolding and tarpaulin? It might sound a stupid idea, but I think it might work?

Second question, what kind of scaffolding should I look for? (I'm intending to ebay it, but there's so many different options Im clueless )

Thanks in advance

 

[Fiagai]

Probably not a good idea imo...scaffolding is nortoriously unstable unless erected on a solid base and even then could be dangerous in high winds especially where covered with tarpaulin. A horse scratching itself on a post could bring down the whole caboudle like a deck of cards, risking injury to any thing in range....

 

[ABC]

I got told if you bury it two feet underground and refill with soil and sand etc then it is very solid and counts as a removable field shelter. You can also add concrete to stabilise it even more but obvs that's permanant ??

 

[somethingorother]

would you be happy to risk it falling on your horse? i wouldnt. not convinced it wouldnt have sharp parts with the bolt etc that hold it together either...

 

[SpruceRI]

Until recently, I had a hay barn made out of scaffolding and tarps which worked very well. But wouldn't risk a horse in it.

 

[Dry Rot]

I got grant aid some time ago to erect a large polytunnel for lambing the sheep. To qualify for grant, I had to secure the ends of each hoop into 2ft x 2ft blocks of concrete. I think that says it all, really. A scaffolding open sided shed is going to be subjected to enormous pressures from the wind and unless strongly anchored will get blown away.

Edited to add that I erected a field shelter with advice from an architect friend. It is maybe over kill but, on his advice, the 10 inch timber posts are sunk four foot into the ground with rammed hardcore around them!

 

[pricklyflower]

My o/h is a scaffolder and there are various things you can do to make them more stable but nothing will make them as good as a purpose built shelter. Also depending on what scaffolding you use, most of it will have sharp edges where the poles are joined together. Cuplock stuff has smoother joins but it won't be as stable as the more traditional methods so what you gain in safety for the joins you lose in solid structure.

O/H keeps offering to make me a haybarn with the stuff but personally think it will be too much of an eyesore for neighbours and don't particularly want a flappy thing round the yard.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I def wouldnt risk it. Too much risk of sharp edges, too unstable unless anchored by concrete and then its not temporary in planning terms (and with the price of concrete you might end up paying as much as a cheap wooden shelter.

One area not to try to cut cost too much. The horses will use it as a scratching post and put all their weigth against it....

 

[scarymare]

IMO it would be madness. I've lost two really well made field shelters now to the wind (both saltire stables). Trick turned out to punch holes in the upper regions of all sides to let the wind out. Suspect your idea would act more as a sail than a shelter when the wind blows.

 

[Miss L Toe]

I would have a re-think, do you really need a shelter if the horses have rugs on they will be fine, shelters like you suggest will lead to neighbours and planning getting themselves in a tizz [some authorities have asked for purpose built shelters on skids to be removed recently].
Please do not build anything for horses unless you have the correct materials and a good builder.
The main problem I see in horses in winter is mud fever and unless you put down a lorry load of hardcore you are going to get the area puddled, which is just what you don't want.

 

[Miss L Toe]

IMO it would be madness. I've lost two really well made field shelters now to the wind (both saltire stables). Trick turned out to punch holes in the upper regions of all sides to let the wind out. Suspect your idea would act more as a sail than a shelter when the wind blows.

The idea of Yorkshire boarding as used in cattle shed is to allow ventilation in and out, otherwise as you say, in an exposed situation, the wind gets inside and the roof comes off.