Help needed re. indoor stables

[huntley]

As it is now pouring with rain, again, has anyone on here built from scratch a barn with indoor stables? I cannot decide whether it is better/cheaper to build it from breeze blocks or buy a purpose made timber barn. Find that timber stables get very hot in the summer so was wondering whether the barns do the same. Would be very grateful for anybody's experiences/advice. Thanks.

 

[BubbleDog]

My horse usually likes indoor type stabling more so I've been in a few. I find that if there is no wood at all unless you have got absolutely superb ventilation you can sometimes have a touch of condensation problems with block as the get cold and stay cold whereas wood stays warmer and does not allow moisture to condense on it. Also, wood has a tendency to absorb moisture as well so it will regulate the presence of moisture anyway. If I was doing it myself I would probably choose block but with wooden partitions or something like that.

 

[catherinep]

Hi,

You really need a specialist to advise you.....we buiilt our 30' x 120' barn last year - concrete panels to 5' and timber cladding above with concrete panels as partitions as my stables are 15' x 15'. It was not the cheapest way to go but has been absolutely fantastic - airy in summer, well ventilated in winter (I also keep sheep so ventilation is a must)

where are you based? can put you in touch with the chaps who did ours -they were marvellous.

 

[SusieT]

I wouldn't have a timber stable at all, personal opinion but like breezeblocks..

 

[Booboos]

For what it's worth I have wooden stables and no probelms with heat because they were designed with windows and cut through sections to create cross breezes (windows can be shut in the winter) as well as a lot of roof vents.

In general the larger the building the less of a problem with heat as hot air moves up so the trick is to have high ceilings. A tall barn with roof vents, cross windows and barn doors at either end will never get too hot no matter what the material, at least not with the kind of weather we get in the UK (if you are based abroad in a sunnier place then building in the shade with double brick/block and tiled roof is the way to go).