How to build a polebarn/shelter

[Patchworkpony]

I want to put a 15' x 12' shelter/polebarn to give shelter from the summer flies. Field shelters are a terrible price and I'm sure with help from our strong gardener we could build one ourselves. Has anyone ever done this? Was it easy to do and what did it cost approx? All encouraging answers gratefully received.

 

[amandap]

I want to put a 15' x 12' shelter/polebarn to give shelter from the summer flies. Field shelters are a terrible price and I'm sure with help from our strong gardener we could build one ourselves. Has anyone ever done this? Was it easy to do and what did it cost approx? All encouraging answers gratefully received.

Take advice and it won't be cheap I'm afraid to say! I've just had one built but against building walls. The risk of winds getting under it and lifting it are increased so it needs good footings for the strong supports. Luckily mine is sheltered from prevailing winds but it still had to be substantial.

 

[magicmoose]

Dry Rot posted this excellent link on another thread:

"Not moveable, but you can see how I constructed my field shelter here (scroll down below the stables):

http://www.morrichhighlandponies.co.uk/newprojects.htm

If you can't get telegraph poles, you might be able to get larch from a forestry estate or the Forestry Commission. Anyway, there are telegraph poles and telegraph poles. Some are rejects because they have "heart rot", i.e. they are rotten in the middle."

 

[amandap]

If you can't get telegraph poles, you might be able to get larch from a forestry estate or the Forestry Commission. Anyway, there are telegraph poles and telegraph poles. Some are rejects because they have "heart rot", i.e. they are rotten in the middle."

We used round steel posts ? from a railway station and the beams were bolted onto them.

 

[Dry Rot]

I thinned some of my woodlands last year (which sounds a bit more impressive than it is!) and have some lovely larch poles I am intending turning into field shelters this summer, so hopefully I will be posting more pictures. I have also invested in a post borer that goes onto the 3 point linkage of the tractor, so it will be mass production!

 

[Patchworkpony]

Thanks everyone - wonder how deep the poles need to be in the ground.

 

[Fides]

We built one out of old pallets. Google pallet field shelter for ideas...

 

[Patchworkpony]

Fides - what a really great idea. Any photos?

 

[Fides]

Not at the same place any more so can't I'm afraid... If you google wooden pallet field shelter or wooden pallet chicken coops there's loads of ideas...

 

[Fides]

I wanted something like this...

And got something like this...

 

[Dry Rot]

Thanks everyone - wonder how deep the poles need to be in the ground.

If I remember correctly, my poles were 12 foot long and the shelter was 8 foot high at the front, so four foot into the ground. But I am in the Scottish Highlands and my soil is just sand. I probably went a bit over the top as my neurotic architect convinced me it would blow away if I did not make it strong enough. He usually designs hospitals….

 

[trojanpony]

Yes we built one one with hard standing 12 by 24 last year for well under 2k. These guys gave us a great flat pack.. www.bridgelandgrangefarm.co.uk
And five of us (three men) put it up in about 2.5 days. Thankfully my dad knew what he was doing! But yes it can be done.

 

[wench]

I'd be checking if I needed pp before starting any work!

 

[Patchworkpony]

Fides - how creative, thank you for showing me that.

Thanks wench - but it would be inside the garden facing into the field so no need for planning thank goodness.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The pallet field shelter is an interesting idea. I can see the attraction of plentiful ventilation through the gaps between the boards. However, those same gaps are just asking for a horse to get a foot or leg stuck through them if the horse kicks out at the walls. Also. i wonder how resilient they would be if the horse decided to lean against them for a good itch.

IMHO a field shelter should be at least as robust as a a stable, as they have to withstand a good deal of equine abuse.

I have two purpose built field shelters. They are great and can cope with a hard life, I can't think how I managed without them.

 

[Fides]

The pallet field shelter is an interesting idea. I can see the attraction of plentiful ventilation through the gaps between the boards. However, those same gaps are just asking for a horse to get a foot or leg stuck through them if the horse kicks out at the walls. Also. i wonder how resilient they would be if the horse decided to lean against them for a good itch.

IMHO a field shelter should be at least as robust as a a stable, as they have to withstand a good deal of equine abuse.

I have two purpose built field shelters. They are great and can cope with a hard life, I can't think how I managed without them.

Mine was lined with thick ply on the inside like a wooden stable. Was as robust as a wooden stable too