Stables in old buildings?

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Iluvxcountry

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I have an old thythe barn at my house. Currently I have some temp stables up but want to put stables in the barn. It it very old and will need repairing but while we are waiting for quotes us there anything that I need to be wary of. I will only be putting in two stables. Will I need to line walls with wood/plastic. Should I replace windows and have special features installed? Thanks :)
 
Yes it is listed the floor is bricks and it is not level at all so I think we might need rubber liquid flooring to keep it level. Also we were thinking of having run in pens outside so they can go out even when fields are v.muddy;) does anybody have any surface ideas or tips for pens?

Also the free standing internals are a great idea!
 
I wouldnt ruin the old brick floor with liquid rubber, it would be a tragedy!! (and might not be v popular with the listing people). Instead I would have an hammered earth floor over the existing floor. If it is an old floor then it wont have effective drainage anyway so better to have something slightly porous to let the wet out. Then something like hemp or wood pellets on the top.

Agree re internal stables ; if standard sizes wont fit then a lot of companies will amend the design for you.

Pens are a good idea too, esp as old buildings tend to be a bit dark.

The other thing is that house value wise its normally better investment to put up a separate wooden stable block and leave the barn with 'potential' for conversion / other uses (and might also be lighter and more comfy for the horses).
 
True, liquid rubber is definitely off the list... The floor is a good idea I think I will be using that idea.

Also with regards to house prices and potential for development that's what the barn was like when we bought it.

We have just moved in about nine months ago and we have had a lot of work done on the house, at the moment

I am still living with my parents. With all the work, they are planning on staying there for about twenty years! So they really want to do something useful with it.

At one point it was going to be a house, the next a pool and now stables!

There are quite a lot of windows in the area where the stables would be so I am not too worried about light. Also we would try and get electric lights in there aswell...

Finally do you have any suggestions for companies that make decent made to measure equine windows?

Anyway thanks v.much for your help;)

Sorry to go on and on...
 
Wow! He looks great! I will need to get a quote...

The sand is a great idea! I never would have thought of that one;). Sounds good a we will just have to transfer rubber mats from current tempary stables and
There will be no added cost of liquid rubber aswell!

Thanks guys! Youre great at coming up with ideas! Any more?;)
 
Did you say the barn was listed?
If yes - then you can not do anything with the building (including any original brick floors) without prior consent from the local planning authority.
Also - if you are to put stables into an existing building you usually (not always) need planning permission for change of use.
Please don't think I am being unkind...I just wanted you to be aware of the law with a listed building.
The last thing anyone needs is a fight with the council.
 
No,no not at all you are not being unkind at all. All of your information is very useful! True, we will need to get some "p" word stuff:((planning) arrrrghhhhh! If only such thing never existed!:rolleyes: never mind:rolleyes:
 
Also it may well be an uphill struggle making changes to a listed building such as replacing windows and any repairs may cost a lot more as you need to replace like with like, get skilled craftsmen in, put up with council inspections, etc. You may be far, far better off putting in a planning application for new stables.
 
I'd just apply for the temp stables to be made into perm ones, and use the barn as a barn - for hay and straw and perhaps a washing off area... We converted our barn into a house and I really miss it!
 
Mmmm....... Maybe getting planning permission for temps to go permanent is the best option. Anyway you have all scared me off the barn:cool: anyway :rolleyes: it will be cheaper:D
 
Hurrah!! Lovely new stables for the horses and the lovely brick floor stays!! Happy days! I bet it will be a lot cheaper doing the separate stables (or maybe not once you get hold of the extras catalogue like I did!) and honestly when they were done I couldnt have built them for what we paid (we went for mini American barn but with windows facing out as well as the internal ones and insulated walls; its also portal framed so flexible use if we ever moved and the new people didnt have horses). The horses love it and are waaay less messy than in the old stables.

Having stables in old barns is romantic and sounds nice but new purpose designed stables are a better environment for the horses generally.
 
One other thing to consider in the barn is roof beams, a livery yard we were
at was converted farm buildings, our 16 2hh mare would tug at her haynet so hard, she would catch the beams, no injuries thankfully, we moved her haynet and problem solved, but being a tall horse it could have been nasty
 
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