What to do with this shed?

[shanti]

Hi I am current trying to turn this shed into a paddock shelter, but I have zero experience or knowledge about building. Structurally, it's been checked by a builder and its solid as a rock but obviously it needs lining on the walls. What would I use to line them? I thought marine ply but its super expensive (I could literally have a new smaller shelter built for the same price) Is there anything cheaper I could use? I want it to be safe but I would like to save some money if possible. Also, how would you set it up? I want them to have free use of it but would like to be able to use it as a stable if needed in case of injury or illness. Thanks!

 

[teacups]

there is this recent thread:

Building / DIY stables

Hi All, After some ideas / experience We’re looking at renting a field which comes with an open fronted barn. We will be keeping 2 small ponies there. Thinking of building some small DIY stables Has anyone done this DIY style as cheap as possible ? The barn is on a big concrete pad...

forums.horseandhound.co.uk

 

[silv]

This is what most people in NZ use as stables. you only need to line the walls 1/2 way up. Go to a timber merchant and see what they recommend or a farm shed company., it needs to be strong enough to withstand kicking so the horse doesn't put its hoof through the iron. Soome people here use strong wooden fencing posts to line the walls with. You can cut them to size and place vertically. Sometimes they can be sourced second hand. I see you have a pile on the ground. The wood on the back wall looks perfect, I cannot tell if it is rotten or not. A farming company should be able to get gates for you, you could use one for a partition and one for the front. Take them off the hinges if you are not wanting them there all the time. Just make sure the gudgeons are well covered so as not to cause injury. Or else hang them so they can be opened fully and secured. I have a 4 bay shed and when I had my friends horse staying for a few days, I used my trailer space to make another stable, I just used electric tape as I knew he would stay behind it. So no need to do all at once if budget is a consideration.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Recycled stockbord from somewhere like Solway in Scotland would work. Sheets are 8x4, come in different thickness and range in price from £26 a sheet for 3mm to very expensive for 12mm. My chicken arc is made from it and it after 10 years still looks like new so while the initial outlay may be expensive it will be worth it in longevity. It’s so easy to jet wash as well.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

My friend uses scaffolding boards..they get sold off cheaply because scaffolding companies are only supposed to use them for a specified number of times before replacing…

 

[Northern Hare]

Also have a look out for 2nd hand Stokboard / recycled plastic board - online and at salvage yards / farm auctions etc.

A yard I was on bought a job lot of used sheets and lined their stables with them. They got them for a fraction of the price of new, then they power washed and disinfected them and they looked like new.

 

[MereChristmas]

Almost identical to how the shed looked here when we moved in.
We added 1/2 lined walls, front with 3 doors and windows, fixtures and fittings.
We put a concrete floor too but sort out drainage if necessary.

We did find it got very hot in summer so Mr M cut into the back wall and added 3 opening windows to create a through draught and let the hot air escape.

 

[blitznbobs]

Osb would work well

 

[Miss_Millie]

You could add gates to the front which fold inwards against the walls out of the way, but could be closed if you needed a stable in an emergency. Similarly there could be two interior gates which fold against the back wall, but could fold out and attach to divide it into 3 stables if needed?

 

[honetpot]

Non of our sheds are lined, if its metal you may have a problem with condensation in winter, sometimes it feels like its raining in side, so if you stack hay etc make sure you leave a gap away from the walls The ones we put the cattle in have rails to keep them off the walls. We have internal stables in one, so only the back is lined at the bottom, if you can get the second hand it's a cheap option

 

[Highmileagecob]

OSB can often be sourced free if you can find a local builder who needs it moving, and pallets and scaffold planks are all usable. If you use farm gates, you may have to cable tie scaffold netting across the gates to prevent legs going over the bars. My cob is an expert at hooking a foreleg through a gate and dragging it off its hinges.

 

[suestowford]

I have a similar shaped shed although not as big. Part of it was made into a pony shelter about 25 years ago. We left what was on the back wall, I don't know what it's made of but it's stood up to a lot of abuse. We did line the walls up to about 6 feet in height and used very thick chipboard. That also has taken a bashing but is still good.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Love it and treasure it, it looks an amazing space to have nothing to add re lining the walls as everyone above has covered everything, but some moveable cattle type gates hurdles would be useful to section off areas if you wanted for stables etc

 

[mustardsmum]

I would use the wood (is it sleepers?) lining the RHS end to finish the back wall and then line each end OSB or Solway board. I have used both, Solway board advantage is once up you will never need to replace it whereas OSB will break down. You only need to do half way up. I think given the size of the opening the air will circulate enough that condensation on the roof shouldn’t be too major. If it is, you can always line the roof. Looks fab though!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Depending on budget, does it really need lining?
I’d be inclined to just clear it all out and use if for a while first to work out what you really do or don’t need to do.
Eg, we had a shelter in an old field that stayed bone dry inside and really didn’t need any flooring, even when I put shavings in the wee drained away.
Now I have a shelter/stables that I wish we had put concrete down because it seems to have the opposite effect.

 

[J&S]

Very similar to the "shed" my landlady put up in a 3 acre field I rented. It was 30ft x 10ft, three bays, divided off. It was built onto hard standing. You will find the ground gets very wet on just grass, can you get some hard standing put down? If you can, you only need some shavings at the back and a couple of mats at the front and you will find it needs next to no maintenance as it will drain down. I just put a bar across if i wanted the ponies to stay in for any reason. 2 x ponies and one storage area.