A few barn remodeling questions...

[Sugar_And_Spice_Horses]

Hello! I am currently thinking about making up a savings plan to remodel some of my barn.

The first biggest thing I want to fix is the separation between horses, hay, and tractors. Our property came with this huge pole barn type structure where half was concrete flooring with 4 stalls, and half was dirt where they kept all of the machinery and hay. I hate this set-up but truly do not have the money for a new barn. I was thinking of building a wooden divider with boards or plywood that goes as high as the stalls and divides the concrete area from the dirt. Does this sound like a good idea? I just don’t like the sight of walking into my barn and looking at tractors and tool boxes haha.

Another thing I was thinking about redoing is the stalls. Some boards are old and rubbed away from cats using them as scratching posts and such. I plan on replacing those. I also have a question about staining/glazing boards. Are there any products you recommend to get that glossy, finished look? Also, what type of stall latches do you recommend?

Finally, lighting. Since the building is a pole barn, the ceilings are very high. The lights are not the greatest and they get dirty so quickly. (They are incased in mason jar type bottles I believe) Do you have any recommendations for really bright lights or maybe setting up another lighting system around the stalls?

Sorry for all these questions. Hopefully someone can help!

[fourfillies]

If possible/safe live with the space for a bit. We may be surprised what you need to/want to change.

For lights swap out for LED shop type lights. You won’t regret it as the shorter days mean dark mornings and evenings.

Congrats on the new place!

[mmeqcenter]

I think your dividing wall is a great idea. Tongue and groove would look the nicest if you want to leave natural or stain. Plywood would would work fine, too, though, especially if you paint it.

I agree with fourfillies about the LED shop lights.

[AKB]

I would worry about fire risk from parking a tractor with a hot engine in a barn that has hay and other flammable materials.

[ayrabz]

hard to envision from written descriptions—but : can you give dimensions? of the areas. (I wonder why stalls were put on concrete vs. stone dust/mats and the equipment side on the dirt! just in description I would have reveresed that.) ok, dividing wall . I think its a good idea too. how much of an area does that leave you on each side? Finally, AKBs input, (I hadn’t ‘thought’ of, but) could you also do a short wall to ‘end’ your enclosed hay/etc side but leave a carport/tractor implement area ‘open’ to enter/exit from that exterior end?