Center Aisle Runs Perpendicular to Peak of Roof?

[lenapesadie]

Anyone have a center aisle barn where the aisle runs perpendicular to the peak of the roof? Anyone have any pics of such? My google searches aren’t turning up much of anything.

Looking at building a small personal barn. A 24x48 is a cost efficient size to build. I could do a 4 stall shedrow under this roof easily enough. BUT! I could turn it into a center aisle barn by running the aisle perpendicular to the peak of the roof and have a 12 ft aisle, two 12x12 stalls on each side of the aisle, AND 12 ft of “overhang” on the back of one pair of stalls under the same roof. Just not sure about the aesthetics of having the aisle run perpendicular to the peak of the roof and aisle would not be in the center of the long side so I’m thinking it might be really weird looking. Aesthetics are important to me. Love the shedrow look, and it would be serviceable for my climate and needs. Center aisle would be more comfortable to work out of though soooo.

There will be NO loft, aside from the ceiling space above the tack/feed room (which will be one of the stalls)

Thoughts and pics welcomed!

Yes, in an ideal world I would build a lovely traditional 36x36 center aisle barn with 12 ft overhangs on each side. Alas, my wallet is not nearly as grand as ideal

[Bluey]

Yes that would work fine, any one way you want to put the stalls in there is ok.

Several I know that are an aisle barn attached to a large indoor have that configuration.
You can add an overhang looking like a continuation of the same roof, of make it a gable extension, which would be cheaper.
In fact, you could have the barn itself larger if that size barn fits your budget and add the gable end overhang really cheap, considering.

Some MDBarnmaster models have similar configuration, best I remember seeing in their web site, here is one:

https://mdbarnmaster.com/projects/custom-shedrow/

[lorilu]

just be sure the height at the aisle opening/doors is sufficient to get whatever you want inside the barn. In my 36x36, if the aisle ran the other way, I would not be able to get my camper inside for hurricanes… and I have doubts about my big truck…

[B-burg_Dressage]

My 40x40 is like that. The building was already on the property and we turned it into a horse barn. That’s what worked with the rest of the layout.

It’s not a very pretty barn at all, but that has nothing to do with the aisle orientation. That aspect I don’t even notice.

[Goforward]

I’ve been planning something similar only longer. 24x84, 4 stalls facing each other with a 12 foot aisle and much more storage off one end.

[mvp]

You could put a gable in front over the aisle and that would help the aesthetics.

[lenapesadie]

@Bluey

Yes that would work fine, any one way you want to put the stalls in there is ok.

Several I know that are an aisle barn attached to a large indoor have that configuration.
You can add an overhang looking like a continuation of the same roof, of make it a gable extension, which would be cheaper.
In fact, you could have the barn itself larger if that size barn fits your budget and add the gable end overhang really cheap, considering.

Some MDBarnmaster models have similar configuration, best I remember seeing in their web site, here is one:

https://mdbarnmaster.com/projects/custom-shedrow/

Thank you! That link was very helpful to see a similar set up! I like the idea of a gable end overhang. While I don’t necessarily need a huge barn, extra space to store stuff and maybe park smaller equipment would be very useful.

I’m dead set on stalls with doors out the back to runs and an overhang over those doors. Everything else is negotiable

[lenapesadie]

@lorilu

just be sure the height at the aisle opening/doors is sufficient to get whatever you want inside the barn. In my 36x36, if the aisle ran the other way, I would not be able to get my camper inside for hurricanes… and I have doubts about my big truck…

Thank you! I’m not looking for anything bigger than a tractor to go through the aisle. I will take some measurements of possible tractors and make sure I accommodate that plus a bit for extra. Very good point. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.

I am also in a hurricane zone. We are expecting quite a bit of rain from Sally so it will be interesting to view the property under those conditions. Stay safe!

[lenapesadie]

@B-burg Dressage

My 40x40 is like that. The building was already on the property and we turned it into a horse barn. That’s what worked with the rest of the layout.

It’s not a very pretty barn at all, but that has nothing to do with the aisle orientation. That aspect I don’t even notice.

Thank you for your response! I had hoped to find a place with an existing structure that could have been modified to be a horse barn. So much quicker and cheaper. But we didn’t so here I am! 40x40 sounds like a great size!

[lenapesadie]

@mvp

You could put a gable in front over the aisle and that would help the aesthetics.

Thank you! That would be cute!

[seabreeze]

It will look fine. The greatest beauty will be in its functionality!

[avjudge]

@lenapesadie

Anyone have a center aisle barn where the aisle runs perpendicular to the peak of the roof? . . . Love the shedrow look, and it would be serviceable for my climate and needs. . .

I gather from the quoted sentence about serviceable for your climate that you aren’t in an area that gets a lot of snow? Because the major reason I absolutely required a gable-end entrance on my barn is because you do not want the snow coming off the roof in front of your door! If you’re in a much warmer climate then that’s not a concern.

Rain coming off the roof can also be a pain, but a diverter or (in a warmer climate) gutters can prevent dripping over the door.

But I think the aesthetics would be fine. We do have a neighbor with a barn with its main door under the eave - there’s no aisle as it’s not their animal barn but if there were one it would run perpendicular to the ridge as you’re thinking of.

Like this? This is from the Wikipedia page on the “English Barn”; it’s a 1797 barn in Scituate MA:
[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“title”:“320px-Cudworth_Barn%2C_Scituate%2C_Massachusetts_-_IMG_6711.jpg”,“data-attachmentid”:10728800}[/ATTACH]

[lenapesadie]

@seabreeze

It will look fine. The greatest beauty will be in its functionality!

Functionality is the most important! Horse says a refrigerator for carrots is the only luxury he requires!

[lenapesadie]

@avjudge

I gather from the quoted sentence about serviceable for your climate that you aren’t in an area that gets a lot of snow? Because the major reason I absolutely required a gable-end entrance on my barn is because you do not want the snow coming off the roof in front of your door! If you’re in a much warmer climate then that’s not a concern.

Rain coming off the roof can also be a pain, but a diverter or (in a warmer climate) gutters can prevent dripping over the door.

But I think the aesthetics would be fine. We do have a neighbor with a barn with its main door under the eave - there’s no aisle as it’s not their animal barn but if there were one it would run perpendicular to the ridge as you’re thinking of.

Like this? This is from the Wikipedia page on the “English Barn”; it’s a 1797 barn in Scituate MA:
[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“title”:“320px-Cudworth_Barn%2C_Scituate%2C_Massachusetts_-_IMG_6711.jpg”,“data-attachmentid”:10728800}[/ATTACH]

You are correct. We get zero snow. Flurries once every couple of decades. Gutters are the go to for controlling the roof water.

Here, the challenge will be orienting the building to reduce solar heat gain AND and reducing wind vulnerability on the east side (hurricanes).

Thank you for finding that picture! It’s rather cute! Add a cupola (absolutely needed to help heat escape) and it would be darling!

[ayrabz]

SO hard to give any feedback not knowing a ‘layout’ of how your space you want to use would be attached to what your runs would accomodate. I’m only adding my widdle Ghetto barn…was a converted boat shed and chicken coop! and it was right on property line. so…mine is a slant roof to the back. I did raise roof for horse accomodations. I love having no gutters, no mess ‘up front’ outside. however, ‘enclosed’ at the opening so I do have an aisle, and nice slider barn doors on front. But its little! (and I love that). I put a run in on one end that I lead directly into from my barn ‘aisle’. opposite end of small /short run ‘aisle’ has another dutch door into another enclosure with feed freezer, few pallets of my hay from larger hay barn across the driveway. I love the cross flow, the ease of them in run in, and all my options of doors! Yes, I do envy you your runs from each stalls and that would be paramount for me too, if I had that property line. Only sharing that I love the ‘enclosed shed row’ kinda barn vs. the center aisle one. But no big tractor driving thru mine, either, so it may not work for you.

[lenapesadie]

@ayrabz your spot sounds very functional! I have a bit of flexibility regarding exact site of barn. The concept is 24 wide 50 long runs on the backs of stalls with end gates leading to a 50x50 catch pen that has gates to the grass paddocks. I’m looking forward to marking out areas on the property to see what will be most suitable. Naturally, it won’t be perfect

[ayrabz]

given your explanation it WILL be perfect! my run in leads to my sacrifice area with openings to paddocks and grass, as I could not do them ‘out back’ but as you can…you SHOULD! I only added in that the shed row can be nice if enclosed front, with big wide doubles if it WORKS better for you. It had to for me. You sound like you can situate a nice center aisle barn and land beyond for runs and connecting pens/paddocks. So exciting!

[lenapesadie]

@ayrabz

given your explanation it WILL be perfect! my run in leads to my sacrifice area with openings to paddocks and grass, as I could not do them ‘out back’ but as you can…you SHOULD! I only added in that the shed row can be nice if enclosed front, with big wide doubles if it WORKS better for you. It had to for me. You sound like you can situate a nice center aisle barn and land beyond for runs and connecting pens/paddocks. So exciting!

I may still do a modified shedrow. I have a cute idea for a three stall shedrow with the middle stall as the storage room. But I’d rather have a bit more space sooo. We will see!

The interconnected paddocks/ sacrifice areas/shelters is a fabulous system! Very handy.

I appreciate you sharing your set up and thoughts! Very helpful!

I am over the moon excited!

[ayrabz]

I struggled a lot, but honestly, it was because I had time. I was gradually working on this TINY property I would inherit on visits home. it was so limiting…and you could ‘only’ do what the little property would allow. I really shouldn’t even HAVE horses on this little spot. But I knew that and did best I could. while property comes in at 4 and a half acres total? I only have the cleared useable space up to about 1.5 to 2 acres. (I kid you not!)…we have a fast drop off to a small creek all in woods at the back of the property. so little to work with out front. (I mean little for horses, anyway) But, I have my senior ‘retired’ gelding and his mini me…so I think we’re doing ok space wise. I can tell you if you’re limited on space, I have been down that road! put in a 3 bay manure management system, approach is a built in gravel rise from driveway for dumping, back is on a cement pad (think walk out basement) in an area for vehicles/tractors, etc to load up from. Have a hay barn that we situated up on a huge deck over an 18 ft drop off! … deck is loading dock height. Hayers love me. and I love pulling my Pick up and dropping tail gate walk off height to get my load over into the little barn. Point is…review your property as much as you can. some things can only go ‘somewhere’ some things are adaptable.

[lenapesadie]

This is going to be a tiny farm too! Total property is 3.37 acres. Thankfully it is all useable and already established “pasture”. Pretty much flat. The house sits up at the front right on the road.

I love those three bin composting plans! I’m hoping I can get one set up pretty quickly. Sounds like your composting system is very well set up!

I’ll probably use a simple garden shed to store square bales and the round bales will be stored at my parents farm up the road.

Nothing is set in stone of course, but I think I’ll end up with three half acre grass paddocks. Not very large but hopefully room enough for a pair of middle aged geldings