Converting/enclosing a shedrow barn

[meaty_ogre]

I’m looking for tips and advice from anyone who has enclosed and/or built on to an existing shedrow barn.

I have a 24x36 shedrow barn (3 12x12 horse stalls with a 12x36 overhang adjacent). I need to add another stall, a grooming/tacking area, and storage.

My initial thought was to add another 12x36 shedrow facing the one I’ve got, and effectively make the overhang the center aisle. However, I’m not sure how the roof will work because what I have now is a fairly low-pitch roof that looks like a wide upside-down v when you’re facing the 24’ sides. (I’m pretty sure it’s a 4/12 pitch but I’d have to double check).

Another option I’m considering is keeping what I’ve got basically untouched, and adding an addition on the end, making it a T-shaped barn. This would keep the 3 stalls I have open and breezy during the spring/summer/fall, but I’d still have enclosed work and storage areas. I’m wondering if this would be more economical because I wouldn’t have the change the existing roof.

I’d love to hear from folks who have done shedrow barn conversions. Thanks!

[Texarkana]

If I’m envisioning your setup correctly, your overhang slopes downward? Could you remove the overhang, place stalls parallel, and do something like this for the roof if the pitch doesn’t work?

A breeder I used to work for/board with had a shedrow of extra stalls and turned it into a 2nd barn by placing another shedrow parallel. Although there was no weird roof dynamics: they were able to create a “normal” width aisle and still maintain a normal gable roof pitch.

Another idea is to drop a wall straight down off the overhang to make an enclosed aisle and add another stall/storage onto one or both ends. Imagine this barn with a wall down the open side sort of like this, if your roof will allow. I’m really becoming a fan of that style barn; it is likely what I will build when DH & I finally find our forever property.

[SugarCubes]

Hmmm, I have an L shaped shedrow: http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag393/leahyhm/E016728D-B310-4DE1-A074-1D0E36DAAEB6_zps3imwdp2m.jpg

Same as yours as far as the stalls, I have 3 12x12 stalls and a 12’ aisle, but the L part has a wash stall and tackroom. Could you put another shedrow on the side to make an L? Similar to your T idea.

I plan to enclose my barn with carriage doors like these in between each beam: https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuF5DlMo1YicmK5UGKlHJz7Xa5igWJxvAqIKBMCNw9m-tYoRVp
Would something similar work for you?

[Highflyer]

Depending on where you are and how fierce your winters get, I’d do something like this: https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3oj9fO41ZUbTmmg3IxBLRSClwhX07LyZLiZvBGJKIleTuC-jc

I saw a barn once where they put up a half wall on the overhang side-- so 4 ft high or so-- and then shutters/ Dutch doors for the top that could be closed in extreme weather. It might be a decent compromise if you’re in area that gets only the occasional real storm.

[Lucassb]

Years ago I had an L-shaped shedrow set up that worked really well - we had the step wall similar to what Highflyer describes, with big sliding windows on top. In the summer, we kept those sliders wide open and it was lovely; in the winter, they stayed closed but let a lot of light in while keeping the cold wind / weather out. It was lovely.

[meaty_ogre]

My current barn was actually built by/ordered from Horizon structures. I did not think of removing the roof from the overhang part, but it came in sections so that is certainly an option! On their website, they show how they bring basically 2 shedrows, and then attach the center roof “box” to make a monitor barn.
https://www.horizonstructures.com/horse-barns/monitor-modular-horse-barn

The only drawback there is that the barn would take up a portion of our driveway and I’m not sure my husband will be on board with that.

I’m in the Mid-Atlantic region so weather is a mixed bag, but the past several winters have been brutal. I like the look and functionality of the L-shaped shedrows, but I definitely need fully enclosed. I suppose some type of shutters or even garage type doors that roll down could work.

I’m thinking hard about what I need to add. I really only need/want one additional stall. I’d like to also have tack storage and grooming/tacking areas, and a wash stall. So adding 3 opposing stalls and a roof to convert what I have to a Monitor style barn isn’t really going to get me what I want. With the L shape I could probably finagle it, but I’m just thinking about the work flow and placement of everything. I’m starting to think the T shape might be the way to go, or I might be back to our original plan (when we built our property 10 years ago, we got the shedrow barn with the intention to move it to a pasture to serve as a run-in shed, and then eventually build the “barn of my dreams”).

There is a lot I like about my little shedrow barn (the fact that it’s paid for!), but the overhang is just not enough protection from brutal weather when the vet and farrier come.

[Bluey]

On shedrow barns with overhangs, full or with a pony wall and curtains above, that can be open or closed, could solve many of those problems temporarily and cheaply.

That is the way many chicken and pig barns are set, where the curtains can be opened in good weather, rolled down in bad weather.

Farmtek web site has pictures of all kinds of those.

[bip]

Otherwise, are you happy with the quality of the Horizon barn? I’ve had my eye on one for a while but the stars haven’t aligned yet for me to make it happen.

[meaty_ogre]

[QUOTE=bip;8833228]
Otherwise, are you happy with the quality of the Horizon barn? I’ve had my eye on one for a while but the stars haven’t aligned yet for me to make it happen.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I am. We actually ordered ours with white vinyl siding (odd for a barn, I know) because my husband likes for things to match. Some of the siding needs to be replaced, but aside from that with a good pressure washing every so often it looks like new. It came fully wired and they use quality building materials. Or at least they did when we got ours. I would do business with them again if I decide to go with a pre-fab barn.

Bluey, I should have purchased those curtains years ago the block the wind and rain.