Looking for an inexpensive way to cover stall window openings (no window or grill). I want to keep rain out of the stalls. The horses are rarely in the stalls, so don’t need anything fancy. I also want something that won’t be spooky for the horses when they are in the stalls.
Top-only Dutch doors? Closed when weather indicates.
I was thinking about that, but not sure of cost.
I take the cheap poly tarps (the ones Harbor Freight gives away( and cut them down, using a staple gun just cover the windows …cost is zero
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Anyone know of a product on the market specifically for this purpose? Tarps are spooky sounding.
build a simple 3-sided frame on the inside and use plywood that you can slide open/closed. It’s cheap, functional, and doesn’t look too tacky. I have done the tarp route in a pinch, but it is temporary and you can’t open it on a sunny / warm day, and it looks tacky.
[QUOTE=Serigraph;8957120]
Anyone know of a product on the market specifically for this purpose? Tarps are spooky sounding.[/QUOTE]
maybe clicker training is needed.
these are not just thrown on the ground, you need to stretch the item (could use plastic if desired), there is no wind buffeting as the item is tightly placed over the window … cheap, works well, reusable…environmentally friendly, inexpensive … easy to install, easy to remove, either store when removed or dispose in recycle bin afterwards
[QUOTE=Winding Down;8957522]
build a simple 3-sided frame on the inside and use plywood that you can slide open/closed. It’s cheap, functional, and doesn’t look too tacky. I have done the tarp route in a pinch, but it is temporary and you can’t open it on a sunny / warm day, and it looks tacky.[/QUOTE]
This. Or you can use acrylic sheets if you want to allow light in.
What are you attaching to, wood, metal, framed, the building itself?
How many are you taking about, a couple, a 20 stall barn?
You can buy polycarbonate corrugated sheets, here they cost $23 a 4’ x 8’ sheet and cut them to fit and screw them into whatever you have there, then unscrew them to take them down when you don’t want them there.
Or make a frame of wood or metal with them permanently attached that you can hang up and take down.
If making a frame, maybe a lighter plastic sheet, the thicker kind, would be better, Farmtek sells some cut to size, I use those on screen doors and work well.
Polycarbonate is not your regular stiff plastic sheet, but somewhat flexible, horses won’t hurt it, should not hurt horses easily if there is a tear on it, unless a horse really works at it.
It is used in greenhouses today, most hardware store carry them.
I had handy man make window inserts from lexan and treated wood. Each opening in the barn was a different size/shape, so each had to be made individually and numbered to be sure they went in the correct place. They were held in place by not completely sunk screws.
They let light in, but not the wind and rain.
Depending on the size of your opening, this could be doable, or too expensive.
Finnegan is boarded. The main barn has big windows in each of the stalls. BO’s DH built wood frames with plexiglass behind the frame and put them on hinges. Lightweight, lets in light, easy to open/close. Like a dutch door but lets in light, keeps out wind and rain but is easy to open for nice days.
I like that idea Sonnys Mom. Do you have any pics? Thanks for the replies everyone!
ETA Bluey - it would be attached to wood.
My horse was going to break his window door because he would keep pushing on it to open it.
I bought a roll of vinyl stripping, used an exacto knife to cut strips to a length 4" longer than height of window, and then screwed onto a 2x4, overlapping strips by about 1".
Screwed the 2x4 to interior of window frame, which made easy removal come summer.
Some called it his valance, some called it his car wash…
https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p206x206/11088337_823690640389_2837937516551551159_n.jpg?oh=a93b033299033f5749c768a0c21d289d&oe=58BDB5E7
[QUOTE=TwoDreamRides;8957958]
My horse was going to break his window door because he would keep pushing on it to open it.
I bought a roll of vinyl stripping, used an exacto knife to cut strips to a length 4" longer than height of window, and then screwed onto a 2x4, overlapping strips by about 1".
Screwed the 2x4 to interior of window frame, which made easy removal come summer.
Some called it his valance, some called it his car wash…
https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p206x206/11088337_823690640389_2837937516551551159_n.jpg?oh=a93b033299033f5749c768a0c21d289d&oe=58BDB5E7[/QUOTE]
Good idea, those plastic strips may work too, if you make them long enough wind won’t blow them inside.
Farmtek sells those.
I got mine for $2.91/ft on Amazon. Best price I found: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DYUNM2Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
[QUOTE=Serigraph;8957921]
I like that idea Sonnys Mom. Do you have any pics? Thanks for the replies everyone!
ETA Bluey - it would be attached to wood.[/QUOTE]
I will try to remember to get some tomorrow.
[QUOTE=SonnysMom;8957906]
Finnegan is boarded. The main barn has big windows in each of the stalls. BO’s DH built wood frames with plexiglass behind the frame and put them on hinges. Lightweight, lets in light, easy to open/close. Like a dutch door but lets in light, keeps out wind and rain but is easy to open for nice days.[/QUOTE]
I’m planning something like this for our new sheds…but will hinge them from the top with a rod to prop them open, but not let water in.
[QUOTE=crosscreeksh;8958654]
I’m planning something like this for our new sheds…but will hinge them from the top with a rod to prop them open, but not let water in.[/QUOTE]
This is what I have planned for our run-in. Are you building yours soon? If so, or if you’ve drawn up plans, I’d love to see them.
I like Winding Down and SonnysMom’s ideas. The plexi material would be great – not dark but still keeping rain out. I don’t need to do this right now but am filing that away!
