Need to reside pole barn on L. I. Has anyone used vinyl siding on a horse stable/barn?
The barn is free standing, not in a pasture. Dutch doors have stall screens so horses heads remain in stall, so not able to chew siding.
The barn I’m leasing in VA has vinyl siding on the barn that is accessible to horses on 2 sides and vinyl wrap around stall windows in each stall. There are a couple of places that the vinyl has cracked on the sides to which the horses have access. It was in this condition when I began leasing the barn. I imagine it was from a kick. The sides the horses cannot access is fine. The wrap around the windows, even with a metal, no chew layer on one stall has taken a beating. The horse seems to enjoy getting a bit of grain, looking out the window, spill some to eat later, rinse, repeat.
Thanks for the info.
I think it will be fine as long as they cannot chew or kick it.
If they can not touch it, it should be fine.
It is easy to break/crack so horses having contact with it would not work well.
Vinyl is highly flammable. Nuf said!!!
I would like to put siding on my new-to-me barn. Wasn’t thinking vinyl, though, because of the temperature extremes we get. Suggestions??
Vinyl is fine with temperature swings. It just isn’t great with horse teeth.
Our barn has vinyl, it sucks where the horses have access. I will be replacing it as soon as i can afford to.
They like to rip it of, they scratch their butts and crack it, it looks horrible and creates sharp edges
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on a metal pole building the metal is attached to some purloins between the posts. If you are using regular siding you will have to completely cover the sides with plywood to attach the siding.
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I’m not a vinyl guy for just about any purpose. Easily damaged, fades over time so a replaced section will stick out like a sore thumb, can and does get algy green and need to be power washed, etc.
I am a wood person. Like the traditional look, If damaged it doesn’t look to bad until replaced. Easily painted, etc. If I was going to use a “man-made” product. I would use cement board, Hardy-plank or something of the like. Easily painted and holds paint well. Looks good. But it can be damaged, cracks/splits if kicked or something of the like. Should hold up well to chewing horses.
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I am not a fan of vinyl either. Gets damaged by hail, or even pebbles/stones kicked up by the mower. Like others said, it fades, needs power washed, gets brittle, warps, etc.
I am a fan of sheet metal done right so that it is safe for horses… never need to repaint it, never warps, rots, bows out, etc. Lasts forever!
When using metal it is important to use a “splash” starter pressure treated board at the bottom. 1X8+.The siding should be started 6" above the grade. If set at grade or slightly above it will rust out at the bottom. Trust me.
I don’t like metal siding. Easily dented and can’t be fixed. If is a factory painted panel and has to be replaced. It will not match the slightly faded color of the panels on either side. I don’t care what the manufacturers say. Yes it can be painted but if not done properly the paint will peal. It most likely will peal regardless of prep. Too each their own on this. I’ve gotten, paid for the T-Shirt. Have no interest in getting another one.
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No dents in our sheds anywhere. Or scratches. Even the farm sheds that house the combines, semis, and all the implements - trailers - grain carts, etc. Equipment in and out constantly, not a scratch anywhere. Cattle and horses don’t bother them, either. Some have been up for 30+ years. Haven’t ever repainted anything and they all still look fine - I am sure a “new” panel held up against an “old” one would look darker, but you can’t tell a color difference looking at all the buildings spread across the farm.
Same here and some of those older metal barns were put up in late 1940’s early 1950’s.
The ones that were wood, they have been long ago torn down, some after termites had their way with them.
We have portable metal sheds we built in the 1970’s that have been dragged all over here and there these years and are still just like new.
Metal sheeting, the right gauge for the job, is best, but of course other reasons that being best will also weigh in when choosing, like preferences, matching other, etc. and that is fine too.
No issues with my vinyl sided barn. We had strict HOA requirements to follow and that was what was approved. Horses DO have access to the back of the barn, but in over two years, it still looks new. My horses aren’t destructive, however.
“The ones that were wood, they have been long ago torn down”
They must have not been built or maintained very well.
The original section of our very large bank barn was built around 1700. LONG before Texas became Texas.
The Fore-bay was added in the early 1800s.
You know, that is what I say to those that think metal barns rust and fall down, must be the kind they have.
Ours sure have not and have been up close to a century now.
I think one reason wood doesn’t tend to last in barns here is because of our environment, dry rot and insect damage and maybe because we don’t have local wood, is imported and maybe not the best quality always?
Whatever reason, as soon as there was more metal available, most everyone here started building with metal, a better material for building barns in our area.
Warning on metal siding where horses have access: My mare managed to cut her pastern on the bottom edge of the metal. Please make sure to cover the bottom. We got lucky and she healed well after 2 months stall rest, but she could have cut her tendons or into her hoof and it would have been very bad… she does still have a pretty bad scar but thank God it isn’t bothering her. She managed to miss all important structures in het foot somehow 
That bottom edge up off the ground is like a knife blade…
