Welding Project: Loafing Shed

[eriksalo]

Horse Loafing Shed:

I wanted a new loafing shed for my horses this winter. I looked around at what I could buy in Colorado and didn't find anything I liked so I decided to build one.

It cost me about $1,200 for the 2x2" square tubing steel and $1,500 for the steel sheeting and trim. Maybe $3,000 total.

I built the frame in my barn and then removed it to install the sheet metal and finish it up.

Here's a build sequence:

 

[eriksalo]

Partly for style, partly for the enjoyment of a new project, I decided to build my own and promptly fired up the CAD program and designed a shelter we liked:

 

[eriksalo]

I made up a bill of material, hooked of the flatbed and headed to the steel yard.
Here’s my load of 1200+ lbs of 2”x2” 14 gage square tubing. The “sticks” are 24 feet long.

 

[eriksalo]

Here’s the “tin” as it’s called which is made from 36” wide 26 gage steel sheeting plus all of the trim.
I designed the system on CAD and ordered all of the pieces custom cut to fit.
Flatiron steel also made me some custom shaped pieces for me to trim around the openings.
This is ~700 lbs of steel.

 

[eriksalo]

With my metal in hand, I set to work. I decided to build the frame inside of the barn. It is a lot easier to MIG weld inside and it would be out of the weather.
The key to any project like this is the FIRST PIECE. I spent a bunch of time getting the foundational rectangle square and level. The structure is 10 feet deep by 20 feet wide.

 

[eriksalo]

Once I got the base set, I put in the uprights and built the roof.
The peak of the roof is 10 feet high and the lowest point inside is 8 feet high. The overhand is 4 feet.
If you are noticing the structure looks larger than the aisle, you would be right! It will not come out of the barn like this…

 

[eriksalo]

Once I had the main frame done, I filled it in with the horizonal pieces for the siding, made two windows and created a way to put in ¾” OSB boards all around from the ground to 4 feet up to protect from the horses feet and also to make a smooth surface for them to lay against.
I also made mounts for three gates. One for each opening and one for the middle so the structuer can serve as a two horse pen if needed.
It’s REALLY strong….

 

[eriksalo]

I built the structure to have one inch of vertical clearance coming out of the barn. To make it small enough to clear the width, I added two bolted together risers and then cut the overhang section so it could be detached and I could get it out of the barn.
I had been telling everyone I was 80% sure it would clear the door!

 

[eriksalo]

Once I got it out and re-installed the overhang (which I dropped and bent and had to fix and reinstall). I ground down all the welds that still needed it and painted the whole frame black with enamel.
You don’t have to be a good welder if you are a good grinder…. The whole project was more work than I though. I always take my time. Speed not being the point at all.

 

[eriksalo]

With the frame done, I installed the roof and the sides

 

[eriksalo]

And the trim.

Not the removeable “ski’s” I built under the corners. These allowed me to easily drag it around with tractor.

 

[eriksalo]

And finally, the wood panels on the sides.
Nearly done.

 

[eriksalo]

It’s darn heavy (about a ton) but I didn’t want to take any chances of it blowing over or moving so I set a 5’ long chain into the earth at each corner with concrete.
I drilled holes one foot wide by 3 feet deep and poured 160 lbs of concrete into each. It is not going anywhere.

 

[eriksalo]

It was more work than I thought. That’s a theme in my project planning. I underestimate by about half and to make it worse, I work to achieve whatever quality I desire. That bar increases with time and age. My bad esitmating skills are probably why I start so many projects. My dad instilled in me that finishing things that you start is a virtue few possess but all shoud aspire to achieve. “There are a lot of good starters but few good finishers.” So, one more thing finished and off to the next project. The horses shelterd for the Colorado winter.

 

[RTBS]

Awesome project thanks for sharing the step by step process. Looks nicely done. I fall under the same regime of always taking a lot longer than I expect doing quality work and become more that way the older I get. I'm working on a couple of loafing sheds myself. Good idea with the windows, guessing you wanted those to be able to open in warm weather.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[Ign]

It was more work than I thought. That’s a theme in my project planning. I underestimate by about half and to make it worse, I work to achieve whatever quality I desire. That bar increases with time and age. My bad esitmating skills are probably why I start so many projects. My dad instilled in me that finishing things that you start is a virtue few possess but all shoud aspire to achieve. “There are a lot of good starters but few good finishers.” So, one more thing finished and off to the next project. The horses shelterd for the Colorado winter.

This is absolutely me. I think it's a self-defense mechanism -- if my brain allowed me to understand how much work any given project ACTUALLY was, I'd never start it.

 

[bimmer1980]

Nicely done!

A little more time during the project to get it right is better than more time later trying to fix issues.....

 

[vavet]

Very nice build log. You did all that yesterday

 

[eriksalo]

Very nice build log. You did all that yesterday

The project took me ~4 full weekends spread out over a couple of months. I didn't have many mis-steps but took my time.

All the joints are fully welded and ground.

I only made a couple of mistakes. The first was a faulty strap dropped the detached "overhang" piece and bent it. I had to repair the piece.

The other issue was that I originally made the windows to open in. My wife wanted them to open out so I had to change them.

Otherwise the project went smoothly with no mistakes or other re-work.

The building is square and straight to better than half an inch across the 20 foot length. It's very rigid as well.

 

[matt_i]

Good job, I was worried it was going to get stuck inside the barn when I saw the overhangs installed

Great planning and execution! thanks for sharing and we look forward to your next project...

....if you put a tail on that Goose it could probably haul the tractor

 

[captain14]

Very nice project. Someone else several years ago fabricated shed with steel and skinned it with panels bought locally to him. You don’t see too many of these.

 

[eriksalo]

Good job, I was worried it was going to get stuck inside the barn when I saw the overhangs installed

Great planning and execution! thanks for sharing and we look forward to your next project...

....if you put a tail on that Goose it could probably haul the tractor

I was telling everyone that I was 80% sure it would make it out of the barn!

 

[The Cobbler]

great project.
thanks for sharing

 

[PugetDude]

Hey, nice job on the loafing shed! Always good to see a well-thought-out plan come together.