I'm planning on having a traveling crane out one end for heavy things. Lumber and plywood don't lend themselves to cranes, easier to have a decent stairs to carry it by hand. I've thought about a circular staircase indoors to save space.
Barn stairs ideas
- Thread starter BeezFun
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I'm planning on having a traveling crane out one end for heavy things. Lumber and plywood don't lend themselves to cranes, easier to have a decent stairs to carry it by hand. I've thought about a circular staircase indoors to save space.
Very nice, hadn't thought of using a platform. Each end of the second story overhangs the lower level by about 12' so I can drive a hay wagon up underneath it, I can use those doors as a platform to load things.
Problem is it's only 24' wide, 11' stalls and an 11' alley. So no matter where I put the stairs in the alley it constrains my ability to drive equipment through. Thought of eating up one stall to allow stairs on that side of the building. Rather not do that though.
If you run them up outside, with a leanto roof over it, what's to keep you from pulling the siding on the barn that's next to and under it and moving it over to the other side of the stairs? Now the stairs are "inside" and you haven't lost any aisle or stalls.
Also, you could add clear panels above the handrail if you wanted more light.
tcreeley
Elite Member
-Just my way of thinking, 11' stalls are pretty tight - lose 6"-12" just in the walls and dividers. Used to work with young morgans, and it was nice to be able to step back. I'd suggest at least 12, and 14 is really nice. You'll have happier horses, and if you rent out space, borders/owners won't be getting banged around as much. A wider barn might be a good idea. If you have a tack room, use a corner for quick stairs up. Use a large aisle trap door to hoist up the big stuff - for storage. Build an outside 2nd story door for a hay conveyor. I assume you're using square bales- easier to feed in the stalls than round bales. I assume the aisle will be a working aisle- cross ties (little narrow and short for running them up and back.) Are you planning on a wash room? Good luck. Visit some barns and copy them!
forgeblast
Elite Member
You could do a ramp, start at the end and work up the ramp can be as wide as you need it, you could tie into the pole barn and you could always put a roof over it, i picture like a covered bridge. (ramp made out of lumber, not dirt.)
I've got setback requirement on one side, other side is leanto for horses that is getting close to some old mature trees we'd like to keep. If we made a decision to take the trees down I could make the barn as wide as I want. Wife wants the trees to stay, so I saluted and went to my room.
Stalls will be 11' clear inside, the outside dimension is 12' but as you say you lose some dimension to walls. I can make them as big as I want in the other direction. I agree wider would be better, I mention in another post there's some constraints.
There will be a tack room, I've thought about using up part of that headroom for a stairs. I have an outside door on second floor for hay. Yes, we're using square bales.
Yes it's a working aisle with cross ties. No plans for wash room, there is water so they can wash outside in the summer. It's not heated and it gets cold here, so no baths in the winter. Floor is limestone so some water is not a problem. I feel like I stare at every barn I go by, it's fun cherry picking all the good ideas.
tnx
My neighbor has exactly what you're talking about. The original owner was a contractor and made the ramp out of concrete and steel so he could drive his trucks on the top level of the barn (barn is all concrete and steel, sided with wood). It looks a little Egyptian for my taste, the second floor is about 11' off the ground and you need a long ramp or else it gets pretty steep. Actually a ramp would be good so when I'm old and can't walk I can drive my wheel chair up there.