Hire someone to build, or do it myself?

[Ted Summey]

Look online for run in horse shelter plans. A horse shelter is the very kind of project to learn how to do some basic building. You might consider buying the beer and hamburgers and get a couple of friends who do know a bit about building to help you. With a little help you'll knock out a shelter in a day as long as you have all the supplies and tools.

 

[riptides]

I have done quite a few myself. The issue these days is TIME. On the material side, the pole structures and method I have used is not akin to master carpenter work. But the horses do not mind.

We just recently removed some 100 year old chicken coops. I went to a local Amish distributer and end up buying a building, complete with SO additions and customizations. Since we plan on using it for human use, (the use classification is now fun house, not chicken coop), I wanted longevity and quality work.

But, like I said, for animal or equipment use, I build them myself, IF, I have the time. No plans, other than basic scripple for materials.

 

[newbury]

I was brought up as the grandson of a master carpenter and the son of a machinist. I started helping build houses when I was old enough to pick up nails and NOT put them in my mouth. I probably learned more in carpentry by the time I was 14 than I would ever need. During college I worked as a roofer.

I see a lot of people who exhibit the "Stayed in a Holiday Inn Express" syndrome that attempt to build structures with a roof overhead. They watch You-tube and read books. Many of them build decent structures.

BUT if you are working with wood it "ain't always straight", and custom on site fixes usually have to be done.

I've seen rafters nailed in straight that pulled out with a decent wind, roofs that didn't have enough pitch and puddled under a heavy rain and failed. Lot's of mistakes that I or a competent carpenter "inherently" know are wrong other people don't realize and may have missed.

So the OP can MOST LIKELY build a great horse barn if he pays attention to detail. But pay attention to detail.

 

[AHNC]

I'm in the middle of an addition to the house. New Bathrooms, Laundry & Kitchen. I looked around and found a guy who has been a framer/builder/carpenter for 40 years. I have a couple other guys as well. I haven't worked with the tools in a long time. Anyway, from a lay-out perspective, speed of build and precision standpoint hiring the lead guy was the best money I could have spent...and continue to spend. This guy just rolls along. No rush, steady, always right and everything is square and level. I've been working with him. He took my pencil and tape away from me When he laid out the hip roof I figured that would be fun to watch. He cut it all and every piece went in first time perfectly. Magic as far as I am concerned. I would look for a fellow like I have and work with him. I've been having a ball and it is all good!

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I think you need to build your own. I build them that are movable out of pipe, purlins, and R panels. You move them with the open side facing north in the summer time to protect from the sun. Move them where the open side faces south to provide protection from the cold. Plus, big plus, you don't have one place that can be a total mess all of the time. Nothing but a thing, and oh, I don't go for the "doing it the way everyone else does" thing.

 

[SPIKER]

It kind of comes to mind the crazy way some people build stuff when these questions are asked. I think most of us here at TBN have struggled in same questions too (Build it myself or HIRE it done.)

hummm where is that thread of "you gotta see this" where the new to this country guy building a back yard shed.. I think that was one of the best threads (it links to off site BB where the guy posts his neighbor building the garage on grass yard plywood and 2x4s out in open with lots of pics & videos.) it was GREAT!

I like the Build it myself way but hardly ever have the time maintaining 2 places, 4 cars/trucks 3 tractors/mowers and then all the normal honey doo's so anymore I'm HIRING out a lot of my work to my older brother who is now retired and does handyman stuff for people. he rarely gets paid by 90% but I over pay him just because he is family & does top work..

Mark

 

[catfishdaddyengineering]

Agricultural Building and Equipment Plan List

Sorry about posting and not replying. I had to run out for a while. These plans have some good layouts for buildings. I take them and "re-build" them in Google SketchUp. You can do a 3-d project and get your angles, layout etc.

Something else you could do is a hybrid, either by being a helper for a contractor or building things like walls yourself, but getting trusses made.

 

[BuilderML]

If you're mechanically inclined then you should have no problem. Just watch a few videos on YouTube and you'll be a pro in no time..

Yeah do this and let us know how you make out.:duh: After your done watch another YouTube video on rocket building and you'll get hired to work for NASA. That must be how all the pros come to do what they do they watch YouTube videos.:laughing:

 

[BuilderML]

I don't know how big your talking about building the horse shelters. You said something about over paying believe me when i tell you your contractor will not retire on the profits he makes (money he earns) from building a shed. One thing you should ask yourself is if you get hurt building this shed and your out of work for sometime how will that impact your everyday life. Just something to think about. Its not a big project so if you have the time build it, if not hire it out get a few prices. If your going to build if yourself you must have an idea of what the cost of materials will be if not you'll need to figure that out as well. Compare the price of materials to the price you get from a contractor to build it. Once you have all those numbers you can make a choice if its worth the undertaking or not. Its pretty cut and dry. Good luck.:drink:

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Most of the members on TBN are here because they want to do it themselves. Those who write a check and then move in usually don't visit TBN, especially "projects".

I don't know how big your talking about building the horse shelters. You said something about over paying believe me when i tell you your contractor will not retire on the profits he makes (money he earns) from building a shed. One thing you should ask yourself is if you get hurt building this shed and your out of work for sometime how will that impact your everyday life. Just something to think about. Its not a big project so if you have the time build it, if not hire it out get a few prices. If your going to build if yourself you must have an idea of what the cost of materials will be if not you'll need to figure that out as well. Compare the price of materials to the price you get from a contractor to build it. Once you have all those numbers you can make a choice if its worth the undertaking or not. Its pretty cut and dry. Good luck.:drink: