Some Great Things About Buying Kiwi-Made… Thinking of Building Stables? Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’re considering getting some stables made, you probably don’t need to be told that there’s a bit to consider. Unlike other types of storage units, stables are used to house living, high-maintenance animals. And as we’re sure you’re aware, rearing horses is more of a lifestyle than it is a hobby, and requires a ton of time and effort – so you’ll also want to get their accommodation just right (remember, the better they feel, the easier they’ll be to handle). 

To help make this process a bit easier, we’ve put together a list of things to consider when planning your stables (although rest assured, when building with us, we’ll be with you all the way). 

 

Breathing Space

Being active animals, horses don’t like being stabled. In fact, they’d rather be out in the field all day and night. So in order to make their stay that little bit more comfortable, you’ll want to make sure they’re given enough space to rest comfortably.  

The minimum size requirement for a sleeping bay is 3.6mx3.6m, but you should go bigger if you can. The general rule of thumb is that all sleeping bays should be big enough for the horse to lie down comfortably in, without having to bunch up against the wall. 

Likewise, you’ll want to keep any entrances as wide as possible, giving your animals plenty of room to pass in and out of (this is typically between 1.5-2m). 

 

Materials

When it comes to internal structures (such as the walls between individual sleeping bays), we recommended you use a mesh-like design rather than a solid wall. 

This allows for two things. Firstly, the animals will be able to see each other, which will make them less prone to distress (and again, make them easier to work with). 

You’ll also experience superior ventilation around the stables, which is optimal for the health of its residents. These are also good reasons to include a few windows in your stables too (not to mention the increase in sunlight they’ll allow for). 

 

Security 

Getting the right locks for your stables is a fine art. Because you’ll often be guiding an animal whilst dealing with, locking and unlocking your stables, you’ll want a locking system that’s simple enough to operate while multitasking (and often with only one hand to spare). 

That said, horses are not unintelligent animals. It’s not unheard (no pun intended) of for horses to figure out how to unlock a simple hatch lock and go for a nightly galavant. In fact, it’s even been reported that some horses will not only break themselves out but will then also proceed to bust their friends out too. Whilst you can’t fault their loyalty to each other, this could be somewhat disastrous to deal with. 

As with so many things in life, finding that perfect locking system is all about balance. 

 

Flooring

There are quite a few options when it comes to stable flooring, each with their own pros and cons. 

 

• Sand is probably the flooring that is used most often. It drains waste/water very well and is gentle on the horses’ hooves and legs. However, it will need to be replaced somewhat often, and seeing as horses tend to eat off the floor, it can get in amongst their feed and can cause health issues if too much is digested. 

 

• Wood is another common (and more traditional) flooring option. It’s easy on the animals themselves and is warm, and slip-resistant when dry. It will need to be treated as not to retain odour and stand up against waste, however, and repairing it over the years will build up in cost. 

 

• Concrete has become quite popular in recent years. It’s durable, affordable and low maintenance. What it isn’t, however, is good for the animals long term, and you may need to consider fitting certain areas of the stables with rubber mats for the comfort of your horses. 

 

• Lastly, we have asphalt. It’s easier on the animal’s legs and can be long lasting when applied correctly. However, due to its porous nature, it will need to be disinfected somewhat often and can crack if applied too thinly. 

 

Happy homes make for happy horses. Contact us here today to get the ball rolling on your next shed-based project. 

The A-Z’s of Sheds

The dictionary definition of a shed reads as simply “a structure on your property that isn’t connected to your home”. By that definition, the options of what a shed is, and what it can do for you is pretty limitless. 

With our customised approach, this is a pretty accurate description. We understand that everyone has different needs, and we pride ourselves on our ability to meet those needs, whatever they may be. 

However, sometimes, with such a wide range of capabilities and options, it can become harder to nail down exactly what you want (and therefore need) in a shed. So we’ve put together a rundown of the different basic categories of sheds to help you find a starting point for your next project. 

 

Storage Shed

For those of you that grew up with parents that had a humble shack in your garden to store gardening equipment – that was technically a storage shed (although nowadays we tend to think bigger). 

As the name implies, the purpose of these sheds is to, well, store things. The details of what specific features these sheds have will largely come down to what exactly it is you’ll be storing. 

However, regardless of what you put in them, these sheds need to be able to protect your stored goods and keep them in pristine condition (read how we protect your valuables from NZ’s harshest conditions here. 

 

Habitable

Another shed type that says what it does in the name – habitable sheds are sheds that can serve as short term accommodation or as an extra, detached bedroom for your main residence. 

These sheds can also be combined with other shed types (such as garages and workshops) to serve as an area to relax in between long hours on the workbench (read: mancave).   

 

Barn

We’ve all got an image of an old, red farmhouse when someone mentions the term “barn” (and we probably got it from a painting or childhood storybook).

Unsurprisingly, a barn has traditionally referred to a shed that is specifically for agricultural use. Their trademark shape and design actually come from this original usage, as they were built to accommodate for windy days and getting the most out of the passing sun. 

Nowadays, barns can be used for general storage, and their trademark design is more for show (as weather mitigating technology has advanced a bit). With their aesthetically pleasing appearance and spacious interior, they are a great general-purpose asset for storage and vehicle housing, as well as continuing to excel in their traditional agricultural usage.

 

Has this helped clear things up? You can always contact us for further info or to discuss your next project here.

What Makes a Good Shed Design?

Being a distributor of custom sheds, we know from experience that sheds can, quite literally, come in all shapes and sizes.

Despite this, however, there are a few universal factors that you should be able to find in any shed worth its weight in gold.

And because we just love to talk about sheds, we figured we’d share a few with you.

 

Sturdiness

This might seem to be a no brainer, but there’s quite an art to building a sturdy shed. If you promise not to tell anyone, we’ll let you in on a secret: it’s all in the frames.

Having a well-structured frame is everything when it comes to ensuring that ­a shed stays standing through the harsher side of the climate.

Now, this might seem simple, but the truth is, every different size and design of shed requires a unique size and design of frame. 

This is why when designing a shed, we always recommend getting an expert in to determine the exact dimensions of framing required. And of course, anyone who creates a shed with us can rest assured we’ll take care of this (and everything else) with the utmost care and expertise.

 

Cladding

The materials your shed is made up of will ultimately determine how durable it will be against the elements.

And this isn’t just due to the weather. You also have to take into account salt deposits from nearby oceans, and the intense UV rays New Zealand has to deal with due to our proximity to the opening in the ozone layer. 

Thankfully, there’s a wide range of different claddings designed to handle these different conditions.

 

Built for purpose

A shed is defined as “a structure, usually freestanding, used for storage or shelter”. With such a broad definition, you can see why sheds come in so many different shapes and sizes.  

But this does not mean that one size fits all. 

What works for housing cattle is probably not going to suit the needs of someone looking to store their aircraft (or vice-versa). 

A well-designed shed should have a specific purpose in mind and should be well-designed for that specific purpose. ­­­­

There’s a reason we deal in custom sheds, after all.

Since you’re here, we imagine you’re at least a little bit interested in becoming a shed owner. Perhaps we can interest you with our range of custom sheds? Click here to learn more.

Why Custom is Always King

These days, there are more options than ever when it comes to building and owning a shed. And if you’ve been thinking about becoming a shed owner, you’ve probably taken a gander at some of the different options on offer. 

We’re pretty confident that custom made sheds (such as ours) are still the way to go (and we’re not being biased, we promise). 

 

Here’s why:

 

Customizable to hobbies

Firstly, the great thing about getting a custom shed means it’s made specifically for you. Sure, you might not be the only person who plans on getting a shed, but your specific needs could be totally different from those of the next shed owner. 

Are you looking for a new home office space? We can do that. Or maybe you’re hoping to make your shed into a space for that specific hobby of yours. Talk to us, we can probably offer plenty of customisation that’ll help you do what you want to do. Pre-built options, on the other hand, can only offer a one-size-fits-all approach. And sometimes – that’s not enough. 

 

Colour and design

Another advantage of getting a custom shed made for you is that you get some input on the design and colour. KiwiSpan has several design options on offer.

Perhaps you’re looking to match your home or another building on the property. Or maybe you have a particular colour in mind?

We can help you implement any design choices you’d like to see with your shed, all in order to bring to life something that is truly yours.

 

Durability

We pride our sheds on their ability to withstand the elements too.

Despite its relatively small size, New Zealand weather can vary pretty drastically depending on the region you’re in. And since most places in the country are relatively close to the water, buildings have to be resistant to high levels of salt in our air. Furthermore, due to that big old hole in the ozone layer above us, we’ve also got to make buildings that can stand intense, direct UV rays. 

In short – buildings in New Zealand need to be built to withstand the elements. We understand this and ensure our sheds are always up to the task.

We speak from experience when we say owning a shed is awesome – but if you are having to replace or perform unneeded maintenance each passing year, that feeling will diminish in no time.

Get a shed that can hold its own against whatever the environment throws at it – we know ours can. 

 

Convinced? Feel free to browse our range of sheds and check our 3D shed designer to explore some of the possibilities on offer here.

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