The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Buildings & planning => Topic started by: nin on January 23, 2026, 06:47:55 am

Title: Self build plans barn and lambing shed
Post by: nin on January 23, 2026, 06:47:55 am

 :goat:
We are looking at self building both a lambing shed and also a workshop come machinery store.
Has anybody done this from online plans , my sons have extensive building experience but not designing or project management although i managed a complete house refurb a few years back of a derelict property, so i think given plans we can do this .
I am just struggling with where to source plans that will actually be worth what you pay for them.
We want a solid build concrete floor and then combination brick for lowest few foot then yorkshire board walls for air flow and tin roof to utilise a lot of quality older tin sheets we have and keep costs down. It’s in a shady area so the tin roof shouldn’t cause issues re heat and cold .
We will probably just build one building this year one next year and then possibly a joining hay  store stables design  type building in a few years time .
Other buildings are coming down that are rotten and dirt floor with oil and bits of metal buried in the floor so not suitable for animals and these new buildings are replacements .

Title: Re: Self build plans barn and lambing shed
Post by: SallyintNorth on January 23, 2026, 08:08:12 am

Can't help with plans, I'm afraid, but just to comment that overheating is unlikely to be an issue when lambing, however just to bear in mind, anything which increases heat anywhere near a haystore would give me the heebie jeebies! 

Title: Re: Self build plans barn and lambing shed
Post by: Fleecewife on January 24, 2026, 01:16:13 am

I just wrote a reply to this but I was timed out so it's gone.   Dan - anything to be done to retrieve it?

Title: Re: Self build plans barn and lambing shed
Post by: doganjo on January 24, 2026, 01:24:52 pm

Is this website any help?

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=udAwnemD&id=A6F720FD705141D80F2095C21636149AE6080E08&thid=OIP.udAwnemDF1ey-ukOoPp0igHaFy&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.notechmagazine.com%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2011%2f08%2fThe-Agricultural-Building-and-Equipment-Plan-List.jpg&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fR.b9d0309de9831757b2fae90ea0fa748a%3frik%3dCA4I5poUNhbClQ%26pid%3dImgRaw%26r%3d0&exph=490&expw=627&q=plans+for+farm+buildings&mode=overlay&FORM=IQFRBA&ck=603F74226D27DFCF0E8C221283FCADE3&selectedIndex=0&idpp=serp&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0

Title: Re: Self build plans barn and lambing shed
Post by: chrismahon on January 24, 2026, 07:39:28 pm

I would avoid a plain 'tin' roof if at all possible because condensation will always be a problem- we have them here and despite the dry climate still suffer with condensation. Fortunately here the summers are hot and very dry, so the supporting timber framework doesn't rot. You might like to consider the new style steel panels with moulded insulation on the underside. Fairly cheap, lightweight and quick to fit. The big advantage of a steel roof is the resistance to hail damage, something that is becoming more frequent.