A Horse Barn for Under $10K?

CJ wrote in, asking if it was possible to build a horse barn for under ten thousand dollars. That's an excellent question. For the backyard builder, budget is always a prime consideration.

$10,000 for a horse barn is pretty tight. It could work out if it's a small barn and you're careful about material choices. But get ready to work. If you build it yourself, $10K could be within reason. An unfinished pole barn can be built for approximately $15 per square foot. Can you get by with 600 square feet or so?

When you get right down to it, building a barn is like most other construction projects ... it comes down to two primary expenses: time and materials. If you hire a contractor, the amount you pay for their time is likely to exceed the cost of materials. If you go the D-I-Y route, the materials are nearly all you need to cover.

Questions to ask:

• How many horse stalls?
• Do you need a tack room?
• Do you need plumbing?
• Do you need electrical service?
• What kind of siding and roofing?
• Can you live with a basic design?

Any one of these items can run you over budget faster than a runaway colt ...