| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1405.1 | Ventilation is critical | MSBCS::A_HARRIS | | Wed Dec 26 1990 10:30 | 23 |
| I'd be more worried about the horses than the condition of the wood
(although you certainly don't want to rot the timbers.) Everything I've
ever heard says that a moist barn is unhealthy and leads to respitory
problems. A cold barn is a healthy barn. If you see dripping then that
is really moist. Is the open door really creating that much of a draft?
Especially if it's open to an alleyway that runs between stalls it
won't be blowing right at the horses.
My horse developed heaves after living in a closed-up barn with very
little turn-out for a couple of years. Now that I've built a barn, he's
free to go in and out 24 hours a day. I'll only close his stall door if
there is driving rain or snow that would get the stall wet. This is the
vet's recommendation.
If leaving your doors open isn't an option, you may need a carpenter to
help you find where to add more vents. It doesn't seem to me that the
barn was designed right--you shouldn't HAVE to open the doors to get it
ventilated. That should have been one of the first things added to the
design.
Be careful--respitory problems are no fun for you or your horse.
-Andrea-
|
| 1405.2 | Call a builder for advice | CSCMA::SMITH | | Wed Dec 26 1990 11:08 | 13 |
| It sounds like you have moisture getting in the barn somehow. You
probably have dirt floors and if the barn is fairly old your foundation
may not be deep enough. This allows moisture to travel under the wall
into the barn. You may be able to stop this by putting drainage
around the foundation (a trench with stone and pipe).
Don't doubt the seriousness of the water on the beams. This can
cause serious damage in a very short time. I've seen it wear in
just 2 years time the beams were so dry rotted that you could punch
a hole through them with a hammer.
call a builder in your area, they may be able to give you some
professional advice.
Sharon
|
| 1405.3 | moisture build up | WJOUSM::GARROW | | Fri Jan 04 1991 08:43 | 7 |
| I just had a carpenter in my attic to see if I had moisture build up
because I was getting water stains on my cielings. Luckily I didn't
but if I did his suggestions was to make larger vents in the upper part
of the house. Thye usually only have small vents. Maybe you need
vents so the moisture can escape.. It's worth a try !!
Caryl
|
| 1405.4 | Does the roof have a vapor barrier? | DECWET::JDADDAMIO | Admire spirit in horses & women! | Fri Nov 15 1991 16:40 | 22 |
| I just re-read this note because we're planning a new barn. I don't
know how I missed the METAL roof the first time! This sounds like
condensation caused by the barn air hitting the cold metal roof.
I'm assuming that your roof is installed the typical way: boards on top
of the rafters which run at right angles to the rafters; spaces between
the boards; and the metal roofing nailed on top of the boards.
The normal amount of circulation in a closed up horse barn is
inadequate to prevent condensation on a metal roof. In an open structure
like a 3-sided run-in shed, there is no problem. But, close it up and
condensation appears like magic. Just the horses' breathing introduces
enough moisture into the air to cause condensation if it comes into
direct contact with cold metal.
That's why vapor barriers and/or insulation have become standard in
metal livestock buildings which will be closed up. Especially true
here in WA where the winter air has a moisture content near 100% BEFORE
you add in the horse's breath!
So, you really have 2 choices: Find some way to increase the air
circulation or install a vapor barrier to prevent the barn air from
contacting the metal roof.
|