How to Build an Amazing Backyard Barn Yourself, in 8 steps

In this article, you will learn how to make the perfect backyard barn. How to use materials, How long it takes and How much it costs. You’ll also find some ideas for what type of chores your new barn can be used for. Follow the 9 steps below and you’ll have a DIY Barn in no time!

Table of Contents

Drawing up blueprints

Drawing up blueprints for a backyard barn is the first step that should be taken before starting construction. It will help you visualize what size, type and dimensions your backyard barn will be. The size, type and dimensions of the backyard barn you design will depend on your needs as a farmer or hobbyist, as well as how much money you have to invest in material and equipment.

Drawing up blueprints for a backyard barn should include information about:

The number of species of animals you intend to keep inside your Backyard Barns
Type of flooring plan needed (e.g. concrete slab, gravel base, deep bedding pack)
Number of stalls needed by each animal species
Corral panel dimensions you need to construct for each stall
Location(s) where water source(s) should be placed within the Barn itself
Location(s) where compost pile(s) will be placed
Location(s) where manure pile(s) will be placed
Door size and location for each stall
Roof design (gable, gambrel, shed)
Total number of windows needed to allow natural light in the structure.

Drawing up blueprints for a Backyard Barn may not be a difficult task if you know what type of backyard barn is suitable for your needs, but it is still important that you follow these drawings step by step in order to construct a backyard barn that meets all building codes and/or ordinances set out by your local county or city. You can have this information from your Building Inspection Department when you submit your plans before construction begins.

Purchase building materials for your Backyard Barn

After drawing up blueprints for your backyard barn, you will know how many of each type of material you will need to purchase for this project. The most common types of building materials used in the construction of a backyard barn are Lumber, Plywood, T1-11 siding boards, Insulation, Hardware Cloth/Wire Mesh Panels and Nails. These items can be purchased at all major home improvement stores or online retailer sites such as Amazon.com.

Recommendations while Purchasing Building Materials

Make sure you have enough space in your vehicle to haul all materials back home. A full-sized pickup truck will be needed to transport the majority of the materials, but a large van or station wagon may be able to accommodate some of the smaller items, depending on how much room is left over after hauling building materials. The dimensions of the lumber are 2″ x 4″.
Consult with someone familiar with construction projects before purchasing any tools for this project! Knowing what size drill bit or wrench you need ahead of time may save you from having to make another trip or two out to purchase them later. Plus, knowing what tools are needed can help prepare for space availability around the work area.

Locate a Good Building Site

After drawing up blueprints, the next step is to choose a good building site for your backyard barn. A backyard barn can be located almost anywhere on your property as long as you have at least 2-3 acres of space available. It is highly recommended that you build a backyard barn in an area with existing vegetation such as trees and shrubs, especially if you plan on keeping large farm animals such as horses.

These types of animals will need shade from the hot summer sun and protection from cold winter winds. If there are no natural vegetation or shelter available around where you want to construct your backyard barn, then it will be necessary to also factor in the purchase of pre-built structures such as sheds or lean-to’s to provide protection from the elements.

Another important factor to consider when locating a building site is how accessible it is for hauling in building materials and hauling out animal manure. Try not to build your backyard barn near steep inclines, ditches or large areas of mud, because you will need a good hard surface to drive on as well as gravel pathways leading up to the entrance of your backyard barn. Some people chose to construct their backyard barn on concrete slabs while others chose gravel stone floors with an area surrounding the perimeter that has been filled in with a deep bedding packs.

This depends on preference as well as what type of animals you plan on housing inside your Backyard Barns. It would not be a good idea to house cattle on gravel stone flooring because they have a tendency to seek shelter in the corners of their stalls, which would ultimately lead to the formation of mold and bacteria.

Excavate Backyard Barn Site

After choosing a good location for your backyard barn, you will need to excavate the building site for proper drainage. Slope down at least 2 feet away from where the centre point is planned out for construction. This will give enough space for water runoff after it rains or snows heavily outside during the winter months. You can do this by marking out an area around the perimeter with spray paint about 10 yards wide.

Start digging where you marked off two feet deep along that line until it meets with existing vegetation or natural landscape. You can then either continue to dig or fill it back in with dirt from the surrounding soil where you began excavating. This is a good idea because having proper drainage in place will help protect your flooring in case of large amounts of water getting in after heavy rains, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.

Framing Your Backyard Barn

Start framing with two by four lumber. Use a 2″ x 4″ for each stud with at least 12 inches on centre when laying them down horizontally and 16 inches on centre when laying vertically. Also, use 9-gauge wire mesh panels that are 3/8 inches thick to reinforce the entire area. This is a good idea because wire mesh will help to reduce cracking in your flooring due to settling and provide a strong base for your floor material installation. After framing out your entire building, you can now start working on reinforcing the floor system.

Use 2/3rds filling materials such as gravel stones and sand for your floor system. This is a good idea because it will help keep the barn level along with giving it extra support. Then cover the material with wire mesh and followed by concrete slabs to give it a strong overall base.

Setting up Floor System

Concrete Slab

After excavating and framing out your backyard barn site, it is now time to set up your floor system. If you have chosen a concrete slab as your building’s foundation then follow these next steps

Prepare area by laying down 9-gauge wire mesh at least 2 feet deep along the entire perimeter of your backyard barn site. This is a good idea because wire mesh will help to reduce cracking in your flooring due to settling and provide a strong base for your flooring system. Start at one end of the wire mesh closest to where you plan on building your walls so that you can have an easier time transporting gravel stones from outside area around building area

Lay down 4 inches of sand underneath 9-gauge wire mesh

Place concrete slabs over sand layer making sure each section overlaps with each other by at least 3 inches. Make sure that not only they overlap vertically but also horizontally as well.

Cover concrete slabs with 2 inch thick gravel stone. Make sure they are large enough so that you can walk on them but small enough to keep the entire flooring system together

Start at one end of your backyard barn site and work you way towards the other end.

Gravel Stone

If you have chosen gravel stone as your building’s foundation then follow these next steps:

Prepare area by marking off an 10 yard perimeter from one corner of where you plan on building your walls with spray paint. Start at the right side of your barn site so that you can have an easier time transporting gravel stones from outside area around building area

Lay down 4 inches of sand underneath 9-gauge wire mesh. Make sure to place along the entire perimeter. Go back and lay it over again if necessary.

Like in Concrete Slab, place gravel stones right on top of the sand layer making sure each section overlaps with each other by at least 3 inches.

Cover all stones with 2 inch thick concrete slabs. Just like in concrete slab, make sure they are large enough so that you can walk on them but small enough to keep the entire flooring system together.

Building Your Backyard Barn’s Walls

You can now build the walls of your Backyard Barn. Measure each side of where are to build your walls starting from one corner up against an existing wall if necessary. Use 9-gauge wire mesh panels that are 3/8 inches thick to reinforce the entire area. This is a good idea because wire mesh will help to reduce cracking in your flooring due to settling and provide a strong base for your walls. After framing out all of your walls, you can now start working on reinforcing the floor system.

Installing Floor System

After constructing the last building wall, it is now time to install your finished gravel stone flooring system. Use a 2/3rds filling materials such as gravel stones and sand for your flooring system. This is a good idea because it will help keep the barn level along with giving it extra support. Then cover the material with wire mesh and followed by concrete slabs to give it a strong overall base.

Conclusion

After completing these steps in building your own backyard barn yourself, you are now ready to start using your new space. A backyard barn can be used for just about anything that needs extra storage or protection from weather conditions such as tools, wood, feed etc. There are also other ways that this type of structure can benefit you such as: home business (artist studio), man cave, workshop etc. Good Luck with Building Your Backyard Barn Yourself!