If you have been thinking about building a loafing shed then it is now time you take the initiative. This shed will provide safety to your animals from sunlight, rain and other environmental factors such as storms. A loafing shed should have no sharp edges and must be built at a place which is elevated to prevent water-logging in the shed.
Foundation: The foundation or the base of the shed should be located on ground which is elevated and is above the level of the surrounding area. You should also use gravel and screenings in order to provide necessary sloping away from the unit. The foundation should be such that at least one-third of the shed’s height is under the ground. This will ensure the safety of the shed in case of windstorms.
The shed should not be placed in the middle of the land as it will become difficult for you to reach the middle of the field and feed your animals during storms. It should be placed near a barn where you can walk easily in case of emergencies.
Corner posts: In order to set up corner posts, measure and mark those spots where you will place them. The standard size of a loafing shed is 12 X 12 feet and in order to make a loafing shed of this size, you need to dig four holes which are each 36 inches deep.
If you don’t want to dig holes in the conventional way, then you can even use an auger for this purpose. After you have dug the holes, follow the instructions to mix concrete and set up the corner posts in these holes using concrete. These corner posts should be at least 9 feet above ground-level and in order to ensure that corner posts stay in their place and are fixed, let them set for 3 days.
Building Walls: After the corner posts have been secured, you should build walls on three sides of the shed. In order to build walls, use pieces of lumber which are 2 X 4 in size. Start by filling the bottom and then move upwards. As you will reach the top of the wall, leave a small gap for ventilation.
Roofing and Siding: Based on the structure of the shed, you can choose between various styles of roofs. A simple roof is ideal. It is in the shape of a tin or plastic slope and the interior of this roof is lined by plywood.
The inner lining is necessary before you place the siding pieces. It is also important to place insulation between the metal and the wood. These basic roof-frames can be made by nailing the front as well as back pieces in order to secure it properly to the shed. The siding pieces should be laid in an overlapping manner, so that water does not accumulate on the roof and thus, the shed is prevented from water-logging and other damages. You can even attach roofing nails to these siding pieces in order to provide more safety.
Final touches: After everything else is done, cover the floor of the shed with sand which is six inches deep and check once more for sharp edges and then you are done!
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