Loafing Shed

Provides an economical three-sided shelter for temporary shade and cover for horses or other livestock
Combines resistance to fire, termites, mold and rot with the strength of steel
Perfect outdoor cover solution for hay, feed, firewood, garbage cans, yard tools & equipment, and small vehicles like tractors and four-wheelers

Loafing Shed
Loafing Shed
Loafing Shed
Loafing Shed

Description
Sizes
Photos
Accessories
Reviews
FAQ

Watch An Assembly Video

Description

The VersaTube loafing shed package provides an economical three-sided shelter for temporary shade and cover for horses or other livestock.

Metal Buildings combine resistance to fire, termites, mold and rot with the strength of steel, it can also be a perfect outdoor cover solution for hay, feed, firewood, garbage cans, yard tools & equipment, and small vehicles like tractors and four-wheelers.

View Sizing Information

Standard Sizes

Width	12′, 24′ and 30′
Height	8’ exterior side height
Length	Fixed 12’ length (depth) with 6’ on-center truss spacing
Roof Pitch	3:12
Custom	Custom sizes available

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View Photos

Here’s What You Can Build:

Click on the images below to enlarge them

View Accessories

Personalize your buildings with these accessories:

Doors

Windows

Garage Doors

Additional Sheet Metal

Insulation

Color Chart

Available Colors (Roofing & Siding)

Green

Stone

White

Blue

Brown

Charcoal

Gray

While colors have been matched as accurately as possible to the actual finish, representation of colors may vary due to monitor and printing limitations. Availability of colors are subject to change.

Panel Profile

Panel

Features

Premium 29 gauge painted steel roofing and siding panels deliver a quality professional look
Low maintenance, easy-to-clean finish resists chalking, fading, stains and dirt retention
80,000 PSI minimum yield strength
20-year limited paint warranty
Color-matched trim and accessories included

View Reviews

Customer Reviews

pre-engineered in a way that makes it a cinch to erect. pretty darn sturdy too. we are looking into purchasing 2 more loafing sheds and maybe one of your frontier buildings. all around solid product and company.

Rick A. | July 6 2012

Unless you've got some spare materials lying around I doubt you can build one much cheaper than you can purchase this steel loafing shed. Best part of it all is that you don't have to worry about fire or termites carrying you away. Consider me a fan of these DIY sheds.

Floyd Cole | June 6 2012

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View FAQ

Agricultural Building FAQs

1. Does the price for the horse barn include shipping?

VersaTube horse barns can be quoted with shipping to the following states. ALABAMA, AL, ARIZONA, AZ, ARKANSAS, AR, CALIFORNIA, CA, COLORADO, CO, CONNECTICUT, CT, DELAWARE, DE, FLORIDA, FL, GEORGIA, GA, IDAHO, ID, ILLINOIS, IL, INDIANA, IN, IOWA, IA, KANSAS, KS, KENTUCKY, KY, LOUISIANA, LA, MAINE, ME, MARYLAND, MD, MASSACHUSETTS, MA, MICHIGAN, MI, MINNESOTA, MN, MISSISSIPPI, MS, MISSOURI, MO, MONTANA, MT, NEBRASKA, NE, NEVADA, NV, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NH, NEW JERSEY, NJ, NEW MEXICO, NM, NEW YORK, NY, NORTH CAROLINA, NC, NORTH DAKOTA, ND, OHIO, OH, OKLAHOMA, OK, OREGON, OR, PENNSYLVANIA, PA, RHODE ISLAND, RI, SOUTH CAROLINA, SC, SOUTH DAKOTA, SD, TENNESSEE, TN, TEXAS, TX, UTAH, UT, VERMONT, VT, VIRGINIA, VA, WASHINGTON, WA, WEST VIRGINIA, WV, WISCONSIN, WI, WYOMING, WY,

2. The 2nd most frequently asked question about the installation of your metal horse barn, "How long before my horse barn is installed?"

VersaTube structures when sold and supplied by an authorized VersaTube Building Systems Dealer are generally erected within a month, delivery dates are determined by the dealer, based on current work load and customer requirements.

3. Do your metal horse barn prices reflect recent cost reductions on steel?

Yes, they do.

4. What gauge/thickness of steel is utilized for the framing components?

VersaTube is proud to offer steel tubing made in the U.S.A. with gauges of steel that range from 15 to 12 gauge depending size and configuration. Should you have an unusual load requirement your dealer will be able to properly configure the design of your horse barn to meet these needs.

5. Can I have my horse barn custom sized?

Yes. Our VersaTube Building System allows for any size horse barn or loafing shed to be built up to 52′ wide, 16′ sidewall and unlimited length.

6. How many colors does VersaTube offer for horse barns?

VersaTube offers sheet metal in 9 different colors and we will gladly search for colors outside our standard horse barn color chart.

7. Do you offer do-it-yourself horse barn kits that are easy enough for the average person to build?

Want to save some money by doing it yourself? VersaTube offers the premier do-it-yourself horse barn kit. Most VersaTube dealers offer kits and they are also available at most Home Centers such as Menards, Lowe’s and Home Depot. We have a detailed step-by-step assembly manual to help you every step of the way. Our slip fit connections allow us to produce a horse barn kit that is easy to get home and easier to assemble. Your dealer is readily available to assist you or, you may call our hot line for assistance at 800-900-7222 when assembling your horse barn.

VersaTube competitors only offer DIY horse barn kits in some instances. When our competitors do provide you a DIY horse barn kit they usually just deduct 5% from the installed price. Worst of all most of our competitors do not offer assembly instructions. Most will not provide customer support should their customers need it during assembly. It is always smart to check with the Better Business Bureau to be assured you are making the right choice concerning your buying decision.

8. Do I have to pay sales tax for my loafing shed or metal horse barn?

VersaTube follows state and federal laws on sales tax. We do not charge taxes to the federal government, state government or any organization on products for resale with a valid Tax Exemption Number.

9. Does VersaTube crush bend or mandrel bend horse barn posts?

VersaTube uses a proprietary method when mandrel-bending side posts. VersaTube mandrel bends maintain the integrity and strength of the steel horse barn framing. Some models offered utilize single point compression bending.

10. Why rectangular tubing?

VersaTube utilizes shaped tubing for 2 reasons. One, horse barns built with rectangular tubing are significantly stronger that those using round tubing. The flat surface on shaped tubing provides for easier assembly when applying screws.

11. How does VersaTube deliver horse barns to residential customers?

VersaTube metal horse barns are conveniently packaged and shipped on 40″ x 120″ pallets. Even the largest steel canopies can be delivered by any major shipping company using a standard pallet jack and lift gate.

12. What is the warranty for our metal metal horse barns?

VersaTube horse barns come with a 20-year warranty. Our competitors only offer a warranty on upgraded horse barns with heavier framing and cost considerably more.

13. What is the gauge and size of the sheet metal?

VersaTube offers both 29 gauge and 26 gauge sheet metal as an upgrade.

14. How do I prepare the ground where my horse barn or loafing shed will be built?

Horse Barns can be built on a number of flat surfaces following the anchoring procedures we conveniently provide in the installation manual. The way to prepare the ground is to ensure there is a slight decline up to 4″ to ensure that water will run off and run off the back gable end, not the front.

15. Do I need a building permit to build a metal horse barn?

VersaTube recommends checking your local building codes before constructing a horse barn.

16. Can VersaTube horse barns be built and then completely enclosed with additional materials at a later date?

The VersaTube Building System is designed for this exact purpose. Additional sections can be added and your horse barn can even be enclosed at a later date without issue.

17. What is the standard size of a horse barn stall?

Most horse barn stalls are 12′ x 12′ and we offer steel stall packages as an option.

18. Can a VersaTube loafing shed kit be used for a different application?

Yes. Loafing sheds have many uses such as a hay shed, feed shelter or other commercial uses.

19. How can I be assured that an authorized dealer installs my VersaTube horse barn?

VersaTube certifies each and every horse barn dealer listed in our dealer locater. To find an authorized VersaTube contractor click the dealer locater button on the top right of this page.

20. Do you offer live customer support at a corporate level?

Yes, our customer service hot line fields calls Mon-Fri from 8AM to 5PM

21. Do you offer horse barns with only a roof and no walls?

Authorized VersaTube dealers can install our horse barns in many different ways at their discretion.

22. What is the standard width of a horse barn?

A standard horse barn is 36′ wide. The horse barn industry generally refers to center section of a horse barn as raised center isle. VersaTube offers a standard 12′ wide raised center isle. Additionally, our raised center isle has 13.5′ sidewalls. Some of our customers make our horse barn frames into 3 bay carports parking an RV in the center isle the parking two vehicles in the outside bays.

23. How is my horse barn assembled?

In the top section of this page you will find a link to our horse barn instruction manual.

25. What size steel horse barns require truss braces?

Our standard steel horse barn does not require truss braces unless have an unusual snow and wind load requirement. Most steel horse barns wider then 36′ require truss braces to meet local wind and snow load requirements.

26. What is the roof pitch of VersaTube steel horse barns?

VersaTube offer horse barns in a 3:12 roof pitch.

27. Can a VersaTube horse barn be mounted to a wood floor or deck?

Yes, as long as it is properly designed to carry the additional weight of the horse barn as well as the additional snow and wind load.

28. What is the post on center spacing?

Snow and wind load conditions dictate the required on center spacing of a horse barn: VersaTube 12′ to 30′ wide loafing sheds are 4′ or 6′ on center. VersaTube 36′ wide horse barns are 4′ or 6′ on center VersaTube Contractors Series 2″x4″ framing allows for horse barns wider then 36′.

29. Does VersaTube offer a horse barn with roof eaves?

Yes. Our horse barns and loafing sheds come in many different styles; the Grand Series horse barn and the Suburban Series horse barn have the A-Frame style look.

30. How long does it take to assemble a VersaTube horse barn?

Standard metal horse barns range from 36′ wide to 52′ wide and take 8 – 48 hours to assemble. Adding sidewalls, a front or back to your horse barn adds to the assembly time.

31. How tall will horse barn or loafing shed peak height be?

Here is the formula to calculate peak height (((Width / 2) x 3) / 12) + sidewall height

32. How close can a horse barn be to another structure, building or fence?

It is important to leave enough room to work around the perimeter of the metal horse barn for assembly purposes. We also recommend checking your local building codes.

33. How wide are the sheet metal panels and can I order extra rows to enclose my horse barn?

The sheet metal panels VersaTube offers are 3′ wide and extra rows can be ordered to provide extra coverage down the side of the metal horse barn.

34. How are VersaTube horse barns anchored to a concrete slab?

VersaTube horse barns use common 1/2″ concrete anchor bolts that are installed using a hammer drill.

35. How is my metal horse barn anchored to asphalt?

It is extremely important to carefully and firmly anchor VersaTube horse barns. For exact instructions refer to our horse barn instruction manual. To properly anchor in asphalt, postholes must be created with our rebar horse barn anchors set in concrete.

For immediate assistance: Call (800) 810-2993