Alternative shed roofing

babybrian · 16-11-2010 10:12PM #1

I was on a farm walk today and the farmer had a shed with a green round roof that was like canvas type material. Has anybody any experience of these roofing types and anybody know of a website I can go to for them?

dar31 · 16-11-2010 11:57PM

know the ones your talking about, was talking to a crowd at the ploughing.
will look for the contact details tomorrow.
looked a good job for calf housing. not sure on price though.

st1979 · 17-11-2010 10:15AM

I think most of these things can be beaten by a really cheap steel shed and definitely will out last the alternatives.
And make sure you name it on your insurance policy as soon as you start building it as a neighbour put a polytunnel up last year and was just finished it when a big wind came and blew it into another field. Was a total write off but his insurance company said it was not an agricultural building so wouldn't pay.
But have to admit i do like the look of them for calves

Username John · 17-11-2010 12:17PM

I remember talking to someone about them before. They had animals in a plastic roof shed that they had animals in, wasnt a poly tunnell, but same kinda design I think.

They said it was great for the rain, but no good in the cold. Twas as cold in it, as outside. Compared to a normal steel shed, they werent a fan of it all.

Now - that was a few years ago, but just what I was told.

Muckit · 17-11-2010 03:36PM

These are the main guys at them

http://www.tarpstorage.com/

I love the idea of them too, but I think the steam off cattle in them would break down the material and rot them after a while. I could be wrong

There'd be some string of curses out of ya if you were using them for storing hay/straw bales and a prong ripped into it:rolleyes:

reilig · 17-11-2010 03:56PM

I always thought that the whole idea of a shed that would keep animals healthy would be one that would keep the rain off the animals but allow the cool air to circulate through them. This is certainly the principal that I based the design of slatted sheds that i have build over the last 15 years. Many neighbours have closed slatted sheds which allow for little or no air movement through the animals and they suffer from many pnumonia cases.

Based on the principal that an animal sweating is the cause of most sickness rather than the animal being cold or wet, then these types of buildings make sense and are a healthy way to over winter cattle.

Username John · 18-11-2010 11:22AM

reilig wrote: »

I always thought that the whole idea of a shed that would keep animals healthy would be one that would keep the rain off the animals but allow the cool air to circulate through them. This is certainly the principal that I based the design of slatted sheds that i have build over the last 15 years. Many neighbours have closed slatted sheds which allow for little or no air movement through the animals and they suffer from many pnumonia cases.

Based on the principal that an animal sweating is the cause of most sickness rather than the animal being cold or wet, then these types of buildings make sense and are a healthy way to over winter cattle.

It was sheep lambing that this guy was using the shed for, and he felt it was no way 'cosy' for the sheep after lambing.
Just the feedback I have on them. I guess it depends on what you use them for. But maybe you're right re cattle Reilg, I couldnt say.

pakalasa · 18-11-2010 12:35PM

Last year when it was nearly -10 deg C, I saw my suckler cows lying outside on the frozen yard during the night, rather than inside in the cubucle shed.
Like Reilig said, sheds dont need to be warm, just give shelter from the driving rain. Cattle dont even mind soft rain. It's the hard driving rain that gets through to their skin, that's what you've got to protect against.

5live · 18-11-2010 01:30PM

Username John wrote: »

It was sheep lambing that this guy was using the shed for, and he felt it was no way 'cosy' for the sheep after lambing.
Just the feedback I have on them. I guess it depends on what you use them for. But maybe you're right re cattle Reilg, I couldnt say.

I use a polytunnel for lambing early ewes. Like most animals, the key to housing is keeping water off the stock because it costs a lot of energy to warm up when wet but little when dry. I have wind breakers around the house to stop draughts so the lambs dont get chilled when wet but once they are dry the danger from draughts is small and sheep are well insulated. In cattle housing though you need a good airflow when the day is calm too. I think too many farmers like to feel warm when feeding and overdo the sheds to stop cattle getting cold and end up with worse problems

Username John · 19-11-2010 01:12PM

5live wrote: »

I use a polytunnel for lambing early ewes. Like most animals, the key to housing is keeping water off the stock because it costs a lot of energy to warm up when wet but little when dry. I have wind breakers around the house to stop draughts so the lambs dont get chilled when wet but once they are dry the danger from draughts is small and sheep are well insulated. In cattle housing though you need a good airflow when the day is calm too. I think too many farmers like to feel warm when feeding and overdo the sheds to stop cattle getting cold and end up with worse problems

There you go, I had it from a man who did it once, and wasnn't all that impressed. But you do it all the time and say it works well, so I cant say anymore.

Alternative shed roofing

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