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Loafing Shed Builders in Colorado
Open-front shelters for horses and livestock, built to stand up to plains wind. Get a free quote.
Parker, Denver, the Front Range and every town within 100 miles
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Loafing Sheds & Run-In Sheds
Loafing Sheds & Run-In Sheds, built by one builder
Horses and cattle on Colorado acreage don't ask for much, but they need a dry place out of the wind. On the plains east of Denver and up on the Palmer Divide, a winter wind can blow for days, and an open-front shed catches it like a sail. A run-in that isn't anchored can lift, rack or lose its roof, and one facing the wrong way fills with drifted snow. A loafing shed that works is anchored against uplift, has its closed back turned to the prevailing wind, sits on ground that drains, and is deep and tall enough that the animals actually use it.
We're a licensed and insured general contractor based in Parker, and we build loafing sheds, run-in sheds and livestock shelters on properties within 100 miles, from Elizabeth, Kiowa and Elbert to Peyton, Calhan, Bennett and the Fort Morgan country. We handle the whole job: sizing the shed for your herd, engineering the frame for your site's snow and wind, the permit, building up and compacting the pad, and the shed itself, single or with a lean-to. Inside we line the walls with kick boards, and we can close off one end as a tack or feed room.
What's included
What goes into our loafing sheds & run-in sheds
- 01
Single-slope run-in sheds
An open front on the long side and a roof that slopes to the back, so snow and rain drop behind the shed instead of into the opening where the animals stand.
- 02
Lean-to and multi-bay shelters
A center shed with a lean-to on one or both sides, or a long shelter divided into bays so you can split mares, geldings or cattle into separate pens.
- 03
Set against the wind
We turn the closed back and sides into the prevailing wind on your land and add wing walls at the ends where the wind wraps around the corners.
- 04
Anchored framing
Posts set below frost depth or anchored to concrete footings, with the frame braced and the roof tied down against uplift and engineered for your county's snow load.
- 05
Kick boards inside
Wood kick boards line the walls so hooves and horns hit timber instead of steel siding, with no sharp edges left at animal height.
- 06
A dry, built-up floor
We build the pad up above the surrounding ground, compact it and grade the area out front, so the shed stays dry and the opening doesn't turn into a mud hole in spring.
Real work · not stock photos
Our loafing shed work
Photos from our own jobs.
Our crew's work
More photos from our loafing shed jobs
Smaller photos from the job site, shown at their actual size.
Ideas for your project
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How it works
How a loafing shed job works
- 1
Free quote and site visit
Tell us what animals the shed is for and how many. We walk the pasture, see where the wind and water go and where the shed fits your fences and gates, then give you a free quote.
- 2
Layout, engineering and permits
We size the shed and the opening, engineer the frame for your site's snow and wind, and handle the building permit or agricultural exemption with the county, plus any HOA review.
- 3
Site prep and pad
We clear the spot, build up and compact the pad so water drains away, and set the posts or pour footings below frost depth.
- 4
Build and walk-through
We frame and steel the shed, add the kick boards and any lean-to or tack room, grade the apron out front, and walk the finished shelter with you.
Customer reviews
What our customers say
“Great communication! Fair Price and took care of everything as it came up.”
Travis S.
Garage building · HomeAdvisor review
“Mike is a true professional in every way. Versatile, reliable, well skilled, and extremely knowledgeable. Easy to work with and a hard worker. His pricing is reasonable and his estimates for his work were spot on. I trusted him completely, as I am an absentee owner and could not be on site to oversee progress. He gave me updates and photos. A great find. Would recommend without any reservation. Hire him if u want it done right and on time.”
Jim S.
Work for an absentee owner · HomeAdvisor review
“Mike and crew was simply amazing. He always made sure I was satisfied, had good communication, and did a great job. Good prices and services, I can’t recommend home enough. This was a big job and he came through, Thank you!”
Chad T.
A big job · HomeAdvisor review
“Mike was great at communicating with me and was incredibly competitive in his pricing. The work was done quickly and was high quality. I would absolutely recommend his company to anyone needing work done on their houses.”
Lora T.
Home project · HomeAdvisor review
“I am so appreciative of the quality, responsiveness, and value that Mike Fowler and his crew performed on completely remodeling and expanding our kitchen including moving walls. He did it in a timely manner, provided progress updates often and finished the job in record time. We get compliments all the time on the quality of the work and how our kitchen has been completely transformed. He coordinated or did himself all the carpentry, electrical, appliance installation, cabinets, and countertop installation after we approved the plan he drew out for us. I also used him to add a shower to my laundry room, cut down a huge tree in my yard, and put a new face around my fireplace. I would highly recommend Mike for ANY remodeling work you are considering for your house. His prices are competitive too”
Rich R.
Kitchen remodel and expansion · HomeAdvisor review
“Mike has done my entire unfinished basement and his work ethics and willingness to work with changing design needs is exceptional. Mike's patience and quality of work is exceptional. His only goal is to ensure that customer is happy and he doesn't hesitate to redo things if customer wanted differently. I was very happy with his work and did recommend to a friend who is doing his complete basement. he is very affordable versus some of the crazy quotes we got.”
Damodara M.
Basement finish · HomeAdvisor review
Local pages
Loafing Sheds & Run-In Sheds by town
Find your town for local details and everything we build there.
- Parker, CO
- Franktown, CO
- Castle Rock, CO
- Centennial, CO
- Highlands Ranch, CO
- Elizabeth, CO
- Littleton, CO
- Aurora, CO
- Kiowa, CO
- Denver, CO
- Lakewood, CO
- Commerce City, CO
- Monument, CO
- Golden, CO
- Black Forest, CO
- Arvada, CO
- Westminster, CO
- Thornton, CO
- Evergreen, CO
- Brighton, CO
- Peyton, CO
- Broomfield, CO
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Boulder, CO
- Longmont, CO
- Greeley, CO
- Loveland, CO
- Windsor, CO
- Fort Morgan, CO
- Fort Collins, CO
- Pueblo West, CO
- Pueblo, CO
Also serving The Pinery, Stepping Stone, Sierra Ridge, Stonegate, Meridian Village, Grand View Estates, Castle Pines, Meridian, Lone Tree, Castle Pines Village, Dove Valley, Foxfield and more →
Questions
Loafing Sheds & Run-In Sheds FAQs
How do you build a loafing shed for Colorado wind and snow?
We start with where it sits, then engineer it for the site. The closed back goes into the prevailing wind, which on most Front Range and plains properties means the open front faces south or east, and the roof slopes to the back so snow slides off behind the shed. The frame is built for the wind at your site, with posts set deep or anchored to concrete and the roof tied down against uplift, and the roof is sized for your county's snow load, which climbs with elevation.
How much does a loafing shed cost?
Size drives most of it: how long and deep the shed is and how many bays or lean-tos it has. After that come the extras, like kick boards, a closed tack or feed room, gutters, and how much fill and compaction the pad needs on your ground. A shed on a windy ridge may also need more anchoring than one in a sheltered spot. We look at the site and your herd and quote it for free.
Do I need a permit for a loafing shed?
Often, yes, and it depends on the county and the land. Some Colorado counties exempt agricultural buildings on qualifying farm or ranch land, others want a building permit for any shed above a set size, and towns have their own rules. Setbacks from lot lines and wells, and HOA covenants in acreage subdivisions, can also decide where the shed goes. We check the rules for your parcel and take care of the permit.
How big should a loafing shed be?
Big enough that every animal can get inside at once, including the one at the bottom of the pecking order. We size it from the number and kind of animals you keep, give it enough depth that they can stand back out of blowing snow, and make the opening wide enough that a bossy horse can't block it. If your herd might grow, we can plan a lean-to you add later.
Can a loafing shed include a tack room or hay storage?
Yes. We can close off one end with walls and a door for tack, feed or a few days of hay, kept dry and out of reach of the animals. For more hay than that, a lean-to on the back or a separate hay barn keeps the shelter clear for the herd. We can also fit a gate so one bay can be closed off for a new or injured animal.
Related
Other buildings we put up
Horse Barns & Stables
Horse barns and stables with stalls, tack rooms, lean-to wings and indoor arenas.
See horse barns & stables
Hay Barns & Farm Buildings
Hay barns, machine sheds, equipment storage and livestock buildings.
See hay barns & farm buildings
Pole Barns
Pole barns for equipment, hay, horses and campers.
See pole barns
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