Critter proofing pole barn

[ThiefPouter06]

I have an 8 X 16 metal sided pole barn I am trying to critter proof. The side meets the ground but I need ideas how to prevent things from digging under. What works?

 

[patandchickens]

You have basically 3 choices, the third of which is usually by far the best bet. You could pour a slab floor inside the barn; you could dig down 18+" and bury very heavy gauge wire mesh; or you could place a horizontal apron of heavy gauge wire mesh on (or just below) the surface of the ground, along the OUTSIDE of the barn walls, running out 2-4' from the base of the wall. Make sure it is securely tied to the bottom of the wall.

An apron like this is easy to install, as it involves little or no digging, and if properly constructed is just as effective as burial. If you fit it very snugly to the ground and turn the outer edge down a bit so as not to catch toes or mower blades, you can actually just let the grass grow up through it and it will gradually 'merge with' the ground and become virtually invisible. Or weight it down with big rocks or concrete rubble, or any of a variety of other treatments.

Alternatively large pavers can be laid all around the outside of the walls, again going out 2-4'... this is arguably not *quite* as secure as a wire mesh apron but not a bad second place if you happen to have a whole buncha large pavers sitting in a stack somewhere.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat