Building horse shelter - help!

Are the upright posts non treated 2x4's? That's the way it looks in the picture. If it is I would start completely over, I know you don't want to hear that. I would use 4x4 treated posts at minimum for your posts in the ground and put 3 posts on each side, 2 posts if using 6x6's.

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The idea of making a "scab" post will work fine. I would dig a hole next to the existing post and put some concrete in it to give the "scab" post something to sit on. His scaffold idea is basically what I was saying to stiffen up the roof. You WILL need to put a support post in the midde of the wall. Either with the beam or just adding a 2x6, they both will work. I just like the beam better because of the "ridgidness" and the roof would rest directly on it. Either way, it's the same principal, you'll need to add the posts - or add TO the existing ones - to support the beam or board.

Another way to do it is to finish building the wal you have there. Basically, build another one just like it on top of what you have. It will support the roof.
I would probably go the other route, though.

Beeman, no, those are untreated 4x4 and they are cemented in. I intend to paint the whole thing once it is up. I better double check, those might be treated. I know the rest of the wood is untreated.

Okay, hubby says he's pretty certain the 4x4 are treated.

You all have given us some really good ideas to go on. I really appreciate it.

Just remember it's not just the weight of the building or forces of nature you're building for, livestock can be rough on a building too.

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"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self confidence"
Robert Frost

A "catwalk" is just a couple of boards nailed together with one turned on edge, in an "L" shape. They are normally added to the top side of a long span to give it more strength, but will have the same effect attached to the bottom. It would just run straight down the center of the span from side to side.
As for the 2X6, just attach it to the post dierectly under the 2X4 that's already there. Jack it up tight against the 2X4 before nailing. Then add a 2X4 to the post to support the ends of the 2X6.
To tie it all together, you could add another piece of 2 X 4 that would be on the outside of the post, and go to the top of the horizontal 2X4, overlapping all the joints, and that would resist upward lifiting of the roof in high winds. You could also use metal strapping to tie the roof to the posts

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Cemented the post in concrete? In my climate that will rot off in 2-3 years. I hear some southern climates that is normal tho, maybe it works where you are.

You are putting asphault shingles on a roof with such a shallow slope? You need at least a 2-12 slope around here for it to work, ro the water runs right in on the roof boards. Steeper is better tho.

Here a 2x6 would not carry a 12 foot span, would take a 2x12. You tried a 2x4? Wind loads, snow loads.... You just nailed the main top beams outside the vertical posts? They need support to hold them to the posts - bolts through everything/ notches in the vertical post to sit on/ a 2x4 a couple feet long heavily nailed to the post to sit on. Something. You see that whole roof is going to be held up by the few nails you have in each corner? That is not anywhere near enough to keep the roof on the posts.

Livestock will bust up 4x4 posts real quick, wood is a lot weaker than it used to be. Takes a 4x6 or 6x6.

If the vertical posts are treated, did you use stainless or heavily dipped galvanised nails/ screws/ bolts in it? Today's pressure treated wood eats up any regular or lightly galvinised metal that touches it, so it will all rust apart in a few years if you did not use the right hardware. The nail/ screw/ bolt container will say it is good for pressure treated applications, or you can assume it is _not_. Yup, these types of hardware cost a lot more. Thank the folks that got hypewr about a tiny bit of arsnic in the old type of pressure treated wood - had to change......

I realize you are in a warmer climate, and on a budget, but wow. I think you will chaulk this one up to a learning experience & be rebuilding in a few years. It just looks too weak by 1/2 on just about everything.

You've had a lot of advice, and I don't want to be a wet blanket. You are sure trying well, and working hard at it. Just, sometimes one needs to start out right to get something worthwhile.

--->Paul