Choosing the right concrete product size for farm construction projects 

When you’re building on the farm, whether it’s a livestock shed, silage clamp, feed store or retaining wall, the materials you use are important. From our experience at Wolfenden Concrete Ltd, one choice that often gets missed but really matters is this: 

What size concrete products should you use for your farm construction project? 

We’ve been making agricultural precast concrete in the UK for years, and we know every farm is different. That’s why we offer a range of concrete walling solutions made for British farming. Picking the right concrete product comes down to how you’ll use it, efficiency, safety, and how flexible you want to be in the future. 

In this article, we’ll look at how to choose the right concrete product for your farm, what types of projects our products are used for, and what to think about when making your choice. 

Why Concrete Product Choice Matters in Agriculture 

At first glance, it might seem simple. But on the farm, the size and strength of every part of your building really matter. 

• Structural demands vary depending on whether you’re housing animals, storing feed, or creating a silage bay. 

• Installation time often depends on product size. Larger pre-cast can make building faster, but you’ll need the right equipment and good site access. 

• Space planning and layout often hinge on exact dimensions, especially in livestock housing, where cubicle sizes, alley widths, and feeding arrangements must comply with welfare standards. 

• Load-bearing capacity is affected by product choice – thickness and height. 

The Wolfenden Approach: Designed for the Farm, Not the Warehouse 

We design our products for real UK farm conditions. Whether you’re adding to a livestock unit or replacing old buildings, our precast walling systems are built to: 

• Handle aggressive agricultural environments (slurry, ammonia, moisture) 

• Be installed efficiently with minimal site disruption 

• Fit the layout and flow of modern farmyards 

Our precast concrete walling products are used across a wide range of farm construction projects, including: 

• Cattle sheds 

• Calf rearing units 

• Sheep buildings 

• Silage clamps 

• Bulk storage bays 

• Feed stores 

• Retaining walls 

• Scraper passages and cubicle systems 

Each of these uses has its own needs for strength and size, so picking the right concrete product is important. 

Concrete Walling Products: What’s Typically Available? 

The term “concrete walling” covers a lot, but for farm building, we usually mean precast wall panels or L wall units or SUPA blocks used for structure or dividing spaces. 

Common sizes include: 

Product	Length / Height	Width	Thickness
Precast Walling	1.0m / 1.2m / 1.5m	1m – 6.5m	95mm / 145mm / 180mm / 280mm
L-Shape Retaining Units	2.4m / 3.0m	1.26m	180 – 110 mm taper
SUPA Blocks	600mm / 800mm	0.3m–2.4m / 0.4m – 1.6m	600mm / 800mm

At Wolfenden, we offer different types depending on what you’re building. Some farmers need full-height precast panels for perimeter walls, while others choose smaller modular blocks for temporary bays or barriers they can move. 

How to Choose the Right Product for Your Project 

To pick the best product, start by thinking about what you need to achieve with your project and what it needs to hold up against. Here’s how it breaks down for common farm projects. 

1. Livestock Buildings

In beef and dairy housing, precast concrete wall panels are used for perimeter walls, feed walls, or inside dividers. The height and thickness you need depends on whether you’re keeping mature cattle or younger animals. 

Consider: 

• Taller panels (1.5m) for dividing large livestock areas 

• 145mm–180mm thickness for impact resistance 

• Lengths customised to fit cubicle or feeding bay layouts 

We often recommend reinforced precast wall panels in this case – quick to install, easy to wash down, and extremely robust. 

2. Silage Clamps and Feed Storage Bays

Silage exerts enormous lateral pressure, especially when packed and stacked. The block or panel needs not only to hold weight but also to resist long-term wear from acids and moisture. 

Consider: 

• Thick, reinforced L-panels or vertical cantilever panels 

• Panel height depending on clamp size (usually 2.5–3.0m) 

• The internal face is designed to be smooth and easy to clean 

We design bunker walls to fit the layout and size you need for your clamp. We’ll talk with you about your current and future needs to help choose the right height and thickness. 

3. Retaining Walls and Boundary Structures 

Whether supporting a bank or creating a physical barrier between traffic areas, retaining walls must withstand uneven pressure and weathering. 

Consider: 

• Larger base width for stability 

• L-shaped or cantilevered design for efficiency 

• Height adjusted to match terrain or adjoining levels 

We always recommend you work with a qualified engineer for retaining walls, especially if there are slopes or nearby access roads. 

4. General Yard Infrastructure

For things like vehicle bays, feed stores, and machinery sheds, it helps to use modular blocks. In these cases, block size is mostly about how easy they are to move, how flexible your layout can be, and how quickly you can build. 

Consider: 

• Our Stackable SUPA block range for temporary partitions 

Smaller modular blocks are also handy if you want to change how you use a space during the year or build your project in stages. 

Installation and Handling Considerations 

Product choices also change how easy it is to install. 

Larger panels mean fewer joints and faster building, but you’ll need: 

• Appropriate lifting equipment 

• Flat access routes 

• Safe anchoring or backfilling (depending on type) 

Smaller products are easier to move around, but you’ll need more of them to cover the same area, and it can take longer to install them all. 

We usually work with your contractors or builders to make sure lifting points, access, and timing are all considered when picking the correct product. Often, choosing the biggest panel you can handle makes the job simpler. 

Do Regulations Affect Product Choice? 

Regulations for agricultural buildings don’t usually specify exact product choice, but building height, wind loading, livestock access, and slurry containment may indirectly affect the size and type of concrete components you can use. 

We don’t provide planning advice or structural guarantees, but we always recommend you: 

• Consult with your structural engineer or planning advisor before final decisions 

• Make sure the size and type of product suits your project’s intended use and location 

• Ensure any walls used for slurry or silage are compliant with relevant environmental standards 

Our role is to manufacture high-quality products to spec and to work with you to ensure what you’re buying is appropriate for your setup. 

Buying British: Why It Matters 

One last thing to think about is where your concrete products come from. We make all our products here in the UK, and we think that gives your project some real advantages: 

• Fewer transport and border delays 

• Compliance with UK farm building practices 

• Local service and support – we’re on the other end of the phone if you need us 

We know you can get products from Ireland or Europe, but working with a UK manufacturer gives you peace of mind when it counts. 

Final Thoughts 

Picking the right concrete products for your farm project might seem like a small thing, but it affects everything from how fast you build and what it costs to how well it works and how easy it is to expand later. 

We’re here to help you make the right choice, based on years of experience building precast concrete for British farms. Whether you’re replacing old sheds, adding more housing, or starting from scratch, we’ll help make sure your concrete products are the right fit. 

FAQs 

1. Can I mix different types of precast products in one build?
   Absolutely. Many farms combine wall panels, L-units, and SUPA blocks within the same build or across the site. It’s often the most efficient way to handle different needs – like fixed perimeter walls alongside movable storage bays. We can advise on how best to integrate different products into your project. 
2. What equipment is needed to install larger precast products?
   Typically, a telehandler or crane is used, depending on the size. We include lifting sockets in our designs for safe handling; we also can supply specific lifters alongside a product purchase. 
3. CanSUPAblocks be moved and reused?
   Yes – our modular SUPA blocks are often chosen for this reason. They’re ideal for flexible storage or temporary structures. 
4. How do I know which product is best for my farm project?
   We’re happy to talk it through with you. The best product depends on your application, access, installation equipment, and layout. 
5. Are your concrete products certified for agricultural use?
   Our products are manufactured specifically for farm environments and meet relevant UK quality (BS 5502) and durability standards.