A New Barn Project

[Pks]

We are going to build a new barn for all the equipment we have accumulated. It will also contain a shop of sorts. At this point, the barn design has not been finalized but the location in the yard has been selected.

We began clearing an area for our upcoming barn building project. We had to cut down two large choke cherry trees. They actually help us determine where in the yard to place the barn. Both trees being fairly mature had developed significan rot and colonies of carpenter ants. Since the trees had become a hazard for falling over, we decided they had to be cut down. It wasn't our happiest decision because the trees feed the birds in the winter and shelter Orioles in the summer.

Each tree trunk was over three feet in diameter. After being cut down, chipped and the larger pieces hauled away, the stumps had to come out.

I'll let the pictures tell the story of how we got these monsters out of the ground. Though I'd love to tease everyone on TBN about using my B2400 to dig them out, I just can't do that...not yet any way.

For me, what was especially cool was watching the bucket dig and snap the roots like there was nothing there. Power is cool!

 

[EddieWalker]

Well you sure started out with a very unique tool for taking out stumps!!!

Eddie

 

[schmism]

got to break a few eggs to make an omlete.....

 

[weldingisfun]

I'll look forward to seeing you build your new barn. Try to take lots of pics so we can all watch the progress.
Merry Christmas.

 

[Pks]

Here are a few more photos of our barn project. The building is fairly simple 36ft x 44ft x 12ft walls. There are two service doors and two overhead doors. The overhead doors are 12 x 10 and 18 x 10. We have not purchased the overhead doors yet.

These pictures show some of the earlier process.

The first photo shows the yard before the carnage began. It's a nice place, quiet and peacfull. Both trees in the background must be cut down. One has carpenter ants in the fork and the other is rotting in its fork. Both are Choke Cherries (not to be confused with Black Cherry). They live and die fast. They drop limbs and bend into wierd shapes. These two are sitting where the barn will go.

The second picture shows the felling process.

Picture three shows everything ready for clean up and stump removal.

Photo 4: At the end of 2006, we had warm weather and I had a lot of roots to pull out. The GradAll in my earlier post got the stumps out.

The last photo is the whole reason for the barn.

 

[Pks]

Here are a few more of the next stages. Now it begins to take shape.
1) Oh yeah, winter sets in.
2) We finally figured out the size and location with respect to remaining trees. We don't want to injure anything. Taking down the choke cherries was sad enough.
3, 4) Now some posts are placed.
5) The headers for the overhead doors: 12x10 and 18x10
6) More headers and purlins
7) The trusses arrive. This driver came down our 900 foot driveway backwards (as shown here). That includes the S-curve at the 200 foot mark and an 11 foot wide pass between a stone wall and neighbor's garage. I didn't see him do it but his tracks are evident. It must have been tough.
8, 9, 10) Madison is our yard supervisor, of course she had to help.

 

[Pks]

These photos show more progress.
1) Most of the trusses are in place.
2,3) The roof is on but no walls yet.
4,5,6) More roof, a door, window and side sheeting.

 

[bones1]

looks great.Keep the pics coming.

 

[SOS]

If you don't mind, what is your budget for this? I'm in the planning and wife negotiation phase of my potential barn/tractor garage

 

[mudcat]

Progress, progress, progress! Looks great!