It's too cold to build a barn, but we're doing it anyway!

[k6dyc]

When I finally made the decision to start a barn project last September, I planned on having it done between Thanksgiving and Christmas. looking back, that would have been great since we had some very favorable weather. However, truss assembly held us up a few weeks and we didn't break ground until December. Then the delays began.

As soon as we began with the auger to dig the 18" holes for the posts we realized that the rental equipment we could get wasn't going to handle things. There was just too much rock. To make a long story short, we went through a number of bits and different model auger attachments all without success. Carbide or rock bits just weren't available anywhere within 250 miles. We ended up using a track-hoe with a small bucket, and even that took a while. When I went to dig my water and power line that runs about 250' from the house I got a friend with a big backhoe and he didn't have much problem.

So, here we are today with the framing completed. I now have a crew of three working on the project and expect to be done with the shell in about 5 days. I'm attaching a few pics showing the framed barn and my 8' deep hole that will be the future location of the automatic horse waterer. You can see the rocks clearly, some the size of small pigs. I hope to be able to work on the water tie-in to the water pump house today.

I'll post more pics as the project develops. You can watch the construction live on the Canon Weather Cam, click the weather link in my sig. The barn is up the hill to the right.

 

[Bird]

Very interesting, Rick. I know things are different in your part of the country, but for me, all outdoor work stops when that white stuff is on the ground, which of course, is very seldom.

 

[john_bud]

I always laugh when I see a project in that state with the see thru view and the closed door. Once the framing is done, it goes pretty fast. Are you doing the labor or is it farmed out? I did mine and while it was time consuming it saved thousands of $$.

jb

 

[Thomas]

Evening k6dyc.
Nice looking barn and beautiful view to boot....may the nasty weather take detour for you.

 

[k6dyc]

... Are you doing the labor or is it farmed out?

I'm helping when I can, but most is being done by a contract crew. I'm doing the water and power feeds, and will be re-routing fence and doing the interior power, lights, and stalls.

 

[k6dyc]

Well, here are some progress pics. If finally warmed up enough to move some dirt around and fill in some post holes. Hopefully we'll finish the siding today and get the roof edge seals in and screwed down tomorrow before the storms hit. We're expecting "winter mix", which means a combination of wind, rain, snow, slush and generally unpleasant weather. Temps are predcted to be dropping to -16 by Saturday night.

 

[schmism]

ruhroh... safty police are going to ALL over your butt for that last one

 

[k6dyc]

I know, I know, I almost didn't post it. The guys doing it are contractors and when I came on scene I probably should have said something but... You should have seen them doing to roof!

 

[Renob]

At least he has a safety orange hat!

 

[EddieWalker]

I like that last picture. It shows a desire to get the job done and done right now. They could have stoped the job, gone to town and get a bunch of scafolding, erected it, and safely installed that siding, but they chose to get it done and move on to the next thing. I like it!!!

Eddie