Hey Alan,
My previous barn had a 10ft tall and 12 wide roll up door on it. I never parked my backhoe in there, but pulled in in a few times to work on it. Lowering the hoe is a pain, but since it wasn't very often, I didn't really think too much of it. My neighbor now owns that barn, and he keeps his backhoe in there all the time. He doesn't mind the door height either and said that when he builds a bigger shop, he'll go with the same sized door openings.
My current shop door is ten foot tall and ten foot wide. I made it smaller this time for the added wall space. The 12 wide opening on the other shop was nice, but not really needed.
I've been to quite a few barns and shops with sliding doors, and was even planning on putting one in at first. But complaints of keeping the wind and bugs out was pretty common. You also have to be away or where you put your walk in door so it's not behind your sliders.
Have you priced out a roll up door? I really like them and wouldn't consider anything else. It's a two person job to put them in, but mostly that's because you need somebody to tell you how high to lift the door while you are operating the loader. Otherwise, they are very quick and simple to install.
If price is the issue, wait until you save enough to pay for one. I believe mine was in the $500 range. Figure out what you will pay for a slider and the difference wont be but significant. The difference between the two IS significant.
What type of barn/shop will this be? Pole barn with wood posts?
I really like having 12 foot walls. I wouldn't go any less, but don't really know if I have any use for more. As it it, I have to keep a ladder on my shelves to get to my top two rows of shelves.
I didn't insulate my shop, and regret that decision. My walls are Hardi on the outside with OSB on the inside. That works out great. I would highly recommend putting OSB or a similar type of wood on the inside walls. I can hang just about anything, anywhere I want. My ceiling is just metal on purlins. I get some condensation from it, but not that big a deal. It's super hot in there in the summer and terribly cold in the winter. When it rains, it's so loud that you can't hear yourself think.
My current plan is to install 2 inch foam to my purlins with 3 inch deck screws and large fender washers. Then I'll see how it works out and go from there.
Have you looked at Mueller's and there all metal kits? That's where I bought my door and metal for my roof. They are easy to work with, and are always working on improving their products. My first door was not made by them, but one they bought from another manufacturer and then sold by them. Now they manufacture their own doors. I've never heard anything negative about them, and recommend them to everyone that I know.
Are you going to build it yourself or hire it out? Setting the poles is the hardest part of doing it yourself. Getting it square and true is time consuming, but if you can do that, the rest is easy.
Eddie
These are the folks I am looking at currently
Project Gallery - Metal roofing, metal roof, discount metal roofing, metal roofing, metal roof
I need to talk back with Mueller, but so far I like these the best for the Money.
I did not have my specifics in mind when I last spoke with Mueller, but I am pretty honed in at the moment.
I need to check other availabilies of Overhead doors, but they are quite expensive through these folks. The 12' door comes about because of bay spacing.
I want this hybrid type pole barn with the higher roof. It has some advantages that I like.
I finally figured out I think why the eave ends up at 12'6" and that is because you have the poles at 12' and then there is a 2X6 Purling above that. I need to call and verify, but I was looking at my buddies yesterday, and that made sense too me.
I need to shop more for overhead doors.
Everyone that has told me has said to insulate first, so I will.
I think I will slowly add in steel too the inside as walls especially where I do a lot of welding, wood inside always scares me. Probably some will be drywall.
I will build it myself, I just cannot stand to pay others. That said, I have several good freinds that have experience building these type buildings and they have all agreed to come give me a hand getting the poles set. I think (and everyone has said) that, that step is the key to making it go smooth. So I will allot double the time and manpower to that portion of the task and get them in right.
My neighbor has also said he will work with me so the day in day out work will be us two, but the getting the poles set will be a team effort.
My buddy offered me his crane truck and help when needed. I am going to utilize him to set the trusses. I was thinking backhoe, boompole etc. but put the crane truck in the middle with him on the controls (smooth experienced operator) and I think we can set the 6 trusses in short order.
Will see how it comes together, I expect in two months, If I keep my job etc. that I will be working on this. Then again, maybe if I loose my job I will be doing it sooner.