Who's Built Their Own Pole Barn

[Builder]

I've built a number of barns, sheds, pole barns, ect, over the years, mostly for myself, but a few "for hire" jobs too. The last couple I've had built for me. The guys who do nothing but pole barns can get materials on the cheap. And they have plenty of low buck labor. I had a 28' X 48' X 14' building built, turn key, cheaper than I could buy the materials (inc cost of concrete floor)

Exactly right FWJ.

I have the numbers right in front of me and the mark-up is so low, it's barely worth me building them anymore.

For the beginner, I wouldn't even consider it if you think about the lost personal time, risk of injury, rental equipment costs, etc.

Unless it's a life-long dream to build you own pole barn, leave it up to the pros. They're working for very minimal profits in these horrible economic times. This is the worst I've seen it in my 20+ years in business.

 

[JonBoyHunter]

I may be in the minority here, but I say go for it. My wife and spent about 6 months and built every bit of ours by our selves. It's 32 x 40, 3 bay barn that I originally built to store our possessions while we built our house. It later got turned into my wood shop - fully insulated, electric, water, radiant heat in the floor. It is'nt that big of an undertaking, so long as you have time. Our time was limited to weekends and evenings, and we still had the shell up in about 3 months, and completely finished in another 3 months (with a year in between building the house). Here are a couple of pictures including a finished shot of the interior PM me if you have any questions and I'll try to answer.

Jon Hunter

 

[Builder]

Great job!

 

[wedge40]

I may be in the minority here, but I say go for it. My wife and spent about 6 months and built every bit of ours by our selves. It's 32 x 40, 3 bay barn that I originally built to store our possessions while we built our house. It later got turned into my wood shop - fully insulated, electric, water, radiant heat in the floor. It is'nt that big of an undertaking, so long as you have time. Our time was limited to weekends and evenings, and we still had the shell up in about 3 months, and completely finished in another 3 months (with a year in between building the house). Here are a couple of pictures including a finished shot of the interior PM me if you have any questions and I'll try to answer.

Jon Hunter

I didnt know Norm Abram was memeber of TBN..Cool.
Nice shop Norm.. I mean Jon..

Wedge

 

[o2batsea]

I tried to do it myself, but it was just too much. If I had a lot of time it would be one thing, but doing it on your "free" time will end up taking you for EVER. You'll be so tired of barn building that you will probably just want to burn the thing down before you finish.
Pay somebody. Really.
And don't mess around with anything less than 12 foot walls. 14 is better and 16 is about right. And get doors at least 12 wide and ten or 12 tall. You'll thank yourself.

 

[jimmyj]

Great looking buildings guys. I made a small barn/shed when we first bought our place. It all started with some trusses and barn siding that I got cheap (really cheap) at an auction sale. .......

This is 32 x 32 and built with scraps (disassembled shipping crates from my work) and auction lumber. I had to buy some wood, but even the roof is used. It did take a long long time I do admit but I love buildiing stuff so I did not mind that. Also, we just bought the place and money was tight tight tight.
The whole thing cost me less than $3000 (to give you an idea all the siding plus more I still have in storage was $80. The trusses were $125.

Here is a winter shot to remind us all of what is coming!

NOTE: Errors I made. Roof on door is too low. Didn't put up a heavy enough header and had to go back and reinforce. Used tin on the roof will eventually have to be replaced with new.

 

[Uncle Doug]

Here is a link to the barn that me and a 16 year old built. Not real fancy but low cost and has held up well over the past 5 years.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/142669-goat-barn-project-2003-a.html#post1651197

 

[Robert128]

Beautiful job on the Shed - Good design! - I built my shop too and had a great time doing it. But I would agree, It takes a little longer if you are doing it yourself. I burned up a bunch of weekends and vacation days..

 

[Scotty370]

Sure is disturbing when I get 'pumped-up' over a thread, thats been resurrected, read the whole thing (so I don't asked stupid or repeatative questions), then fine the OP's been gone for a year, and other contributers haven't been around in months! ~Scotty

 

[tthopskin@yahoo.ca]

this is my pole barn 16x16 I put 3 poles up both sides 3 across the back same in front then 4 inch cider poles cut the tops on a angle to fit the center pole the out side and the centers heve a pole all the way down on the tops I put 2 foot centers i had all the poles down both sides my son in the backhoe my other son on the ground bushing up the poles to me i would put up and nail then the move the backhoe back up with another pole and so on the moved to the other side did the same 20 min it was up south of Bancroft ont