EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Is this going to be a pole barn? How do you get the poles in the ground with a concrete footing?
Eddie
Eddie
Building a Pole Barn: Step 1
- Thread starter gregfender
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gregfender
Gold Member
I decided to stick build. Ended up being cheaper for my needs. Considering all of the rock uncovered when digging the footers it was good I chose this route. I would have never been able to dig holes for the posts.
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gregfender
Gold Member
Got the foundation block laid today. Things are coming along. Should pour the slab either Friday or Monday.
MinnesotaEric
Super Member
Digging that must have just stunk.
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gregfender
Gold Member
My builder had originally thought they would knock it out by hand...no kidding. The guy that came and took care of it only charged me $200...I couldn't believe it.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
That makes sense. I wasn't sure if I missed that somewhere or you where going to put the poles on top of the footing. With a concrete floor, stick building makes more sense to me too.
What are you going to use to build up the ground before you pour concrete? How will you compact it?
Since you didn't mention what you are using to reinforce the concrete, be sure to use rebar. Wire is quick, cheap and easy, but it always ends up at the bottom of the pour and becomes useless. Everyone will tell you that they pull it up while they spread the concrete, but don't mention that's just for show and as they walk on the wire, it gets pushed back down to the ground. It is impossible to pour a slab and keep wire in the middle of it while walking on it. Even with chairs, a persons foot doesn't fit between the squares in the wire. I only use rebar and would fire a contractor who insisted on using wire.
Eddie
What are you going to use to build up the ground before you pour concrete? How will you compact it?
Since you didn't mention what you are using to reinforce the concrete, be sure to use rebar. Wire is quick, cheap and easy, but it always ends up at the bottom of the pour and becomes useless. Everyone will tell you that they pull it up while they spread the concrete, but don't mention that's just for show and as they walk on the wire, it gets pushed back down to the ground. It is impossible to pour a slab and keep wire in the middle of it while walking on it. Even with chairs, a persons foot doesn't fit between the squares in the wire. I only use rebar and would fire a contractor who insisted on using wire.
Eddie
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gregfender
Gold Member
My concrete guy and I have already had the discussion of using rebar in the pour. I told him that's the only way I would do it. We are using a good bit of the excavated dirt to fill the foundation then I am hauling in about 4' of crush and run to finish the fill and compact. We hope to be ready to pour by tuesday of next week.
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gregfender
Gold Member
That's 4" of crush and run, not 4'!
hunterridgefarm
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Looking good. You should have some good weather next week to get the pour in.
GManBart
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I'm not saying wire is as good as rebar, but it doesn't have to end up at the bottom if you know what you're doing, and they do make heavy gauge wire that's pretty stout. If you set the panels as you pour, rather than set them all first, you don't have to walk on them at all.