Pole Barn Loft Column Question

[JozzyRancher]

Question about pole barn loft columns (posts).

Background: 30x48 pole barn. The loft will be in the rear of the barn, 30'W x 8'D. I am going to use three columns, 6"x6", pressure treated, aligned with the rear wall columns. The front beam will be tripled up 2x8's, with two of the 2x8's notched into the top of the three 6x6 columns, and carriage bolted all the way through all three 2x8's and the column notch. Beams will be about 8' each and join on top of the notched columns.

My floor is crushed/dust limestone. Not the 1" crushed limestone for driveways and road projects but rather the finely crushed, dust stone type.

Loft use is general attic storage. No engine blocks, hay or wood lathes up there. But you never know how heavy the full load is of course. Underneath the loft will be a work bench and tools and general storage. No doors. Probably some wall cabinets on perimeter walls and LED lights hanging from loft.

Located in Michigan. Subsurface is sandy and built 2-3' higher than surrounding ground level.

Now the question: A few people have told me they would set the columns right on top of the crushed/dust limestone bc it sets hard like concrete though not smooth. Another fella suggested I use a deck block just to prevent bumping the column.

Anyone have experiences and do something similar?

Thank you in advance for your kind comments.

 

[RNeumann]

Why not spend the few hours and set them in concrete?

People rock climb with no ropes- it’s not what most should do but it has worked for a few folks. Same with skipping footings!

 

[herm0016]

do the footings. do them below the frost line. its really the only good way to do it. should not be too bad digging while inside. is the space heated at all?

 

[fried1765]

do the footings. do them below the frost line. its really the only good way to do it. should not be too bad digging while inside. is the space heated at all?

+ one

 

[747driver]

I just built our 30x50 pole barn. I made the loft in the rear 30 x 10. I made it free standing so as not to add extra weight to the pole barn post. I set my loft post ( 7 total ) on top of the floor slab which is 5 inch thick and added a dug out 12"x 6" pad on the ground where each post would rest before pouring the floor. Also put a piece of rebar in the center of where each post would set and then drilled a hole in the bottom of the post so the natural weight of the post and loft will prevent it from moving if somehow it gets hit. I don't live in a frozen ground climate, but if I did I would have went deeper with the loft post footings. I wouldn't sit the loft post just on stone. Maybe dig 16" deep footings and then anchor your loft post to them. Good Luck !

 

[hslogger]

Years ago when the pole barn craze became real popular, people just stuck their poles in the ground, built nice buildings, added lofts, stored stuff like hay in the loft and the posts sunk. Fast forward, some dig a twelve inch hole, pour a footing pad, then stick their poles or posts on that. Many have success. I have seen failures and successes on other's properties. I think it's a bogus way to do it. Might as well pour a real good thick slab with footers and go up from there. Then again, why not forget the posts in the ground and build it right from the start. Some day, they're gonna be compromised, maybe not on your watch.

 

[audsp98]

I just put 2 lofts in my pole barn. I have a concrete floor. Each loft is 20x10. I’m thinking of putting another loft to span between the 2 or maybe just a walkway so I would only have to put 1 set of stairs up.