Storage building choices: monitor barn vs. clear span structure

[rbstern]

We've prepped a site on our property for a storage building/barn. The pad is sized for a building up to about 45 wide x 40 deep.

We've been talking about building styles for years: Traditional / clear span pole barn. Monitor style. Perhaps a metal frame/ garage style. Etc. And also, DIY vs. buying. I was all in on DIY, but both the vax and COVID kicked the crap out of me last year and early this year, leaving me wondering how capable I am to take on a project that large. I've gotten better and want to DIY, but find myself wondering if more hours at my desk and paying someone else to build is the right choice. That's another matter.

Because of everything going on in the world, the wife is making the case that a monitor style would allow for a potential living space above, should anyone in our extended family need a place to stay. I'm not against that idea. Water, septic and power would be pretty straightforward, given the placement of the building on our property.

My concern is storage flexibility inside the building. I need to store a 22' boat / trailer in the offseason, 2 compact tractors, some implements, an ATV, a logsplitter, a tiller, and the like. The posts to support a second floor would require more doors on the front of the building, and limit storage flexibility.

Any alternative suggestions or commentary about the tradeoffs of the different building styles?

 

[ovrszd]

Since nowhere in your dialogue did you mention any concern for cost, I say go for the biggest two story building your pad will support and let someone else build it down to handing you a key.

 

[rbstern]

Since nowhere in your dialogue did you mention any concern for cost, I say go for the biggest two story building your pad will support and let someone else build it down to handing you a key.

Fair enough.

Money matters, even if only because the money trees planted here have limited productivity. Any 2nd level would remain unfinished for the time being, as a cost savings.

 

[ovrszd]

Fair enough.

Money matters, even if only because the money trees planted here have limited productivity. Any 2nd level would remain unfinished for the time being, as a cost savings.

In regards to cost savings. Hire the big pieces. You do the smaller pieces such as insulation, inside finish, plumbing, electrical, etc.

 

[civilian]

My 32ft and 36ft deep out buildings have attic trusses (24" truss spacing) on a 2x6 studded walls on 16" centers. The span of the attic space is 16ft wide on the 40 pound per square foot floor. No posts under the attic space. 8ft head room over center of the space with a 8/12 roof pitch. However, with no windows in the attic space, our building code said it is not living space. I don't ever plan or want anyone living up there. Jon

 

[ericm979]

The 1890s barn I store my tractor and equipment in has posts. They make a 40' wide barn into two 10' bays and a 20' bay. I can't use the 10' bays for tractor stuff, only the 20' one.

 

[bigtiller]

Why are you limited to 40x45?
That is a nice 3 SUV/pickup garage.
For a living space, boat, trailer, 2 compact tractors, some implements, an ATV, a log splitter, a tiller, etc. you might run out of room.

 

[ovrszd]

Why are you limited to 40x45?
That is a nice 3 SUV/pickup garage.
For a living space, boat, trailer, 2 compact tractors, some implements, an ATV, a log splitter, a tiller, etc. you might run out of room.

Build the absolute largest building you can pay for. Then at least you have a valid reason for building too small.

 

[EddieWalker]

We've prepped a site on our property for a storage building/barn. The pad is sized for a building up to about 45 wide x 40 deep.

... allow for a potential living space above, should anyone in our extended family need a place to stay.

I need to store a 22' boat / trailer in the offseason, 2 compact tractors, some implements, an ATV, a logsplitter, a tiller, and the like.

You didn't mention anything about a workshop, or a place to build stuff. To me, it sounds like you want a building to park all of your stuff and keep it out of the weather. Then you are thinking of creating a small house on top of this building just in case somebody comes to visit or stay with you.

In my opinion, it's a massive waste of money to build for the unknown. What if you build it and they actually show up and want to use it? I want visitors to leave as soon as possible. Long stays are never welcome. I could spend the money into making them comfortable on a lot of other things, including their hotel if I really wanted them to visit, and not have to deal with maintaining an empty space after spending a lot of money creating that empty space.

A loafing shed is basically a long building with one wall open for getting into the building. It's very common for livestock and hay storage. It's also very common for tractors and implements. If there is no other reason to spend a lot of extra money, then all you need is 3 walls and a roof. You can add garage doors to it later if you want, or just leave it open.

 

[cat fever]

I think you better determine your budget then build as big as you can within that budget.
The barn in my avatar has a 45' middle section (clear span) wouldn't want it any other way. Good luck and make sure to post pictures of the build.

 

[rbstern]

Why are you limited to 40x45?
That is a nice 3 SUV/pickup garage.
For a living space, boat, trailer, 2 compact tractors, some implements, an ATV, a log splitter, a tiller, etc. you might run out of room.

Hills, ravines, woods, existing structures, property lines. I could go to another part of my property and clear more space, but that wouldn't serve my purposes well.

If I can't fit it in this space, I'm selling it.

 

[rbstern]

You didn't mention anything about a workshop, or a place to build stuff. To me, it sounds like you want a building to park all of your stuff and keep it out of the weather. Then you are thinking of creating a small house on top of this building just in case somebody comes to visit or stay with you.

In my opinion, it's a massive waste of money to build for the unknown. What if you build it and they actually show up and want to use it? I want visitors to leave as soon as possible. Long stays are never welcome. I could spend the money into making them comfortable on a lot of other things, including their hotel if I really wanted them to visit, and not have to deal with maintaining an empty space after spending a lot of money creating that empty space.

A loafing shed is basically a long building with one wall open for getting into the building. It's very common for livestock and hay storage. It's also very common for tractors and implements. If there is no other reason to spend a lot of extra money, then all you need is 3 walls and a roof. You can add garage doors to it later if you want, or just leave it open.

Eddie, I've got a basement workshop, and an oversized 2 car garage where my welding workbench is set up. This new structure is really about storage, with the potential for living space above.

I know a lot of folks are allergic to having guests around for extended stays. We're generally not, especially if they are in a different building. We're on a lake, and our extended family frequently come for a week at a time during boating season. And my son just got engaged. If he said, "Dad, me and the to-be-bride want to live on the property in a couple of years," we'd gladly welcome them.

We actually have two houses on the property, one of which serves as our offices/studio (wife is an artist; she has a pretty good workshop, too). We have extra bedrooms already. This would just be another option. It might just end up as hay storage. The extra posts are really the only concern. The extra wood I'll have to mill, and other materials for the second level are not overwhelming.

 

[dmccarty]

If you have parents, will you need space for them if they can no longer take care of themselves? Just something to consider.

When we designed and built our house, we cleared space for a garage, which we had hopped to have built by now, as well as a having sewer pipe laid out so that it would be easy to connect too if we wanted/needed too. Part of the garage plan, and I have two or three versions drawn up, was to have space to take care of elderly parents.

Later,
Dan

 

[ponytug]

On the elderly parents front, I would point out that frailty and stairs don't go well together. So if you are considering second story accommodations for elderly relatives, I would at least think about an elevator.

All the best,

Peter

 

[rbstern]

On the elderly parents front, I would point out that frailty and stairs don't go well together. So if you are considering second story accommodations for elderly relatives, I would at least think about an elevator.

All the best,

Peter

Noted. That will never be the purpose of this structure, unless my family decides to lock me away in there, in my golden years. If it goes that way, they can deal with the stairs issue.

 

[rbstern]

Decision is in. We're gonna DIY a monitor style pole barn, 36x36.

Staked it out today. Will order the posts tomorrow.

 

[EddieWalker]

Will it have the second story apartment?

 

[oosik]

I've always wanted a nice pole barn with a gravel floor. But just too much $$$$. It that what they call red Georgia clay?

 

[rbstern]

Will it have the second story apartment?

It will start out as storage space. Finished living space, if it ever happens, will come later.

 

[rbstern]

I've always wanted a nice pole barn with a gravel floor. But just too much $$$$. It that what they call red Georgia clay?

Is the color a give away? I grew up in NJ. First time I saw red Georgia clay, I thought it was a strange thing. Thirty years in, I'm used to it.