30' x 40' Barn with Lean - Build Progress

[aba4430]

Here is a summarized build progress of our 30' X 40' barn with dates. The barn will have two 12' X 12' horse stalls, a 12' X 12' hay room and a 8' X 10' pig pen. The land was cleared in September 2025 and the build started in October 2025. Today is the 6th day of construction. I will add pictures in multiple posts below:

Land Clearing (17Sep2025 - 30Sep2025; about 3 days, intermittently):

17Sep2025:

 

[aba4430]

30Sep2025, Updated Land Clearing Progress:

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm going to enjoy this!!!

What state are you in?

 

[aba4430]

OH

 

[EddieWalker]

Never been there, but I've heard it gets cold in the winter!!! LOL

One of my favorite things about TBN is seeing how people build things in different parts of the country.

 

[civilian]

@EddieWalker , You really need to get out more! This morning when I got up it was 30F in northern Michigan. Jon

 

[EddieWalker]

I've never been to Michigan either, but I have been to 48 countries and lived overseas for several years. But now that I'm 60 years old, I've sort of lost interest in traveling and really prefer to spend my time on the farm, working on projects and making everything nicer.

Winter will hit East Texas in February and last a week or two. Temps might get down to zero, with the most extreme cold I've ever experienced being -14F a few years ago. We even get snow here. It lasts for a day or two and then the mud takes over, which is even worse.

 

[aba4430]

Never been there, but I've heard it gets cold in the winter!!! LOL

One of my favorite things about TBN is seeing how people build things in different parts of the country.

My indoor thermostat indicated 31 deg F for the outdoor temperature @0130 EST this morning.

 

[aba4430]

01Oct2025, 05Oct2025: Here are a few more land prep pictures. We moved the cut-up logs (10' to 12" long) with our Yanmar SA425 and grapple.

 

[aba4430]

17Oct2025: Day 1 Build Progress

 

[EscapedSuburbia]

What size trees did you have to take out? The reason I'm asking is I'm planning to build a pole barn too. I took down a few trees a couple weeks ago and one of them was a large maple smack dab in the middle of the build site. I'm guessing the stump is going to end up being 4-5 feet in diameter. Is the equipment they'd typically bring in to level the site able to dig that out somewhat quickly or am I going to be on the hook for several extra hours of labor & machine time? I haven't asked the contractor yet.

The other trees were overhanging the build site but not directly on it so I'll just cut them low then grind them. The maple stump is surrounded by large rocks/gravel that would make it very unpleasant to grind so I'm hoping it's reasonable for them to remove it.

 

[aba4430]

20Oct2025: Day 2 Progress

 

[paulsharvey]

Never been there, but I've heard it gets cold in the winter!!! LOL

One of my favorite things about TBN is seeing how people build things in different parts of the country.

Ive been in Ohio once in my life, to get a burger across the river.

 

[aba4430]

What size trees did you have to take out? The reason I'm asking is I'm planning to build a pole barn too. I took down a few trees a couple weeks ago and one of them was a large maple smack dab in the middle of the build site. I'm guessing the stump is going to end up being 4-5 feet in diameter. Is the equipment they'd typically bring in to level the site able to dig that out somewhat quickly or am I going to be on the hook for several extra hours of labor & machine time? I haven't asked the contractor yet.

The other trees were overhanging the build site but not directly on it so I'll just cut them low then grind them. The maple stump is surrounded by large rocks/gravel that would make it very unpleasant to grind so I'm hoping it's reasonable for them to remove it.

We had an absolutely wooded area, full of trees, most smaller (@12”-15” diameter, many even smaller) with a few 2’ - 3’ large. The builders crew took care of the clearing. We have a massive wood chip pile generated also. This will come in handy. I am sure the roots were a pain. I have attached a couple of pictures of the root junk pile and a few others.

 

[aba4430]

22Oct2025: Day 3 Progress (no work on 21Oct2025)

 

[aba4430]

23Oct2025: Day 4 Progress
Roof installed; we upgraded to a 24 gauge standing seam metal roof; a bit overkill but its done.

 

[aba4430]

24Oct2025: Day 5 Progress

Custom sliding doors for the stalls and pig pen:

 

[ponytug]

What size trees did you have to take out? The reason I'm asking is I'm planning to build a pole barn too. I took down a few trees a couple weeks ago and one of them was a large maple smack dab in the middle of the build site. I'm guessing the stump is going to end up being 4-5 feet in diameter. Is the equipment they'd typically bring in to level the site able to dig that out somewhat quickly or am I going to be on the hook for several extra hours of labor & machine time? I haven't asked the contractor yet.

The other trees were overhanging the build site but not directly on it so I'll just cut them low then grind them. The maple stump is surrounded by large rocks/gravel that would make it very unpleasant to grind so I'm hoping it's reasonable for them to remove it.

What kind of floor are you planning?

If it isn't earth, that's a substantial dig out, fill back in layers and compact as you layer in the fill. Not trivial in my book, and something that I would want to have planned for, time, money, etc. Even with just earth, that's a fair amount of fill and compaction.

Just my $0.02

All the best, Peter

 

[Dawg in Fl]

That's a good looking barn!

 

[lman]

Ive been in Ohio once in my life, to get a burger across the river.

I've never been to Florida. I've heard people sweat a lot down there and I don't like to sweat. Enough of that up here.