Barn building with tractor help?

[jdmar]

Wow, its been a long time. I got side tracked with a retaining wall project and finishing rooms for two of my children before school started...now finally some barn work.

The roof is finally on...less a few finishing touches. I have the windows in, the door for the hay loft area is about to arrive. I have the radiant for the floor (not installed) and just got a load of sand to screed the floor flat before foam and wire mesh so I can install the radiant. I have a floor drain in. I just got poly tubing delivered a few minutes ago to run water from the house....I must be fergittin sumthin! I have got to get everything in before the concrete pour because of the radiant tubing. Oh yeah...I have the pex for the water lines also.

Anyway, these are two roof pics with one of my sons, his "scoop tractor" a load of sand, and a freshly hayed field in the back. I should have the floor poured in the next 3 weeks if all goes as planned.

Peter

 

[jamestaylor72]

Peter,,, how's that barn comin??? Looking forward to seeing pics of it when its done.

 

[jdmar]

Darn slow! Thanks for asking. I got caught up putting in retaining and landscape walls around the house. Getting in a lot of driveway (I think it was 11-12 trucksof concrete). I also had to finish the space over our garage for my children. Amazing that their sleeping space trumps my barn...hmmmm.

I did finish screeding the floor really level. I then put in plastic and foam board. I have the wire mesh in and tied together. I have now finished the 1800 ft of radiant tubing and tied it into the manifold. I had a few leaks I had to sort out...but just today I think I am finally holding pressure. So I hope to get the floor poured soon.

I also ran a water line into the barn and decided to put a floor drain into the center also. Just more tractor time with the back hoe on!

I will try to post pics of the radiant tubes in place. If I only had two or three of me I would be doing better!

Peter

 

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin Peter,
Just read through your thread, a great read BTW ! That is a beautiful lookin barn, put me on the list of interested in the finished photos of that barn ! I eventually want to put one up on my property also, not that big but lookin at all those great photos Im just jealous ! Thanks for takin the time to post all the photos !

 

[jamestaylor72]

If I only had two or three of me I would be doing better!

Peter[/QUOTE]

I feel your pain Peter !! HaHaHa
Sometimes there's just not enough time in the day,, but at any rate,, that barns a thing of beauty !!!

 

[jdmar]

The below pics are not the best, but at least they are sumthin! I finally got the radiant to hold air pressure (forgot to tighten one connector I had taped off at "tightened and don't need to check again"...I am sure no one else has ever done that! I also put 1.5 inch foam around the edge to prevent lateral heat loss. I still have to clean up a lot of junk in there--ladder, tyvek, extra foam pieces, etc. There is also a pic of the main in slab manifold. The extra red and blue lines are the regular water lines. I still have to insulated the hot one. My concrete guy called but we are playing phone tag. But this time of year it should be easy to get on his list. I will update when I have more. Thanks for all the nice comments.
Also thanks to ALL on this forum. I have gotten a huge number of ideas and help from searching many old posts. I am very actively thinking of going solar hot water to heat this thing. That way I do not have to put in a gas line nor pay high commercial electric rates. And since it is a barn I don't care what temp it is as long as it doesn't freeze. I can work in there at 35 degrees with no wind or if it gets too hot I just open er up.
Peter

 

[jamestaylor72]

Thats interesting. A friend of mine was just talking to me about how I should put the radiant heat system in my flooring,, for the barn I plan to build next year. Will have to see how funds are then,, but I do like the idea!
At the very least I think I'll install a woodstove into it.
Again Peter,,, thanks for the updates and photos. They are very inspiring!!

 

[LarryRB]

I was "clerk of the works" for a new highway garage and fire dept bldg,.both went up at once, and both were modified metal buildings,. On both, they were required to place 2" foam all around the edge and under each door and overhead doors, The overhead doors were 14 X 14's. THe 2' foam laterals make all the difference in the world especially under overhead doorways.,

 

[jdmar]

I did post similar pics under a differrent concrete question...but I will post here also. Maybe I shoud have kept a single thread but the concrete question was specific...and might help searches by others in the future. It is still slow go on the barn. Lots of other projects seem to prevent me from ever getting out there...and it is dark at 5 now.

I have a pic of the concrete being poured (pumped actually). You can see that it is well over 4"...and actaully closer to 6" in many areas. That will just be better for me long term. They had not pulled up te WWR/PEX yet-but I still think it is in the lower third of the slab. After the concrete was poured I then covered with all the foam. I will use that foam as part of future insulation anyway. The slab went down to about 345 degrees in spots but them came baack up the 56 degrees. It is now 11 days after the pour and the slab is at 46 degrees...I think I am doing well.

Peter

 

[jamestaylor72]

Hello again Peter.
Looking outstanding as always !!
I'm still beating my head against the wall, trying to plan my barn/building project next summer. Trying to decide how big,, whether to stay with the Gambrel roof style,, or simplier Gable roof. Loft/ no Loft ?? Etc.... Whatever I decide,, I can't wait to get started building something. And reading threads such as yours keeps me going.

By the way,,, Happy Holidays to you and yours !!