Barn Soon??

[chim]

After lobbying for a barn for a long time, it looks like Wifey is beginning to see the light/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. She even picked out the design. There is one near here that she has admired since it was built, although she said it should be scaled down somewhat for our place. She is right - it's huge. I never stopped and stared at it, but it looks like you could park 6 motorhomes in it. Looks like it's time to snap a few pictures of the coveted barn and crank up the ACAD to see what we can come up with. There have been a number of ideas floating around in my head for some time regarding construction and "accessories". Right away, #3 Son mentioned that we could probably incorporate a vehicle lift like the one he noticed in Wifey's favorite barn. Gotta love that boy. Wish all three sons still lived at home. #3 is just going to have to work that much harder on the project..............chim

 

[mrcaptainbob]

Room for six motorhomes? Sounds like a good start!!!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[knucklehead]

Jim - I'd like pix of what you're looking at - I'll try to get some, too - we'd like to start something next Spring. I'm planning and thinking about uses right now. Funny you should mention lifts, as I was just re-scoping <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/2-103430-5450lifted.jpg>rbargeron's</A> lift out again. It's on the thread. Also, I remembered this <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=photos&Number=101172&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post101172>Barn and shop layouts thread, which you remember was quite extensive.

What are your ideas? Concrete floor, I assume, if a lift is in the mix. Stick or post built? Self or contractor built? Power? Heat? This has been discussed off and on before in detail. But I'd love to bat it around again. Ultimately, I'd like to move my HS Tarm out to the barn/shop and attch it to heat storage unit (water or sand), with a loop pumping to the house. Maybe even use radiant floor heating - $$$.

I may have a couple gravel floored open bays - I don't know yet.

How about a little range in there? /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[chim]

I'll see if I can get a pic of the one we were looking at today and post it.

The building will likely be stick built with a block foundation. There will be at least a partial second floor for storage.

I think the heat will be an LP gas furnace. We have a big tank for the house now, and the heat-up time for a forced air system is PDQ. Heat will be used only when working in the garage.

A 3/4" cold water line from the house will be installed. It may terminate at a frost-free hydrant outside the building with provisions for connection inside if I ever decide to heat the building 24/7. The layout could be done such that a small room could be partitioned off and kept above freezing for a water service inside. Would also be useful for storage of "Doncha' Dare Freeze" materials.

Tubing for radiant floor heat will likely go in, even though I don't plan on using it. The installation of the tubing would be really cheap insurance.

Something like 2" of insulation inside the foundation walls and under tha slab, with poly for a more complete moisture barrier would be in order.

At one time, I had thought about pouring a pit for vehicle maintenance (like commercial garages) but am not convinced it would be all that useful.

A steel beam with a trolley and some type of hoist for lifting heavy items off of or on to a truck would be handy. Still kinda considering a gib crane in lieu of that. If it's going to have a vehicle lift, I'm going to need to find a real bargain.

Our house electrical feed would support a 100A 120/240V subfeed to the barn. I've checked the loads at the house because we have an LPG genset for power outages.

I know enough people who either moonlight or work at reasonable rates on the things I wouldn't be doing. I coordinate various trades and subcontractors for a living, and I know my capabilities and limitations. The most difficult aspect will be incorporating everything into a FINAL plan before pushing the dirt. Being able to take a realistic look at how much of the work I'll personally be able to handle without being consumed by the project will be a challenge as well. I still remember how it went when we built our house.

Whether the project will proceed before Winter or wait till Spring depends a lot on how quickly we can make some decisions and how much hassle we get from the zoning people. The latter may be the least of our problems............chim

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Chim, we are just finishing up a barn in E. Texas and we have a couple of items you might want to consider-An outdoor shower (hot and cold water) and a small room that my wife calls the Overflow. The barn is 50X34, concrete floor and we have set aside a part 14X13 at one end. There's room for a sofabed and at the other end of the room, space for a fridge, stove, sink and cupboard. Our house is small, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths so the extra space is good. It also has gotten my wife interested in the project!

 

[chim]

I figured (hoped, actually) for input. As things progress we'll be evaluating what we can include in the plans, so suggestions are welcome. Wifey just asked tonight how much of the work I'm planning on doing. She looks at it as quality time for #3 Son, since he's still at home. The oldest is married and 2 hours away, middle is away at college.

Just to explain, the reason for the barn is to get space away from the house for storing vehicles and equipment. I also need a place where I can work on things that isn't just one door away from the family room (as in our attached garage). Odors, grease and dust from proiects have always been a little too close to the living space. Since the house was built when all three boys were at home, and needed their own rooms, we could easily get by with half the space we now have in the house. We will likely skip the convenience of a bathroom because of the distance to and elevation of the septic system.................chim

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Chim, I understand the point about the septic system, etc. being the reason to skip the bathroom-I have the same problem-septic system's cost so I am not putting in a commode at this time. The drain for the sinks and the shower will use a gray water system and later if the need is there, the commode(and septic system) will be installed. In the meantime I have the commode's drain roughed in with a sweep to the outside through the foundation. I'm still looking forward to a hot shower next summer after a sweaty day working outside! Good luck on your project.

 

[chim]

Tonight I showed some preliminary plans to Wifey and #3 Son. The plans were just a few CADD sketches to show a couple exterior views and a floor plan. Right away, #3 says it should be at least two vehicles deep. Wifey chimes in with questions on why on earth I wouldn't want to have complete plumbing. It should have enough "upstairs" to be a small apartment, just in case the need ever arises. What? You don't plan to at least heat it to 50° in Winter? Shouldn't it have at least a powder room? How about at least having the upstairs finished enough for the boys to have a place for games and such? Right. One 18-year old at home, a 21 YO in college, and the 26 YO is married.

All I wanted (for several years) was an oversized detached garage. I figured it might never get CFO approval. All of a sudden, we not only "need" the barn, but it looks like there's going to be more to it than I imagined. In jest, I mentioned a tunnel from the house to the barn, and at least for a few minutes it was under consideration. There's a slope where I plan to plunk the building, so #3 Son began a discussion as to whether it should be a bank barn. How about cars on both levels, dad? Sure, all I gotta do is get on a project where the structural guy ships way too many bar joists.

These two are going to drive me nuts. This was to be a simple project. I think I slowed Wifey down a bit when I asked her if she was ready to spend $50,000 for the version of the barn she and the boy were developing. Something tells me I'm in for a wild ride on this one..............chim...ÖÖ........(raising his eyebrows way above his glasses)

 

[TAB]

Jim, don't ask any more questions. Start the barn NOW.

 

[rationalizer]

Chim,

Sounds like you are having some fun with the first part of your project - the "scope"/wants list... I am just finishing up my garage/barn (I can hear the roofer as I type...) I faced some of the decisions that you are facing - and had some of the same "input". (Once my structure was up my wife said "boy, wouldn't it be great to put a pool table upstairs....") I have a block foundation, poured concrete floor and it is stick built. I didn't put tubing in the slab - probably should have... I plan on heating and insulating later - probably with propane - keeping it at 50 deg. in the winter... No plans for a kitchen etc. - but if you really need a "head" without having to tap into a septic system there are "composting" units available.

Did your wife choose a "gambrel" (traditional) styled barn? I purchased plans for my barn from "barnplans.com" - they cater to people who want to "homebuild" their own trusses. It allowed me to get a 32 foot clear span open truss for a LOT cheaper than if I had them made by a truss company. These trusses are too big to be transportable "over the road" unless they are sectioned and reassmbled on-site. I have a 32 x 48 main barn with a 32 x 32 second floor and a 32 x 16 "open bay". The 32 x 32 second floor is supported by floor trusses. The open bay has about 22 feet of vertical clearance - plenty for a hoist. I also have a "tractor shed" - 28 x 18 off the back end of the barn.

Two things you might want to consider. I have separate spaces for storage and working. My shed is where I will store the tractor and implements etc. - things that don't need to be kept nice and warm in the winter. That keeps heating and construction costs down. Second - consider windows. I put in 12 3 x 3 windows in a grid on the west side of my barn - in the "open bay" end. These windows provide light to both the first and second floor. They are insulated and the bottom three are "awning tilt outs". Everyone who has seen them has really liked how it has worked out. I'll try to post some pictures soon...

Have fun!

Bill