Barn stairs ideas

[BeezFun]

Looking for ideas for stairs to hayloft/storage area on second floor of barn we're planning. It would be most convenient if it were external and fixed because I'll be going up there rather often, and want to be able to carry long and/or heavy things easily. I might want a canopy on it because we get a fair bit of snow and way too much ice here in the midwest. The barn is long (100'), so fixed stairs extending out the end, or attached sideways to the end of the building won't look out of proportion.

If I put the stairs inside, they take up a lot of space if they're fixed, and can't be made heavy enough if they fold up.
tnx

 

[ultrarunner]

Any chance of a berm or hillside to fashion a ramp into the loft?

Several of my cousins that farm have ramps to the loft and it makes the area much more user friendly.

 

[zzvyb6]

Circular stairs for the people access and a traveling crane running off an extended peak trolley works for me. An 8 x 8 trap door under the 2nd floor deck at the main 1st floor sliding door give access to the crane head.

 

[TRR]

The picture is a partial diagram of what I'm doing in my barn. The top deck is 12' high and is 4'x9'. I plan to use a forklift to put stuff up on the deck and pull it into the 2nd floor storage bay. There is room at the end to put in a hoist if I decide i need to do that.

 

[hr3]

You can make the stairs as heavy duty as you want and still have them go up the the celing out of the way,, all you need is the right enginering..

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I really like the hoist idea for heavy stuff. This leaves you free to design whatever stairs you want without worrying about freight weight loads. Plus the hoist makes getting stuff in and out MUCH easier.

 

[MarkV]

I've just got to ask, if the barn is 100 feet long what are you storing that a 4'x20' +/- staircase is going to affect? It would sure seem more practical than dealing with ice and snow outside.

MarkV

 

[crbr]

Thanks for the picture.

 

[tcreeley]

Inside stairs really are best to avoid the snow, ice, freezing rain- unless the stairs are full enclosed. A large trapdoor and hoist are a great idea. I keep my roadcart on the second floor. For storing hay - a conveyor belt set up is a big help. I like hay on the second floor up because you can just drop it down to feed the horses. -Warmer too. Stairs get old when you are tired- don't make them too steep. Put a cupola in for ventilation - add a 3rd floor and a drop down ladder to climb up into the cupola for the view! Don't forget the weathervane!

 

[BeezFun]

Any chance of a berm or hillside to fashion a ramp into the loft?

It's Illinois cornfield flat around here, it would take a mountain of fill to build up a berm.