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.

 

[BeezFun]

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.

I'm planning on having a traveling crane out one end for heavy things. Lumber and plywood don't lend themselves to cranes, easier to have a decent stairs to carry it by hand. I've thought about a circular staircase indoors to save space.

 

[BeezFun]

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.

Very nice, hadn't thought of using a platform. Each end of the second story overhangs the lower level by about 12' so I can drive a hay wagon up underneath it, I can use those doors as a platform to load things.

 

[BeezFun]

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

Problem is it's only 24' wide, 11' stalls and an 11' alley. So no matter where I put the stairs in the alley it constrains my ability to drive equipment through. Thought of eating up one stall to allow stairs on that side of the building. Rather not do that though.

 

[GLyford]

Problem is it's only 24' wide, 11' stalls and an 11' alley. So no matter where I put the stairs in the alley it constrains my ability to drive equipment through. Thought of eating up one stall to allow stairs on that side of the building. Rather not do that though.

If you run them up outside, with a leanto roof over it, what's to keep you from pulling the siding on the barn that's next to and under it and moving it over to the other side of the stairs? Now the stairs are "inside" and you haven't lost any aisle or stalls.

Also, you could add clear panels above the handrail if you wanted more light.

 

[tcreeley]

-Just my way of thinking, 11' stalls are pretty tight - lose 6"-12" just in the walls and dividers. Used to work with young morgans, and it was nice to be able to step back. I'd suggest at least 12, and 14 is really nice. You'll have happier horses, and if you rent out space, borders/owners won't be getting banged around as much. A wider barn might be a good idea. If you have a tack room, use a corner for quick stairs up. Use a large aisle trap door to hoist up the big stuff - for storage. Build an outside 2nd story door for a hay conveyor. I assume you're using square bales- easier to feed in the stalls than round bales. I assume the aisle will be a working aisle- cross ties (little narrow and short for running them up and back.) Are you planning on a wash room? Good luck. Visit some barns and copy them!

 

[forgeblast]

You could do a ramp, start at the end and work up the ramp can be as wide as you need it, you could tie into the pole barn and you could always put a roof over it, i picture like a covered bridge. (ramp made out of lumber, not dirt.)

 

[BeezFun]

If you run them up outside, with a leanto roof over it, what's to keep you from pulling the siding on the barn that's next to and under it and moving it over to the other side of the stairs? Now the stairs are "inside" and you haven't lost any aisle or stalls.

Also, you could add clear panels above the handrail if you wanted more light.

I've got setback requirement on one side, other side is leanto for horses that is getting close to some old mature trees we'd like to keep. If we made a decision to take the trees down I could make the barn as wide as I want. Wife wants the trees to stay, so I saluted and went to my room.

 

[BeezFun]

-Just my way of thinking, 11' stalls are pretty tight - lose 6"-12" just in the walls and dividers. Used to work with young morgans, and it was nice to be able to step back. I'd suggest at least 12, and 14 is really nice. You'll have happier horses, and if you rent out space, borders/owners won't be getting banged around as much. A wider barn might be a good idea.

Stalls will be 11' clear inside, the outside dimension is 12' but as you say you lose some dimension to walls. I can make them as big as I want in the other direction. I agree wider would be better, I mention in another post there's some constraints.

If you have a tack room, use a corner for quick stairs up. Use a large aisle trap door to hoist up the big stuff - for storage. Build an outside 2nd story door for a hay conveyor. I assume you're using square bales- easier to feed in the stalls than round bales.

There will be a tack room, I've thought about using up part of that headroom for a stairs. I have an outside door on second floor for hay. Yes, we're using square bales.

I assume the aisle will be a working aisle- cross ties (little narrow and short for running them up and back.) Are you planning on a wash room? Good luck. Visit some barns and copy them!

Yes it's a working aisle with cross ties. No plans for wash room, there is water so they can wash outside in the summer. It's not heated and it gets cold here, so no baths in the winter. Floor is limestone so some water is not a problem. I feel like I stare at every barn I go by, it's fun cherry picking all the good ideas.
tnx

 

[BeezFun]

You could do a ramp, start at the end and work up the ramp can be as wide as you need it, you could tie into the pole barn and you could always put a roof over it, i picture like a covered bridge. (ramp made out of lumber, not dirt.)

My neighbor has exactly what you're talking about. The original owner was a contractor and made the ramp out of concrete and steel so he could drive his trucks on the top level of the barn (barn is all concrete and steel, sided with wood). It looks a little Egyptian for my taste, the second floor is about 11' off the ground and you need a long ramp or else it gets pretty steep. Actually a ramp would be good so when I'm old and can't walk I can drive my wheel chair up there.