Barns and shop layouts

Timd · Feb 28, 2002

Shop layout must be a really popular topic...there's now a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.woodbin.com/index.htm/>magazine</A> about it over at woodbin.

Timd

Anonymous Poster · Mar 4, 2002

Clear Span I suppose, meaning no center post for ceiling support. I wanted a flat ceiling for attic storage space above. If I use trusses, don't I loose a lot of that space? On the other hand, a metal building will not provide much attic space at 1:12 pitch, unless I make it 16' tall.

Your prices are very much in line with what I have seen in central Texas.

How much of a problem is condensation?

Thanks for your reply.

Anonymous Poster · Mar 4, 2002

I have not really considered pole-barn construction. I guess mainly because I wanted a finished interior, i.e. paneling or something of the sort. I assumed that if I go with wood construction, I would use the conventional stick built method.

Timd · Mar 6, 2002

A pole barn is the cheapest thing to put up, and can be a simple "tent made out of wood" or something more elaborate. For stick construction, depending on the size you are building, you may be able to do clear span with no interior support posts and a center girder to support the storage floor.

It may help to look at the pictures of trusses in the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.trussnet.com/Resources/Basics/types.cfm/>Truss Resource Center</A>. You can get the storage you are looking for with attic trusses. These are commonly used in attached garages to add the "bonus room" over the garage and are sometimes called garage trusses because of this. They are engineered for the additional dead load of storage. The scissors truss gives you extra headroom to clear a lift. 24' is a real common clear span truss size, and 24' clear span fink and sometimes attic trusses will be in stock or a quick order item in larger home centers.

Condensation is a problem depending on where you live. I'm planning on storing implements and project cars inside the building(s) I'll be putting up, so rust is a concern for me and I'm stick building with wood.

Timd

hwp · Mar 6, 2002

I don't think the type of framing you use (stick or pole barn) will make any difference in terms of rusting, assuming a good vapour barrier is used in either case. However a layer of heavy plastic under the concrete floor will make a big difference. - it will prevent moisture from seeping up through the concrete. This is a major cause of rusting, even if the area is heated.

Knight9 · Mar 7, 2002

Hi Tim,

<font color=blue>A pole barn is the cheapest thing to put up</font color=blue>

I wish this was always true, but in my area it is NOT. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif My quotes indicated that for the same structure with the same finish trim, the pole barn version was going to be about $2000 more than the conventional framing version.

Kevin

hwp · Mar 7, 2002

I think you have it right when you say that no one in your area had experience building pole barns so that drove the price up. It has been a lot of years since I lived on the praries but I don't ever remember seeing a pole barn when I was there or in B.C. They are very popular here in Ontario.

Knight9 · Mar 7, 2002

Hi Howard,

I think it is very dependent on the area. I'm just outside of Edmonton which is not exactly the agricultural heartland of Alberta /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. Once you get out of our area (North or South), there are a lot of pole barns. However, the only ones in our area are simple hay sheds and no one wants to do a garage/workshop type of structure unless I'll pay through the nose. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

If I was in a different area I'm certain it wouldn't be a problem.

Kevin

WVBill · Mar 19, 2002

I built my pole barn about three years ago. It is 40' X 32' and has three "bays" one of which is closed in, and insulated for my shop.

The following link http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/6-101831-snow011902.jpg is a picture of the finished building taken during our one snow event this year...