Barns

[Carl_NH]

Nick,

You have the right idea I think for the structure, sounds great from a $ standpoint too.

I priced a pole barn - same amenities as what we have now and the price was more. Plus ledge in the 2-4' range prevented me from doing a pole barn - blasting is $$$ here.

In any event, a "basic" structure - posts, walls, and roof can be done inexpensively. It's the add ons. Cedar Siding $2500, Floor Trusses $2200, Windows $1500, O/H & Entry Doors $1500, concrete $2500. The list goes on with stairs, finish work, trim details such as 16" overhang in the soffits and rakes etc.

It all depends on where you live and what you and the CFO can agree on with respect to appearance. This is the last of three bldgs on our 4 acres, with the house, and garage/office so the structures needed to blend into one common architecture and finish detail.

Carl

 

[rancar]

Nick and Carl...

Is it necesary to pour a concrete floor for a pole barn? Fellows up my way erect pole barns because they do it to economize. Instead of a concrete floor, they truck in fine gravel and spread thoughout the interior. They save thousands of dollars this way and this method seems to meet their needs. What are your thoughts about concrete vs. gravel??

Bob

 

[MikePA]

My garage, such as it is, has a gravel floor.

Pros
- Doesn't show the various drips and spills.
- Cheaper
- No worries about cracking
- No need to sweep it out.

Cons
- Doesn't show drips and spills (can't tell if something is leaking)
- If you drop something small, e.g., screw, bolt, nut, you will never find it.
- Can't easily move things like a mower deck on it.
- It's not level
- Animals can burrow in it.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Bob, I think it just boils own to personal preference on the floor slab. I do a lot of car stuff and need a solid floor/work area, plus I like a clean floor for assorted racks and shelves.

I also wanted a water resistant building - one note if you do a slab is remember to install at least 6 mil plastic sheeting before you do the rebar and pour the concrete to prevent ground moisture from leaching up through the concrete.

I will initially spread a thin layer of gravel, but will do the floor slab asap. My thinking was that I can do the 40'x50' floor slab in 4 sections, each section 20'x25'x6". Since the barn will be up, my work area will be protected from the elements. This is a non-structural slab, so I can simply level out the area, add some sand fill as base and dig a shallow perimeter beam. I will have the reinforcement delivered and place #4 at 12" e/w. Makes it easier to walk between them as you work to place the concrete - I prefer this to using mesh which usually get trampled. I will also thread some lag bolts into the building support poles and tie them into the slab reinforcement.

Each 20x25 slab section amounts to 500sf or 250cf or a little over 9cy. A concrete truck carries 10 cy so that means I can order 1 full truck load and place any extra on the outside drive/approach to the building doors. Concrete here goes for $55/cy, so each section will cost about $650 including steel (and my free labor). Total estimate for concrete in the building is $650 x 4 sections = $2600. I think I said $2200 earlier, but this is a more accurate estimate. Cost estimates for a structural slab for an engineered (steel) building started at $5.50/sf, hence my decision to go this route.

Sorry to be so long winded - thought this might be food for thought to someone, though.

 

[rancar]

Thanks for the clarification Nick and the points about pouring concrete. Now, I understand why the concrete floor in my garage (contractor built) sweats and cracks. I'm sure he never put down the plastic barrier. And, I do know he used wire mesh rather than rebar. But, at the time, I didn't have the time or skills to do this work myself. Now, if I do this again with another building, I'll be much more careful in the project's supervision.

Thanks again.

Bob

 

[Carl_NH]

Bob,

In answer to your previous question concrete vs stone floor, it depends on the intended use. If primary use is storage and occasional mechanical work, stone is OK. If you want to do woodwork, paint, roll around on a creeper, etc. the solid floor is the best bet. As mentioned above by Mike_PA it keeps the critters out too. I have had mice build nests in my car air filter housing, leave their droppings in the car etc.. Same for squirrels - especially the red ones, they can make a mess of wiring and insulation.

Nick's right on with 6 mil plastic and rebar, as I did the same, plus scored the concrete 1" deep on 12' intervals in the event one area moves it won't stress crack at uneven intervals.

Since I could not do the pole barn (ledge) the monolithic slab was the other alternative which has 18" deep x 24" wide haunch around the edge reinforced to the main slab with #4 rebar in a "J" configuration. It was all poured at one time.

Carl

 

[bnixon]

BB TX,

How much was your barn? I am looking into the prefab steel buildings myself.

Thanks,

 

[BB_TX]

Brandon - Mueller had a standard prefab kit 30'x40' with 12' walls, one 10'x10' roll up door, and one walk thru door for something like $5500 as I remember. However I wanted a few things different so it became a custom. The standard had a 1/12 pitch roof, I wanted a 4/12. That added quite a bit to the price. But since the 4/12 was so much taller, I did not need the 12' walls. I went with 10' walls and that took off quite a bit of cost. I also added 2' overhanging eaves all around, an extra 10'x10' roll up door, 3 windows. and insulation. The total price came up to about $9500 delivered. Foundation was extra. I had a concrete contractor I knew had a good reputation do that for me. He put in extra concrete (39 yards) in the slab and aprons front and rear. That ended up about $6000 but it ain't going anywhere.
They delivered the building bundles at a time as I needed it. All bolted or screwed together. The only cutting I had to do was the end panels to match the roof slope. I had help putting up the main frame I beams, roof purlins, and the roof panels. All the rest I did by myself although an extra set of hands would sure have cut down on the time.
I can e-mail more pictures if you are interested.

 

[BB_TX]

Realized I may have made a misleading statement. When I said "All bolted and screwed together", I meant I bolted and screwed it all together.
Also, the price included gutters.

 

[bnixon]

BB TX,

I heard what you meant!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thanks for the info. I am looking at a larger building 40X60 but your pricing is very good information.

Thanks for the feedback!