Carter Lumber Pole Barn Plans

jwstewar · Aug 5, 2003

We are kicking around building a pole barn - actually more correctly a pole garage as we currently don't have a garage of any kind. I have an 8X16 shed for tools and holiday decorations and a 12X16 shed w/ the tractor, lots of the kids outside toys and yet more holiday decorations.

I'm thinking about building a 30X48X10 pole building. At this point I've been in touch with Carter Lumber and they have drawn up plans and since I haven't purchased anything yet provided me with a material list. It looks like every thing is there I'm just curious if anyone has had them "design" a pole barn for them and if it turned out OK. BTW, we are going to go w/ Vinyl Siding w/ 7/16" OSB behind it, shingle roof w/ 1/2" OSB under it, and 2 9X7 garage doors on the 30' side for the car & truck and eventually a 9X7 or 9X8 garage door on the side for the tractor and implements.

At this point it is going to be just a dirt floor (short on $ maybe next year), but will eventually be concrete. Should I take the topsoil off prior to starting or just wait until I actually get ready to do the floor.

The materials list has a price of $7097 for "everything" including Quikrete for the poles. Corner posts are 6X6 looks like most of the other posts are 4X6.

Has anybody done one based on a design by Carter? I'm doing this myself or with help from friends and family so this will be a slow time consuming process so I will obvisously have plenty of time if I don't seem something I like in the design that I could change. BTW, depending on the speed and how fast the $ go, this may just be a really large car port that gets enclosed in the future.

Kinda scared haven't ever done this large of project and winter is coming fast - I know it is August, but I'm slow.

WVBill · Aug 5, 2003

Jim: 3 years ago I built my pole barn based on a set of stock plans I got from 84 Lumber. We had me, my Father-in-law and three uncles working on it and we got it up and "under roof" in a week. I finished out the rest of it myself over the next couple of months working weekends.

I say "based" on the stock plans because basically what I did was to take the plans and split them down the middle to add a taller center section for my motor home garage.

You can see the story at My web page

Your project is very do-able. Best of luck.

AndyM · Aug 5, 2003

I was planning to have one priced out tomorrow at three different places-- Carter Lumber and two local places...

I see Bernard Daniels Lumber in Canfield always seems to have cheap prices on their packages in their ads, so I'll go there in person to get one priced the way I want it. They always advertise on page 3 of the Farm and Dairy. They have free delivery within 100 miles of Canfield Ohio.

I was going to go with 30 or 32 feet wide, but got talked out of that-- didn't think about how I was going to get the trusses up there! I've done 24 footers with a helper, but 32 footers would probably be 4 or 5 people, huh? I don't know if I have that many friends!

I wasn't going to get a price from 84 Lumber. Anyone here do a lot of dealing with them? I've always been partial to Carter Lumber. I head there before I go to Home Depot-- the guy behind the counter knows what he's doing, and sometimes the prices are cheaper too! (But I guess that's part of a different thread!)

Hoeman00 · Aug 9, 2003

I just build my own, plans are in my head and go for it,but my brother-in-law just put up a Carter kit this spring.
I don't know exact size (about 24X40) and a couple of his friends helped put it up, it has all steel sides and roof which are much faster to finish.
I don't care much for Carter's lumber like SPF so I buy only #1 yellow pine for about 10-20% more $$ but far superior in strength.
When he bought the building they gave u a Bostich framing nail gun free, this helped out some but a building like yours w/ all wood will save LOTS of time.
The problem w/air guns are the nail cost.
I need carple tunnel surgery again so the nail guns are all I can use.
I buy materials from lots of places and try to get deals then when I've got most of the stuff I go ahead and build.
To save a lot of money check lumber yards for cull trusses (wrong size or cancelled) first then build that size building.
I found 17 44' barn trusses when I was looking for the 30' for my building and bought them for a friend and got them for less than $30 each, close to $100 new.
I built a 30X54X14 eave almost all myself, dad helped a little.
But I have a hoe to set trusses w/ and u can set them by yourself w/ it, the 18' 6x6 posts are a job to stand up by yourself.
I also insulated the walls w/ 1 1/2" foam before putting steel on so it has a little insulation and stops the steel from sweating.

SteveBenson · Aug 11, 2003

I bought a 34x48x10 steel sided bar from Carter and was very happy with it. For a barn this size you use the 2 page stock plans they sell off the shelf for $3.95. The "design" is really the guy just putting together a list of materials. After building the pole barn I would do it again in a second. My biggest suggestion would be to rent a 25' Rough Terrain scissor lift. It will make putting the trusses up a breaze and will aid in the roof work and trim (especially if you have overhangs).

I'd also ask Carter to get you the glu-lam posts.

jwstewar · Aug 11, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'd also ask Carter to get you the glu-lam posts. )</font>

What are these? Never heard of them.

SteveBenson · Aug 11, 2003

Glu-Lam Posts

jwstewar · Aug 11, 2003

How do these compare cost wise to standard treated 6X6's?

SteveBenson · Aug 11, 2003

A little more expensive for a 10' building I'm sure, but the poles are the last thing you want to skimp on in a 'pole' building. The Glu-Lam posts should come with a 50 or 60 year in-ground warantee.