footing for pole barn posts

Molerj · Nov 30, 2003

I would hate to see if someone were building a skyscraper, I think we would be down to the hot place with the poles. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Henro · Nov 30, 2003

<font color="blue"> Attached is a map from the EPA that shows approximate frost depths in the U.S.
</font>

I can't help but wonder what "frost" means in EPA speak!

There is no doubt in my mind that the frost line in southern Florida is less than an inch down...if it exists at all.

What do you suppose that map is really showing?

Wait, I do see the word approximate!

+/- 2 foot accuracy perhaps? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Junkman · Nov 30, 2003

The EPA being one of the Governments finest agency's, never makes a mistake and if they do, they are experts at covering it up. I always take what they say as the Gospel Truth!!!!! If the Government says it, it has to be true. No politics involved.

mopower440 · Nov 30, 2003

U P D A T E: got the holes dug for the posts today and i have some questions, first, i could only get a 9 inch auger, so we wallered the holes out as good as we could, now, whats the very easiest way to scrape out these deeeep holes and also get the loose stuff out of the bottom of the holes? The holse are kinda wedge shaped towards the bottom, i need to cut a little out at the bottom and scrape out the loose stuff, is there any easy way to do this? One more question, whats something good and cheap to backfill the postholes with once i get the posts in the ground? for some reason, not much dirt came out of the holes using that auger..?

Inspector507 · Nov 30, 2003

Spud bar and manual post hole diggers

kensfarm · Dec 1, 2003

On my old post & beam bank barn.. the way they use to do it was just to use a big rock w/ one flat side.. kinda like Cowboydoc's concrete cookies.

gerard · Dec 1, 2003

<font color="blue"> i need to cut a little out at the bottom and scrape out the loose stuff, is there any easy way to do this? </font> Use a manual digger to get most of the dirt out then use s shop vac for the rest - works great. Also don't back fill with dirt, use gravel, stone dust or (best) running crush. It packs well and will give you great sideways stability. Too late now since you have them drilled but you're going to find out why the contractors use a 12 inch auger. Putting a 6x6 in a 9 inch hole means you have to be dead on in drilling. Hope you were - not much room for error (Of course widening a dug hole isn't too hard - don't ask how I know /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)

AV8R62 · Dec 1, 2003

WOW
I guess what ever you do you could have done a little more

around here their have been many barns built 20-0 years ago
with a post in a four ft. deep hole with nothing under it but clay
back filled with what came out of the hole . still standing today and looking good .
if it is 4 ft. deep I doubt it will ever come up with a barn sitting on it and with some "sakcreat" under it and clay under that it won't go down.
I know of one where the "sakcreat" wasn't even taken out of the bag it was droped in the hole and the paper riped with a shovel.
their are many ways it could be done if money is no item. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

mopower440 · Dec 1, 2003

I like the idea of using crusher run to backfil, but i would have to order a dumptruck load and cant swing it right now. Also, another problem on 3 of the holes, i couldnt get 47 feet down because i hit solid rock, one of them is about 3 feet, wich is still ok, but one is only about 6 inches down and the other maybe a foot, im being told buy the guy that wrote 'how to build pole buildings' to just set the post on the rock and brace it up with 2x4's and build on to it and it will be fine, but what about the sideways stability, wont the wall flap in the strong wind if the pole isnt stabilized in a deep hole?

Junkman · Dec 1, 2003

Your profile doesn't say where you are from, so this may or may not apply to you. In Northeast CT where I live, I have been having a problem with large rocks coming to the surface from frost heaving. I removed 4 of them from one area that have been causing problems when I cut the grass and each of them was about 3' - 4' in diameter and of various thickness. It might be wise to dig out the rocks and plant the poles rather than gamble that the rocks won't move. Your barn so you have to make the decision, but I know that I would definitely dig them out. If it is ledge, then there is no heaving problems associated with that....