Garage/barn project

[billfires]

Wife just said to build a garage/barn. Only 2 stipulations, no more than $8000 and needs to have grey vinyl siding to match the house. I would like to be able to build it myself and believe pole type building will be the most economical. I have a NH1920 w/FEL & BH which is 18 feet long and a F350 dually that is 20 feet long. It does not have to be a clear span and I only have to have it tight to the weather with the initial funds. (Floor, insulation, wiring, etc. will be done later. I know that you should build bigger than you think you will need but finances are going to be the limiting factor initially. Is it more economical to have a narrower building with more length? I am wide open to everyone's thoughts or suggestions. Thanks, Bill C

 

[Parttimer]

HI Bill, I have been pricing around as well. If you go with a frost wall (4' buried) so a 5 foot pour, just the concrete is about 100 bucks a yard for 3,000 psi mix. around here anyway. If you do go with a pole building make sure the wood posts are not in contact with the ground. Use concrete footings and bolt posts to them. Work backwards from the finish siding costs in order to match the house and see what you have left over.

Concrete pads around here tend to heave and crack if not protected somewhat from frost. Look at the temp today and yesterday 6-8 degrees can start the soil expanding quickly.

What are more of you size constraints? Trusses are pretty cheap and if they are not too big you can install them with very little help. The new mass code came out oct. 1st, new wind and snow requirements, but if the strucure is agricultural in nature there are some exclusions from the code.

Dave

 

[mjarrels]

If you build it yourself, don't forget to get the permits.

mark

 

[gilbertmsg]

We had a 30' x 40' pole barn build for us by National Barn Co. in Aug 06. 5" x 5" treated posts buried 4' with 10' x 10' sliding door and standard walk-in door on other end. Don't know what it would cost extra for the vinyl siding, but we paid $9600.00 and did not touch anything. Building permit for our county in Virginia was $150.00.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I know that you should build bigger than you think you will need but finances are going to be the limiting factor initially. Is it more economical to have a narrower building with more length? I am wide open to everyone's thoughts or suggestions. Thanks, Bill C

A square building will maximize the interior square footage for constant wall size. For example, square building with total perimiter of 100' gives a 25' x 25' building and 625 sq ft interior. A rectangular building 10' x 40' still has 100' of wall but only yields 400 sq. ft. interior. Obviously the roof for the 400 sq. ft. building will be cheaper - so it is more economical to build a rectangle - but you'll end up with less space as compared to a square.

 

[rexcramer]

You dont want too narrow of a building, you will hate it. Squeezing by vehicles to get to anything gets old real fast. Also If you want a workbench it would have to go on the end of the building and cost you your storage.

I dont think you will be happy with something less than 32x32. Since your poles are usually on 8' centers it is best to go in 8' increments on a pole building. For example a 32x32 would cost virtually the same as a 30x30.

Also dont go with less than 10' walls if you are pulling equipment in. My Case 580 will not fit in a 10' barn but will go in my 12' barn if I put the backhoe down about 6 inches. You tractor should fit in a 10' barn with a 9' door but if you plan on getting bigger equipment ever then you will need 12' walls.

 

[beersngars]

As rexcramer points out, in a pole building everything is by 8'. Last fall I put up a 16'x32' at my cabin property. In the begining my plans were to build 16'x24' but a friend pointed out that the extra 8' in length cost me about $450.00. I wish now it was bigger but as you the budget had to kept in place. Good luck.

 

[billfires]

I want to thank everyone for the comments. This project is basically a do it now (spring time) with the available resources or wait until who knows when to build a dream barn. I will let everyone know what the final plan is once I've figured out what it is. Thanks, Bill