Lumber for pole barn

[sksmsllc]

What are you treating the poles with against decay?

Good question - I will find out. the poles are actually 15 foot 6x6 and are treated they actually look greenish yellow and very heavy.

 

[Diamondpilot]

That should be a concern. I don't believe regular treated lumber from a store will work for long term ground contact, unless it specifically says it will.:thumbsup:

Maybe it depends where you live but my dads barn and deck are both 30 years old and have just plain old treated 6x6's set in the ground 36" with 2 bags of concrete on each. No rot or bug issues.

My barn is now 18 years old and the poles are 6x6 and look great. The poles are set in 44" also on concrete pads. No issues either.

Thats the way its done around here.

Chris

 

[sksmsllc]

Maybe it depends where you live but my dads barn and deck are both 30 years old and have just plain old treated 6x6's set in the ground 36" with 2 bags of concrete on each. No rot or bug issues.

Thats the way its done around here.

Chris

This was our intention(36 inches in concrete) I hope our efforts give 30 years of use as well.

 

[Deere Dude]

This was our intention(36 inches in concrete) I hope our efforts give 30 years of use as well.

Any treated wood will work in ground for a period of time, but for longevity on things like pole barn posts or basement on houses, 30 years isn't long enough. You would want something that will last for 70 years at least, although we won't be around.
The only difference is, I believe, is the amount of chemical and kind of chemical they let absorb into the wood. The poles you have are probably alright if the supplier knew it was for ground contact, but a quick phone call would make you feel better about it. It would me.
http://www.bp-plus.com/pdf/treated_wood_specguide.pdf

 

[lovemytoys]

if you have plan could you post them .im been out of work for a 1 year now and trying to get the wife vote if i keep the cost down.thanks

 

[Code54]

I am also putting a pole barn up and been worrying a bit about the posts and how to put them in for them to last the longest... then I spoke to my old farmer neighbor and friend. He has a "true" pole bar - Trees they cut down green, dug a hole and stuck in the dirt with no cement, and stuck an old tin roof on it. Well that was about 35 years ago and it is still standing and the posts are all in pretty darn good shape. After seeing that I figure I really don't need to worry so much and that treated lumber should be fine...

 

[sksmsllc]

Poles in.

 

[sksmsllc]

Post in concrete

 

[lovemytoys]

need more barn **** lol

 

[melonhawg]

Maybe it depends where you live but my dads barn and deck are both 30 years old and have just plain old treated 6x6's set in the ground 36" with 2 bags of concrete on each. No rot or bug issues.

My barn is now 18 years old and the poles are 6x6 and look great. The poles are set in 44" also on concrete pads. No issues either.

Thats the way its done around here.

Chris

One thing to think about is the treated wood you use today is different then the old stuff. I think OSHA did something about it the chemicals being used.

They don't use Arsenic since 2003 because it is a Hazardous Substance.

I remember building stuff outside with treated wood and it would last a long time... no rot and no bugs. The stuff I bought 2008 is useless because the Carpenter Bees don't have any problems with the new stuff.