New Pole Barn

[DeereDoug]

Hello,

I am in dire need of an experienced excavator/engineer that's familiar with monolithic concrete slabs and soils in southern MD. Could anyone recommend someone?



A surveyor came out and took some measurements which showed me two things.

1. I need to move building forward to avoid a walnut tree and 2. the subgrade needs to be cut 2' in order to level out with the lowest existing grade.

I was told that once the soil is removed, which is a sandy/clay consistency, that 6" layers of #57 stone should be brought in and compacted to the height you want.

Can anyone add anything further?

 

[Ed of all trades]

Here in the valley of va we just get 2 x 12's and use them for the forms and with the stone down and wire or rebar down we pour it. 4" thick and it works well.
We then use the 2 x 12's as a place to screw our siding to.

 

[EddieWalker]

Why would you want to lower the dirt to the lowest point? Seems to me that would create drainage issues. I always build up to the highest point so water will drain away. Dirt is a lot cheaper then gravel, and the thought of paying for a lot of rock to build up a pad instead of just digging it out of my land and hauling it to the pad just makes more sense to me.

 

[DeereDoug]

Finally found an excavator that will cut out the existing clay and replace it with "bank run". The bank run will be built up in 8" lifts then compacted. The total height will be 1' over existing subgrade and then tapered on the ends with one foot overhang all the way around.

 

[boggen]

water drainage....
water drainage..
water drainage......
water drainage.
water... drainage....

make sure water drains away from the shed location. and does not collect around or near it. but rather runs away from the shed.

the 2 photos... are showing what looks like a pretty good hill there. and all the water will be running right into one side of the shed.

bring the shed out further, so you can create a ditch per say and if needed a french drain setup in it. to help direct water around the one side of shed that is against the hill.

make sure you plan on "gutters" on the shed. and direct the gutters to a spot that will allow water to run away from the shed including the driveway going to the shed.

*points up* water drainage.... get it sorted out now. while you can run larger machinery here there and every were. and if need be re-landscape / move dirt / put in ditches / etc...

 

[DeereDoug]

Yes, to partially save a walnut tree I am moving it out 12'. You brought up many great points, thank you.

The building will be graded up 12" and the pad will be 5" over that, so you 17" of lift over the existing subgrade.

Its funny mention french drain, as I was thinking about that if it poses a problem in the back, a simple 60' cut with a mini-excavator and filled with caged rip/rap should work.

Gutters were another item I was thinking about, as the month of June was nothing but rain

 

[EddieWalker]

Every time I've moved a building location due to a tree, or built around an existing tree, the tree always ends up dying on me. I've come to realize that no matter how nice a tree it is, I never miss it once it's gone and I'm able to build what I want, where I want it.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

guy near me lost a pole barn last year to a fire. Last week started a new large pole barn, much bigger than the old one.

 

[DeereDoug]

Every time I've moved a building location due to a tree, or built around an existing tree, the tree always ends up dying on me. I've come to realize that no matter how nice a tree it is, I never miss it once it's gone and I'm able to build what I want, where I want it.

Actually your post did me a great service, thanks! The walnut tree was rotten inside!



I ended up cutting and limbing the tree and using the tractor to push everything into the rear of the woods.

 

[countrybumpkin]

My best friend had a large oak tree fall across his 30 X 30 pole barn shop, was not pretty at all. The shop I had at the old house hast about five trees next to it that would have destroyed it if they would have fallen, my new shop building is away from trees.