Pole Barn Question

[volunteer]

Just had dirt pad constructed behind the house. House sits on top of hill so a lot dirt had to be moved. Tentative plans are for metal-sided pole barn size to be either 24x48x14 or 30x40x14. Most everyone I have talked with will be using 6x6 pressure treated wood for poles. My question is how deep do the poles need to be planted in the pad? Should the poles be dug deep enough to penetrate into the original, non-pad soil? Thanks in advance.

 

[radman1]

My local ordinance required 4' deep, 24" hole and 6" cement in the bottom of each hole. Don't ask me why. Most of the time, the hole is often 18" and most buildings have a 4" preformed cement oval pad, called a "cookie" that is placed in the bottom and the post sits on that. The cement bottom helps prevent setteling. Pack/tamp the bottom before putting in the cement. The depth of each hole is not too critical but be sure the pole is tall enough. The extra length of the post can be cut off after the poles are set.

 

[volunteer]

Thanks for info. I'll check into our local codes.

 

[bindian]

Just had dirt pad constructed behind the house. House sits on top of hill so a lot dirt had to be moved. Tentative plans are for metal-sided pole barn size to be either 24x48x14 or 30x40x14. Most everyone I have talked with will be using 6x6 pressure treated wood for poles. My question is how deep do the poles need to be planted in the pad? Should the poles be dug deep enough to penetrate into the original, non-pad soil? Thanks in advance.

Go 4 feet even if you don't need to because of codes. It sure will make a stronger barn. I used treated poles. Next time it will be treated square timbers. The poles were not all true and I had some off measurements up at the top where it is hard to correct. Check my tread.......http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/106272-my-pole-barn-solo-affair.html here in the projects forum.
hugs, Brandi

 

[volunteer]

Thanks for the advice and I just got through reading your thread. Two questions...

1. How far apart are the beams?
2. Did the roof vent eliminate the need to insulate the roof?

Great looking barn by the way.

 

[Zinno87]

I just put up a building myself and opted for all steel. Before I decided to go with steel, I was seriously considering a Morton Building. Instead of using 6x6's for posts, they laminate 3 2x6's together to form the posts. They claim that the laminated posts will last years longer versus the solid 6x6's because the chemicals used to pressure treat wood barely get beyond the surface of the solid posts, while they make it almost the way through the 2x6's. Using the 2x6's probably ensures a straighter post too.

 

[GDITheman]

I have 2 Morton 40 x 100 buildings and like their quality and ideas. The laminated beams and columns make sense.

 

[volunteer]

I went to a neighbor's barn which had been built by Morton. The trusses were unbelievable. Now that you mention it I do believe the posts were laminated. The one thing I did notice was what appeared on the inside, the lower section of metal had a board all around the base of the building. The barn was approximately 40x72 I believe. It also had an vent opening around the top of two side walls with wire covering the opening. I was definitely impressed.