Pole Barn Questions

[mbeckett]

So I was talking with my uncle the other day and he said that he had some
32' trusses that he took out of an old pig barn and he said he would give them to me if I wanted them. So I told him I would take them. But I have a few questions for everyone on the construction aspect of the building.

1. Would you suggest going with solid 6x6 or 3-2x6 nailed together for the poles
2. Is a 32x64 with a 12'-16' lean to on one side big enough?
3. Is a 12' ceiling high enough or sould I go 14'

Also I prolly wont have quite enough money to side the whole thing with metal the first year so I was going to just put the roof on and then put the side metal on next year. What are your thougts on that and are there any special considerations I should take if I don't put the metal on the side this year.

 

[mbeckett]

[So I was talking with my uncle the other day and he said that he had some
32' trusses that he took out of an old pig barn and he said he would give them to me if I wanted them. So I told him I would take them. But I have a few questions for everyone on the construction aspect of the building.

1. Would you suggest going with solid 6x6 or 3-2x6 nailed together for the poles
2. Is a 32x64 with a 12'-16' lean to on one side big enough?
3. Is a 12' ceiling high enough or sould I go 14'

Also I prolly wont have quite enough money to side the whole thing with metal the first year so I was going to just put the roof on and then put the side metal on next year. What are your thougts on that and are there any special considerations I should take if I don't put the metal on the side this year.

 

[SandburRanch]

I would go with 3 - 2x6 with the top center made to accept the truss sandwiched between the two outer 2x6 and cut the top of the post off roof pitch slope after the trusses are set and bolted. The end rafters are set flush as seen in the pic.

Building height is mostly personal preference and what fits what you'll be housing in it. There have been bunches of open sided buildings built and sometimes they are called a hay shed. One problem with open sheds is that high winds can be detrimental occasionally.

You are lucky to have free lumber assembled and good luck with your building.

 

[LD1]

[
1. Would you suggest going with solid 6x6 or 3-2x6 nailed together for the poles

Personaly preference. They are built both ways and last a lifetime. BUT, typically, the 2x6 method is cheaper since only what is in the ground is treated lumber, whereas a 6x6 is treated all the way. IF you dont plan on siding right away, I would go with the 6x6, or at least treated 2x6's all the way incase you dont get around to siding it for awhile.

2. Is a 32x64 with a 12'-16' lean to on one side big enough?
3. Is a 12' ceiling high enough or sould I go 14'

We cannot really answer these questions. It all depends on what you are going to store/use the building for, how much equipment you have, and what your future plans are.

Also I prolly wont have quite enough money to side the whole thing with metal the first year so I was going to just put the roof on and then put the side metal on next year. What are your thougts on that and are there any special considerations I should take if I don't put the metal on the side this year.

Special considerations...See above about the posts.

Also, dont frame the walls until you are ready for the siding either. Non-treated construction limber doesnt last long out in the elements. So just keep that in mind.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Our Pole Barn is probably built around 2000 or so. The 6X6 used are pretty gross, looking like Creosote encrusted. I am sure they don't do this this way any more.

If you are putting in a roll up door I would factor that into your height question. It is your call but you will drop 2 feet for the support.

 

[grsthegreat]

MIne is built with treated 6x6 and some 6x8 posts. All are pretty green posts, and have survived 6' Snow and ice drifts on the roof before i could get the stuff to shed.

Not too many people here in Idaho use the laminated wood method of posts, but that might be do to snow loading. Not sure.

Companies like Morton buildings use the laminated stuff exclusively.

 

[beppington]

Built it as big & tall as you can afford - Prob can't be "too big" :thumbsup:

 

[grsthegreat]

Built it as big & tall as you can afford - Prob can't be "too big" :thumbsup:

yup..always go tall. I wish mine were taller so i could add a mezzanine.

 

[chucko]

I would think that the 3 2x6 to make a post would give more places to trap water a cause rot

 

[LD1]

I would think that the 3 2x6 to make a post would give more places to trap water a cause rot

Morton brand buildings do it all the time.

The only places that are going to see any moisture is what is burried. And that they use PT lumber that is ground contact rated. Above that (assuming an enclosed building) shouldnt see any water.

And like I mentioned earler, it the building is going to be left open-sided for any length of time, I would not recomend this method of construction.

 

[beppington]

At my local Lowe's, a treated 6"x6"x12' is $35.97, & a treated 2"x6"x12' is $6.97 = $20.91 for 3. Add some $ for screws or nails to scab them together ... screws/ nails ain't cheap any more

Two-by's are only ~1.5" thick, so three scabbed together two-by's will only be 4.5" thick, vs ~5.5" thick for a 6"x6".

 

[BASSIN20]

I am in the process of building a pole barn myself, I looked into the laminated post idea and while I was at it. I also checked on using telephone poles, as they are specifically treated for being in the elements 27/7. after some good searching I found brand new 30 ft long poles, for $95 a piece. what also sold me on them was they came with a no rot guarentee of 30 years. I basically did what Sandburanch did to the top of his pole. I used a chain saw and cut a slot in the top of the pole to set the truss in. then installed two studs/nuts on each joint sandwhiching the whole thing together. no having to spend time laminating boards and so on. plus I don't know about the rest of you out there but the quality of lumber, treated or other wise just isn't what it use to be. Most of it will twist and bend in sort time if you don't put it up and brace it good before it has a chance to twist on you. as far as my outside wall they are 12 ft, my tractors are between 8 and 10 ft. so I wanted a little extra head room. for me any more than that was a waste of time amd money. money I could better spend on more farming toys,He,He!

 

[LD1]

At my local Lowe's, a treated 6"x6"x12' is $35.97, & a treated 2"x6"x12' is $6.97 = $20.91 for 3. Add some $ for screws or nails to scab them together ... screws/ nails ain't cheap any more

Two-by's are only ~1.5" thick, so three scabbed together two-by's will only be 4.5" thick, vs ~5.5" thick for a 6"x6".

correct you are. But relize that a 12' 6x6 is only going to get you a 8' building.

The big cost savings comes from buildings that are 12 and 14' tall. Where a 16-20' post is required. Have you priced a 20' 6x6? vs 3 shorter PT 2x6's just to get you out of the ground and then using non-treated 2x6's the rest of the way?

Menards is the only place around here that has 20' lengths of 6x6, and they are 57.99ea

To build a post out of 2x6's, you need to stagger the joints where the PT meets the non treated stuff. So if you got one each of 8', 10', and 12' in PT, and a 12' nonPT to match the 8', a 10' to match the 10, you get the idea. Anyways, total in lumber would be $25.59, less than half the cost of the 6x6. And at about $27 cheaper, and if building a sizable barn that requires 20+ posts, thats over $500 cheaper. And that will buy a lot of screws.

I'm not trying to sway one way or the other. Just pointing out the options, because BOTH methods are approved ways to build. Me, being the penny pincher, I build mine out of used (FREE) electric poles:thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

I am in the process of building a pole barn myself, I looked into the laminated post idea and while I was at it. I also checked on using telephone poles, as they are specifically treated for being in the elements 27/7. He!

What planet are you from:confused2::laughing:

 

[beppington]

... I also checked on using telephone poles, as they are specifically treated for being in the elements 27/7 ...

What planet are you from:confused2::laughing:

He got tired of never having enough time in the day, so he just made his days longer :confused3:

 

[LD1]

He got tired of never having enough time in the day, so he just made his days longer :confused3:

He's going to have to teach me how to do that, because I often find I dont have enough time in the day to do what I need either. Especially sleep:laughing:

 

[grsthegreat]

there are days i wish i had 27 hours.....then again there are days i wish were only 8 hours long.