Pole Barn Site Prep and Back Fill

[LukeDuke30]

Interesting times we are in - I can't get anyone to come out and strip sod for a short driveway extension and for the pole barn I am having built, and then back fill once barn is up. Nobody is interested in a small job I guess? So, I guess I will hop on my Massey 1734 and do it myself. With that being said, this will be my first endeavor doing so. I have the location marked for the barn. so I will most likely go another 6-8 feet larger than the barn footprint. The builder will be measuring off the highest corner, and setting the barn level from that point. I have about 8 1/2'' of drop from the highest side to the lowest point. Once the barn is complete I will need to order gravel, and back fill myself in preparation for concrete.

Any tips or recommendations for removing the layer of sod?

Any tips for back filling the inside before concrete?

Thanks!

 

[Ford850]

The best way is to get the barn footprint marked, and get all your fill placed and leveled prior to building. Get that nice pad in place and the build process will be easier too. Afterwards you can tweak the inside with a little fill to get the final grade prior to concrete.

 

[LukeDuke30]

I'd love to do it that way, but I can't get anyone who wants to come out and build a pad. At least not yet. I have a few other calls out to some other contractors, but nobody has confirmed yet. That is why I may have to have the barn built on the stripped area, then back fill because the barn itself will be built level over the ground.

 

[AWSubie]

If u have a backhoe u can easily (relatively easily) strip the sod with it. Otherwise rent a skid steer. If u rent the skid steer I would take the high corner down to level thus reducing the need for back filling. Unless of course this would cause a drainage issue.

 

[RNeumann]

Your barn builder must have someone they use. This is an exercise in futility. Prep the site, then build the building. Let your barn contractor know he won’t be putting a barn on a non prepped site......your site will get prepped.... like magic!

If you want the project then I’d go rent a mini ex and then a skip and drag. Import plenty of material and set grade with a laser (also a rental item).

The 6 Ps would apply-

Proper
Planning/prep
Prevents
Piss
Poor
Performance

 

[cat fever]

What is the pole barn for? I ask because if it's just to store equipment in, does it need to be level? I built a pole barn that had 2' of drop from one corner to the opposite corner, but it was just for equipment. The barn was level just the ground was not. This is what mine looked like. 57X72X12

 

[LukeDuke30]

It will be used for equipment storage, but will be fully insulated and concrete will be installed shortly. They will build the barn level but of course it will have a larger gap on the low end which is what I will have to back fill if I don't have a pad built first. Nice barn BTW!

 

[snymat68]

Be sure to post up pics of the project (pad and structure) along the way!

 

[cat fever]

It will be used for equipment storage, but will be fully insulated and concrete will be installed shortly. They will build the barn level but of course it will have a larger gap on the low end which is what I will have to back fill if I don't have a pad built first. Nice barn BTW!

Thanks,

It would have been a little more difficult for me to fully concrete mine with the elevation drop I had. But for you with only 8" difference you could base your elevation on the highest point, build it then level out for concrete after it's built.
Don't get me wrong, I think starting out level is best but you "do what you gotta do." :thumbsup:

You did not say what size the barn will be.

 

[EddieWalker]

You need to find another builder. It is his responsibility to have the dirt work done correctly. If you do it, and you do a poor job, how could he build a quality building?

 

[LukeDuke30]

It will be either a 30x40 or 30x48.

 

[LukeDuke30]

You need to find another builder. It is his responsibility to have the dirt work done correctly. If you do it, and you do a poor job, how could he build a quality building?

This company builds lots of barns around here with a good reputation. They list pad specs in their quote (must be able to drill through pad material with auger, and pad should be within +/- 3'') They will do some dirt work, but they prefer not to. Crews are mainly Amish.

 

[ericm979]

Make the pad level if you can. I had an interesting time attaching my new to me backhoe after putting it on sloped pavement. Every time I raised it up with the stabilizers it'd shift sideways a bit, which made aligning the tractor more difficult. If you put implements on dollies it'll be easier to move them around on a flat surface.

 

[cat fever]

It will be either a 30x40 or 30x48.

If it is optional, go bigger. The only time you will not like it is when you pay for it. Later on you'll be glad you went bigger.:thumbsup:

 

[747driver]

I done the site prep for my 30x50 myself. Make sure you get all the grass sod and dirt scraped away. You don't want to put concrete over a loose soil base. Its a whole lot easier if you can get your site leveled without a building in the way ! My box blade did all the leveling...just put rippers down and scrap off the grass sod and made a separate dirt pile for later use. Then where the low spots were I just used the boxblade to take down the high spots and pull it to the low spots. Or you can rent a skid loader for the day. Once the barn was layed out I put 2 inches of stone down before they started building. Keeps the area free of mud when it rains...plus easier to just back a stone truck up and tailgate it...no building in the way ! The builder I used required a level site within 2 inches of grade.

 

[s219]

For a pole barn you only need to make the worksite level enough to work on. You can backfill inside the barn (inside skirt boards) afterwards for final leveling. Whether or not this makes sense depends on the barn, the site, available pole length, and other factors, so I'm just giving general advice. I have built a couple on sloped ground and the downhill side just gets an extra skirt board. Fill and level the inside with gravel.

BEFORE SKIRTS INSTALLED:


AFTER:

 

[LukeDuke30]

For a pole barn you only need to make the worksite level enough to work on. You can backfill inside the barn (inside skirt boards) afterwards for final leveling. Whether or not this makes sense depends on the barn, the site, available pole length, and other factors, so I'm just giving general advice. I have built a couple on sloped ground and the downhill side just gets an extra skirt board. Fill and level the inside with gravel.

BEFORE SKIRTS INSTALLED:
View attachment 599591

AFTER:
View attachment 599590

Thanks - this is basically what the builder would like for me to have prepared. Another option for me would be to rototill the sod first, and then scoop it out with the loader. That might be a little easier. After I removed the base sod I would level it out with either the box blade or soil pulverizer.

 

[rgr33]

There aren’t many areas on my property that are anywhere near level. When I built my barn in 1988, I did my own site work to get the experience and save a little money.
I graded to a slight slope to the rear of the barn, and like s219, I used extra skirting on the low end to bring the floor up to level.

So far, it has worked out well, that is if you ignore the fact I should have made it twice as large, and delayed putting in the concrete floor for way too long.

 

[s219]

So far, it has worked out well, that is if you ignore the fact I should have made it twice as large

Amen to that.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Thanks - this is basically what the builder would like for me to have prepared. Another option for me would be to rototill the sod first, and then scoop it out with the loader. That might be a little easier. After I removed the base sod I would level it out with either the box blade or soil pulverizer.

I was thinking the same thing. A tiller should be able to break up the sod so you can scrape it all level and smooth. I used my tiller to finish the yard around my parent's pool when it was installed. I just went in circles with people jumping in an picking out rocks and roots. After a while it was smooth and level.