Pole building size and use

glinka · Aug 20, 2013

Want to build pole building and maybe multi-purpose. Was going to build run in for horses 12'x12' but thought I could make it bigger and put NH 489 haybine in it in the winter. Question is is it worth putting it inside in winter and leaving out in summer? Building bigger might be option but started as just little run in, don't really want to go huge for what it is. Thinking now of 16'x18'

Dr Dave · Aug 21, 2013

What else might you need to store? It will never be big enough!

What makes a pole building economical, is the spacing 8' or 9' are common here, for a 30 lb snow load and 90mph wind.
To get the most for your money build with this in mind.

Dave

PhysAssist · Aug 21, 2013

Dr Dave said:
What else might you need to store? It will never be big enough!

What makes a pole building economical, is the spacing 8' or 9' are common here, for a 30 lb snow load and 90mph wind.
To get the most for your money build with this in mind.

Dave

Hey Glinka,

Welcome to TBN!

What Dave said is exactly true, and you will find no posts on here lamenting that the poster built their barn or building too big, guaranteed!

As far as equipment being outside, winter is almost always much more damaging than summer, especially the more frequent freeze/thaw cycles we see now days. I left my mower our last winter for the first time, and even though it is almost 20 years old and has been outside in the rain most summers, it had very little rust until this spring, and it was also much stiffer, had some frozen zerks, and it was hard to get it mowing.

Our barn is 30' x 45', doesn't have the floor or electric in yet, and we could already use more room =-O

Just my opinion, and YMMV (but I bet not!)
Thomas

glinka · Aug 21, 2013

We have old, hand hewn beams, 40'x60' barn. Problem is big door is only 12' wide. With other out buildings storage not bad except the haybine.

Dr Dave · Aug 22, 2013

How about 24x24 divide in half, horse, hay and feed on one side and haybine on the other. You could put large sliding doors for access on the haybine side, or just leave one side open.

Dave

glinka · Aug 22, 2013

Considering larger, as you say Dr Dave 24'x24' could work. Also, I could use trusses instead of a shed type roof. The problem with an 18' opening is the header. Acouple of estimates have used laminated beam, very expensive. Funny how this "little project" seems to be growing.

Depmandog · Aug 22, 2013

I have a 16' opening with a slider on one side of my building, although I truly wish I hadn't put that door in - I use the the 12' garage doors instead. But I built my own header using 3 2x12x18', sandwiching 5 ply 5/8 plywood...glued and screwed. It has been plenty strong enough. Of course the LVL beam would be better - and finding 20' 2x12's will be a challenge...but not impossible.

I was lucky - we have a lumber pressure treating plant less than a mile from me. I had to buy in lifts or half lifts - but got almost all of my lumber there for quite a bit cheaper than the conventional lumber yard...plus they had the long sizes.