I am planning to build a 30'x48' pole barn next year, while cutting my driveway this summer. The only area I can site the proposed garage is shown in the attached, and involves having to do some fairly serious fill for one corner of the barn (the SW corner), or pour a standard foundation to allow that corner to be stable and level. The folks who did the site plan suggested doing a retaining wall for the lowest corner, but I don't know what is the best - frankly I don't want to spend a ton of money on a barn - just need it for storage and whatnot, so a full foundation seems like an extravagant expense (although I will do a concrete floor), but I don't know if fill (sitting a year to settle) would be enough, and stable. To detail, the foundation site finished elevation would be at 95', and the lowest point appears to be at approx 90', sloping down to 86'... so we are talking 9' or so of fill (or 5' of exposed concrete foundation). What would you all recommend for this site in Eastern Virginia.
Recommend a way to prep this site
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dave1949
Super Star Member
Could you cut down the site in general and still have good surface drainage away from the barn? If you could do that, taking some from the high, move it to the low, it would help.
I wouldn't think letting it settle for a year is good enough though. I would want to do a proper compaction.
Dave.
I wouldn't think letting it settle for a year is good enough though. I would want to do a proper compaction.
Dave.
Rustyiron
Super Member
Like Dave said,
Down there in VA with the economy and new home bldg. being depressed (thanks B.O.)
you might be able to find an guy hungry for payment money with a loader for a day or two to "cut & fill" if you have the space (I didn't open your file) With a 963 Cat track loader he could track in the fill as he placed it and end up with 1/2 or less the fill depth. Then just drill a little deeper (through the fill) for your posts. Even in good times a hired machine at $800-$1000/day can really move some dirt in a days time.
Down there in VA with the economy and new home bldg. being depressed (thanks B.O.)
you might be able to find an guy hungry for payment money with a loader for a day or two to "cut & fill" if you have the space (I didn't open your file) With a 963 Cat track loader he could track in the fill as he placed it and end up with 1/2 or less the fill depth. Then just drill a little deeper (through the fill) for your posts. Even in good times a hired machine at $800-$1000/day can really move some dirt in a days time.
LarryD
Veteran Member
IMHO, you are in the perfect position to prep the site for your future barn. If I knew I was going to build on a site in a year, I would first level the area with existing material and then have some borrow brought in and bring everything up to grade. For the next year as things settled out just keep moving stuff around to keep it all even.
Then when your ready, set your poles, bring in a few inches of structural fill, compact and build your barn. I wouldn't expect any movement after that.
Then when your ready, set your poles, bring in a few inches of structural fill, compact and build your barn. I wouldn't expect any movement after that.
Aguanga
Bronze Member
If you can get good import dirt for a good price (with trucking figured in the cost), you should be able to fill the area and build the next day if you properly bench your lifts, have proper moisture, and compaction. Do they require a soils report or compaction testing in a building pad in Virginia? You can put your poles as deep as you want, but you'll want to ensure your fill is properly placed if you plan to pour a slab. You'll need to run the numbers, but I think you'll be able to fill cheaper than installing a retaining wall and still needing to add a good amount of fill.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
