Spencer's Pole Barn Project

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here is a picture of the boom pole I used to set all the poles. Here is a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=158132&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>link</A> to a thread on the boom pole.

 

[pajoube]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Great shots, thanks for the update.
Question, why did you feel you needed to go so far down (62 inches) for the pole setting?
PJ

 

[MossRoad]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Yeah, those inspectors can be pretty tough on you! Did you ever try bribing one?

 

[MikePA]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

<font color=blue>Question, why did you feel you needed to go so far down (62 inches) for the pole setting?</font color=blue>

Sounds like 5 feet to get below the frost line plus 2" for the thickness of the concrete cookie?

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

pajoube, By code I needed the poles to be 48" in the ground and another 4" for the concrete cookie. That meant I needed at least a 52" deep hole. I tried my best to get the whole site perfectly level but I knew I was off by a couple inches here and there. So I figured that I would go extra deep to ensure that I had all the poles at least an extra 4" to 6" after I got the site perfectly level. All the posts were longer than needed and I just cut them all to the right height just a couple of days ago. The closest call I had was one of the 4" x 6" posts that the glulam beam rests on, I only had to cut 1.5" off of it.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here is a picture after I got the first five posts set in place. I was so happy to finally see this thing start to go up.

 

[Mosey]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Spencer - I know what you mean about having kids making it hard to get things done. I don't know how other people do it. I can't seem to get anything done! What did you use to level the fill that you had brought in? 260 yards is a LOT!

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here is a picture of me filling the first hole up with concrete. The posts are sitting on a 4" thick 16" wide concrete cookies. I drilled holes near the bottom of the posts and pounded two 10" spikes through them. I shoveled in around 8" of concrete into the holes. I then tamped the concrete with a hoe trying to slope the concrete away from the post on each side so that water would not collect there. The holes were a little wider than 18" so the concrete went around the cookie and then up around the posts. I had bought a 3-point cement mixer to mix the cement for these posts and to make some sidewalks. The mixer broke the first time I went to use it. It didn't have enough travel on my 3-point anyway so I ended up returning it to my dealer. You couldn't lift the mixer high enough to dump all of the cement out of it. I will probably end up getting an electric one later next year, but for now I have to mix it up in my tractors bucket.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Mosey, I don't know how everybody else does it either. I was 33 when my daughter was born so I was pretty set in my ways. I think most people have their kids when they are in the twenties so the adjustment might not be as severe. I was in the doctors office a couple of months ago and there was a lady there with two kids. I said "I don't know how you do it, I can barely handle one kid". She said "It was harder for me when I only had one kid, now that I have two they can play with each other." Although I am sure that it is still harder to have two kids I think there might be something to that. My daughter is very demanding of my time, as she should be.

I am not sure what exactly you meant when you asked "What did you use to level the fill that you had brought in?". Did you mean which implement did I use to level the sand or what tool I used to check the level?

 

[Mosey]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

I meant "what implement?" I've read other posts and have some myself on this subject, such as <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=45902&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>how not to make whoop-de-doos with a box blade</A>, and was just wondering how you were able to level off that much fill. If you did it without and guide/gauge wheels, then I'm thinking I don't need any.

I don't want to stray off topic, but the lady you talked to had a point. We have twins and it was real hectic for the first couple of years. But, now they have each other to play with and that helps a lot. Except, I fell real guilty when I'm busy with projects while they are off playing together. As a result, I've decided to put things off until they get older and can be a part of it or have something else they'd rather do like being with their friends.