Storage Barn

[hdmyers]

Hi All,
My first post here, having read a whole bunch of yours. Planning a barn that is alittle different in design I think. Here are the details...

1) gravel base (not pouring a floor, it's for my forklift and other toys)
2) using logs from trees on my property (bunch of tamaracks etc that are down and soon to be barkless and stacked)
3) putting logs down on the gravel and drillling holes in them to allow me to hammer rebar into the base logs and deep into the gravel/ground. i will not be putting any holes/posts in the ground.
4) vertical logs will rest on top of the base logs and be toed in with logs as well. basically frame the exterior with reclaimed tornado victims
5) roofing out of logs except for the strapping (2x4) for the tin roof

Should be quite simple and stable and a non-permanent structure of some size. I've seen several structures using this methodology with a lot of success. Will be putting some wiring either directly to the barn or to my workshed beside it for welding and air compressor etc.

Any thoughts on this appreciated....

thanks,
Hayes

 

[Reyer Farms]

I think it would look cool. What about termites and rot on the wood. I am not familiar with that tree. I have a dirt floor in my welding shop and I like it.

 

[hdmyers]

I think it would look cool. What about termites and rot on the wood. I am not familiar with that tree. I have a dirt floor in my welding shop and I like it.

Termites aren't an issue in my neck of the woods (south/central Ontario Canada). The gravel is there to prevent the rot, but might not be the most robust solution. I will be reviewing all comments with my building 'mentor' before I get going.

My major goal with this method it to avoid permitting period... good luck with that I suppose

 

[s219]

Around here, I can only avoid permitting if I stay under 200 sq.ft floor space. So I am planning a 12x18 with about 198.5 floor space… And I'll build a couple spread out on the property if I need more room.

 

[BuzzardA91]

Better check on that, it's exterior dimensions where I am. 12x16 is all you could go. Easier to avoid the problem.

 

[KennyG]

Key thing to prevent rot will be elevation of the gravel base, so water always runs away from the wood. I'd look at a 6 inch elevation over the site grade.

 

[Reyer Farms]

Cool no termites! We have plenty in Mississippi. I fortunately do not have to deal with permits. We do have many older houses sitting on heart pine piers that are untouched and look as good as the day they were placed. Sadly we don't grow trees like that anymore.

 

[MIKE R]

Tamarack is a very good choice. Unlike cedar that get there rot resistance later in life, tamarack have it from day 1. Good luck.

 

[s219]

So I guess the only thing I would be unsure of in the OP's plan is just using re-bar as an anchor. That would be OK for anchoring the base beams horizontally, but what about preventing uplift from wind?? I know pole barns (even enclosed ones) use some sort of uplift anchor to keep posts from getting pulled upward.

I have been thinking about how to do the footings for my new barn, which will also have a gravel floor. I was thinking 4x4 or 6x6 posts about 3-4 feet long into the ground (with uplift anchors), and then beams around the top of the posts just above ground level, with a framed structure in top of that. This uses the pole barn approach just for the base/foundation of the building, then the rest is modular ballon- and stick-building. For me, the benefit is that I can frame and sheath all the walls off site in a controlled shop with power/air tools, then bring the walls to the remote site on my trailer and erect them upon the base with hand tools.

The downside is that I still need to dig a bunch of post holes even though the posts aren't a requirement for footings. If there was a way to simply level out some base beams on gravel and have them well anchored vertically and horizontally, that would be plenty good enough for my purposes.

 

[Mitchell8100]

Key thing to prevent rot will be elevation of the gravel base, so water always runs away from the wood. I'd look at a 6 inch elevation over the site grade.

Certain two facts unequivocally the best we have all had.I'm totally agree with you.You'r 100% good here that key thing to prevent rot will be elevation of the gravel base,so water always runs away from the wood.