What comes first, the barn/pad or the plumbing

[pitt_md]

I will be starting to build a 40 x 60 horse barn with a leanto on one side. Do I run the water and electrical to where I need it in the barn or do I construct the pad/barn first? I have never done this before and not sure if I should even attempt it. Any experienced hands here that might have an answer?

 

[Western]

What kind of "pad".
If your going cement floor than run water and electric 1st, for best finish. You could go through the wall later with cement but new construction I would put it in the slab.

Dirt or gravel pad you could do it anytime.

 

[CurlyDave]

I agree with Western. I have always seen utilities done first.

Even if your floor is going to be dirt or gravel, put them in first, it is a lot easier without any structure in your way.

I have never done this before and not sure if I should even attempt it.

I would get a book on it first, and read the whole thing. Make sure your aren't skipping a step or using untreated wood where you need pressure treat.

I built my entire house with my own two hands and a few helpers I hired along the way. There is a huge sense of accomplishment when you finish a project like that.

I would trust a book more than a local builder. I have seen a lot of those guys skimp on using pressure treat, concrete, etc. The building is great for a few years until stuff starts to rot out or settle.

 

[pitt_md]

Thanks for the replies.
Can you recomend any books for this type of thing?

 

[EddieWalker]

A very basic plan would be to have your building drawn out on paper with the locations of your utilities in the plan. What do you want and where do you want it. If you put in a sink, then you need a drain. If you don't have septic, sink drains have been known to just dump water out in the woods to water the plants. Probably not legal, but very common.

Level the pad and be sure to include lots of drainage. When it rains, allot of water will run off the roof. More so then it ever does on the grass since none of it sinks in. All that water needs to get away from the building as fast as possible.

When the dirt work is done, set your forms, or mark your layout on the ground for your posts. If you are putting in a slab foundation, set your forms. With the forms in position, it's easy to measure where your utilities need to be. These go in next. Water, sewer and electric. Stub them up a foot or so above the height of the finished pad and cap them off with either tape or caps.

Pour the slab and start framing.

I read a book on how Habitat for Humanity builds their homes that was very simple and easy to follow. It showed all the basic steps and how to properly frame a building. It was good for beginners wanting to build a simple home, barn or shop, but it wouldn't be any good if you wanted to build a pole barn. I've seen a few pole barn books and would not recomend any of them. There is more to writing a book on how to build something then just experience building those things. A good writer or teacher is seldom a good builder, and it's true the same way around. A good builder is rarely a good author.

Eddie