Pole Barn 12' 13' or 14' side walls

[UpstateNY]

Hi,

Almost ready to build a 30'w by 40' d pole barn with 2 10' x 10' doors. Priced out now at 12' at the side walls with "flat" trusses inside i.e. no scissors trusses. Builder will install a flat metal ceiling. I don't plan on any storage above the ceiling, it'll be insulated.

For an additonal $365, he'll build it to 13' and for $750 he'll go to 14'.

I did a search and read the threads advising that a 14' is pretty tall to be changing bulbs in, and they can look imposing if near a house etc

Because I want to install a 2 post lift, and I don't have a pickup truck that I'll need to lift, I know the 12' ceiling height from slab to ceiling will be "ok" to be able to work under any passenger car with a lot of head clearance. And it'll even be ok to work on a standard 1/2 ton pickup truck given I'm only 5'8" myself.

Since the pole barn is only 40' from the house, I am concerned that a 14' barn will tower over the standard 2-story house. But, given the barn will be built "in" the woods adjacent to my house, the towering 60' trees around it might help mitigate the mass of the pole barn.

My question is: would 13' side walls be a stupid move ? It'll give me just a touch more space so I could install "something" above the lift e.g. a fan or lighting. Or should one only increase the height in 2' increments ? What would you do if you were me ?

Thanks

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd be happy with the 12' side walls myself. If you are considering the extra foot, you might as well double it and go 14'.

 

[LXCam]

Go 14, the way I'm set up its 13ft and for a car its fine I can top out my lift. But can't with a truck and it get really annoying sometimes. I know you said no trucks, but ya just never know. Also another guy here recently did a tall one. He did the first 4ft in a darker color and it really helped break up the height of the building and it looked pretty classy too.

 

[fflintstone]

The bottoms of my trusses are 12' from my floor. My lift is 12' 1" I have it located between two trusses.
If you go with a 14' wall you can add a mezzanine in one end for storage. I would gladly pay a grand to have two more feet.

 

[Curmudgeon]

It's kind of like floor space. I don't know anyone who has built a shop who didn't later say "I wish I had made it bigger." I have NEVER known anyone who said "I wish I had made it smaller." The additional $750 is a pittance in the overall scheme of things.

My current shop has 14' sidewalls. It seems pretty tall until I start thinking of elevated storage, then it's a problem. When the addition goes on it will have 18' sidewalls.

Go 14. You won't regret it. If you don't, someday you'll wish you had.

 

[jomobco]

I agree. It's cheap to go up and it really opens your options for lifts, hoists, storage, a second level, etc.

And since your there I'd do a bigger door. 12x12.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I agree. It's cheap to go up and it really opens your options for lifts, hoists, storage, a second level, etc.

And since your there I'd do a bigger door. 12x12.

I wouldn't necessarily go to a wider door but maybe taller. The wider door is going to take an upgraded header for both doors and more cost. It'll also take up 4 more feet of wall space too.

 

[freshintulsa]

I just had a pole barn built and was going to go with 12' walls like you. Then I asked about making it 13, or 14' and it wasn't much more so I went 14'. DO IT!! Even at 14' I already wish it was taller, but I also wish my 30x50 was a 40x80... you can't get big or tall enough in my opinion.

Also, I went with 12x12 doors, and highly recommend bigger doors. It won't be too much more and it makes things so much nicer as far as moving stuff.. ie trailers etc.


In the end it comes down to what you want. If it were me.. for 750 i'd go 14' tall and and look into 12x12 doors.

Hope that helps, Doug

 

[bgarrett]

14 foot

 

[UpstateNY]

Thank you to all that responded. It wasn't about the $$$, nor really the barn being 14', it was as much aboutabout what it would look like only 40' from the existing 2 story home. But as stated above, with the barn being tucked in the woods, that'll help mitigate the size of the beast.

As regards the doors, same thought, 10'x10' are good enough for my needs, but I understand somewhere down the line someone might want to get an RV in there and 12' doors would be better. The door decision is also about the aesthetics, what would look the best. I'm thinking the 10' high door would look more proportional.

Builder gave me a **** load of references with addresses and contact info, I guess the best thing would be some road trips to have a look at some 30x40x14 barns and assess door sizes and overal bldg proportions.

 

[Pat Brady]

You have to decide what you are going to use the building for. If you are going to put a lift in it, you might want it taller. If not, then a lower roof should be OK. Keep in mind, the taller the roof the more it will cost to heat.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Builder gave me a **** load of references with addresses and contact info, I guess the best thing would be some road trips to have a look at some 30x40x14 barns and assess door sizes and overal bldg proportions.

That might make for an enjoyable day trip/shop tours.

 

[december45]

I went with the 14 ' walls, and 12'foot doors, I wanted the height for an rv to be pulled in if needed. I also wanted the height for a lift and im glad i went with the taller walls

 

[MScott]

Hi,

My question is: would 13' side walls be a stupid move ? It'll give me just a touch more space so I could install "something" above the lift e.g. a fan or lighting. Or should one only increase the height in 2' increments ? What would you do if you were me ?

Thanks

Did you seriously come on this site and expect the be told "go with the smallest or shortest?"
It would be the same if you asked whether a 1000, 2000 or 5000 sq. ft. garage is the best choice. Everyone would opt for the largest and probably say that isn't really big enough. LMAO

Go with your gut.

 

[Danver]

How about in a cold climate with long winters, would the 14' ceilings be a huge difference for heating?

 

[432bullet]

My 40ft x 60ft shop is 14 high and I love it. You can put anything you want in there, Up to and including a 13.6 semi trailer ( great for unloading things). I have ceiling fans down both sides, It really helps with heating and cooling.

 

[UpstateNY]

How about in a cold climate with long winters, would the 14' ceilings be a huge difference for heating?

You're heating 2 more feet of side walls, 16 % more, but that's not where the heat escapes. You're also heating 4800 cu feet more of air (16 %) but that amount of air weighs ounces and doesn't require that much energy to heat. Solution is to use fans to circulate the air.

 

[UpstateNY]

Did you seriously come on this site and expect the be told "go with the smallest or shortest?"
It would be the same if you asked whether a 1000, 2000 or 5000 sq. ft. garage is the best choice. Everyone would opt for the largest and probably say that isn't really big enough. LMAO

Go with your gut.

True, the go big or go home philosophy reigns here . You can always fix something with more size, more horsepower or a bigger hammer (a BFH).

The more responses I received I realized that that extra 2' gets you the mezzanine possiblity, THAT is appealing for increasing net floor space.

Also, I should have framed my question to emphasize whether a 30w x 40'l x 14' high bldg will look "funny". The 30' side will be facing towards the existing house and thus is visible (and is only 40' from the house), the 40' will be inside the woods and essentially not visible. Will 30'w by 19' high (14' side walls with a 4/12 pitch) look boxy ?

My road trip should provide answers to the aesthetics questions.

 

[ringneck]

Bigger doors help with the "boxy" look, andwith the scale. Big buildings with small doors, look even bigger.

I have 14 ft side walls, and put in 14x14 doors. Really helped the aesthetics, and I can fit just about anything in the building.

 

[2012 LML]

I have 14X14 doors. 16' eve height, 40x60 building.

Overall height to the peak outside is 22'. My house is 26' (single story). (measurments from finished floor on each) I was worried about the scale, but in the end it wasn't near what I thought, and in my case I kept the finished floor height about 16" lower than finished floor on the house.

 

[holdover]

my 40' X 60' has sissor trusses in 30' of rear section where I have my lifts. Ceiling starts at 10'4.5". The pitch is 5/12 with a 3/12 pitch on the inside. Have 15' + at the center where I have my Bend Pac, on the side wall I have a HD9 and still have enough room to work on a car. With the sissors didn't have to have a real tall building near my home. Unless you need real high entry doors you may not need the height, and if you used sissors for the whole or for the front you can put in a large door. I also went with a 9' X 16' (only thing I would change is I would do a 18' wide door) garage door instead of two smaller doors, no regrets and no wall between the doors

 

[bob from indiana]

My barn has 14' walls. I can put a semi or combine inside it. At work we have 10 foot doors and I am always bothered that nothing will fit thru the door on a flatbed. Think things ver but I prefer more height. My doors face South and
in winter the sun shines in to warm things up. In summer I get some shade from the sun beinging higher in the sky.

 

[B964]

I went 14'. 12 may have been just enough a truck on a lift but I didn't want to be "just enough". I also did 12 foot high door because one day down the road maybe the cars and lifts are gone and we snow bird with a Prevost.

 

[NUTTSGT]

How about in a cold climate with long winters, would the 14' ceilings be a huge difference for heating?

Depends what you are using for heat and how well you insulate it.

The more insulation you use and seal it up will make a huge difference in what it takes to heat the building. Also throw in the fact of how warm you want it and how often you actually heat it or maintain the heat.

The source of heat will give you a different outcome. One might use a K1 space heater, another electric heat and the other guy uses a wood burner. What you use the shop for and what you can afford to heat are going to factor in the overall picture.

Like a few posters mentioned, throw in a fan or two and it can easily make a difference heating (and cooling) during the cold months.

 

[Sureshot]

I have a 42x60x16 with two 12x14 doors. A big RV will need 14' doors. Another thing to consider is the open door height and lift placement. My shop was built for business but if I were to do another I would look at a 20' wide door. You and always put wheeled racks etc in the middle to divide the space but still have full access.

I put a 24x24x13 addition on with an office and latrine. The space above is great for storage and keeping things out of the weather.

 

[rburke65]

For the little bit of extra money, I'd go the 14' side walls. I have a 32'x56'x13 and, as stated, going with a wainscot on the lower 3' or 4' different color really helps to brake up the visually tall build.

 

[DangerousDan55]

Another thing to think about is yor Roof choice.
With a flat roof combined with being amoung all the trees, you will not be happy EVERY TIME you have to clear the roof of the leaves & tree limbs. Gutters & trees is another thing to LOVE!
Myself, I buildt a 40x60 metal building among my trees. I chose not to install gutters & went with a 3/12 pitch roof. That still may not be enough pitch to have the roof to "self clean".
Oh, Im at 14' w/ two 12x12 doors & a 8x10 door on the left wall. LOVE THEM!
I usually back my trailers by myself, so I wanted the extra 2' for backing in mistake room.
Drive around & look at houses & shops/garages roofs for debries. Its worse during the winter.


Pic for door size to building "scale"

 

[DangerousDan55]

Oh, I agree with the wainscoat! I'm planning to paint mine on, verses having more joining pieces. I wanted less seams for less "possible" issues later.

 

[UpstateNY]

Another thing to think about is yor Roof choice.
With a flat roof combined with being amoung all the trees, you will not be happy EVERY TIME you have to clear the roof of the leaves & tree limbs. Gutters & trees is another thing to LOVE!
Myself, I buildt a 40x60 metal building among my trees. I chose not to install gutters & went with a 3/12 pitch roof. That still may not be enough pitch to have the roof to "self clean".
Oh, Im at 14' w/ two 12x12 doors & a 8x10 door on the left wall. LOVE THEM!
I usually back my trailers by myself, so I wanted the extra 2' for backing in mistake room.
Drive around & look at houses & shops/garages roofs for debries. Its worse during the winter.

No flat roof here, 4/12 pitch. My 4/12 asphalt roof on the house mostly self cleans, the 4/12 metal roof on the barn will do fine.

 

[REPO]

I also did 12 foot high door because one day down the road maybe the cars and lifts are gone and we snow bird with a Prevost.

You will need a 14' door to park a big RV or 5th wheel inside.

 

[REPO]

For the little bit of extra money, I'd go the 14' side walls. I have a 32'x56'x13 and, as stated, going with a wainscot on the lower 3' or 4' different color really helps to brake up the visually tall build.

Can you post pictures of your shop, or a link to some you may already have posted? This is the size i intend to build, but with 16' walls.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I have a steel bldg, 60x60 with 16 ft sidewalls. Nothing like having lots of room inside (other than having to heat it) As noted, you need 14 ft for the retirement RV. If you don't use it, the next guy will.

Charles

 

[rburke65]

Also.....down the road, you might find yourself needing more room and you can add on with a "lean to" ..... is that right?...... Since you will have a 14' side wall, you can have a real nice addition.

 

[kj_mustang]

I would recommend no less than 14'. I have 16' walls.

Repo,
You can check my build thread pictures. 32' x 52' x 16' but it should have been 56'.

 

[SSpanky]

Get the most that you possibly can. I went with 16' and if i was doing it
again I would do 18'. I wish I would have done a couple of trusses in a scissor truss for more head room for the mezzanine.

 

[bigguns69]

I built a 36 x 50 with 15' side walls so that I could have a pair of 13'6" overhead doors so that a semi or RV could be parked in it. I don't own an RV or semi but you never know. Also if I ever sell, it makes the property more attractive to a trucker, rv owner, or small private contractor. I have a 8' x 36' mezzanine along the far wall for misc. storage. I would go for the extra height. It's not just about square foot but more about total volume.

In regards to the shop looking large compared to the house, this is "garage journal", that's the way it should be........

 

[Deception]

I would go as big as possible, future proof