Coleman Texas Barn Build 40X50 Steel Building

bluejeep · Apr 13, 2012

I have a ranch in Coleman County, Texas that we use as a recreation place, primarily deer and turkey hunting. I have a house that I have built along with an old barn that I also built about 25 years ago. I used wood that my dad fished out of Lake Livingston after a storm to frame it with and then put on tin sheets. As you can imagine a lot of the wood was twisted and cracked. It did not make for a square and plumb building but it worked ok for what I was using it for which was to store our jeep, four wheelers tools and other stuff you typically have at a place like this. Over the years though it has been leaking badly and now the roof is starting to sag. Last fall after a particularly bad rain storm I decided it was time to build a new barn or I would come up there some weekend and the roof would have fallen in. That is a little background now let’s gets to the fun stuff, building a new barn!

I have contracted with Mueller Steel Buildings to fabricate my 40x50 weld up steel building. I just had the old barn demolished and hauled off this week. Next thing up is my slab contractor who will be out there next week to begin work on the slab.

I have derived a lot of my ideas from this board and it has been an inspiration to me to get going with this build. This will be an ongoing build as we get the basic barn built and then move on to working on the inside. I live in Pearland Texas which is 300 miles away so I will be making lots of trips up to the ranch to work on my new project. Below are some pictures of the old barn after I had moved everything out last weekend.

2012 spring turkey hunt and barn pics 013.jpg

Nighttrain · Apr 13, 2012

Can't wait to see this. Have you priced the 40x60 ? pretty much all the steel mueller sells is in 20' sections. You may not add that much to the cost. I have a 40x60 mueller. We lived in League city prior to moving up here.

bluejeep · Apr 13, 2012

Nighttrain- I am going to talk to my sales guy at Mueller about that. You can always used an extra 10 feet. i grew up in League City right across the street from the high school. Small world... I really enjoyed your build. When i first ran across this site your build was already pretty far along and i read the entire thread. I am going out this weekend to clear some tree limbs from my entry road so the concrete trucks can get in.

I will keep every one posted on my progress

bluejeep · Apr 14, 2012

Just a quick update. I am up at the ranch this weekend to clear some low hanging limbs on my entry road so the trucks can get it. The old barn was demolished this week and is gone. Step 1 is now complete. Slab construction should start this week.

bluejeep · Apr 20, 2012

Slab construction begain this past week with a lot of excavating to be done due to the slope of the location. At one corner we discovered we had 3.5 feet of elevation change so the decision to excavate some of the high end. A friend of mine and i also did some limb clearing on my entry road that turned into a bigger job than we both thought. We ended up with ten big trailer loads of brush, which will make a big bonfire sometime next winter on a cold rainy day.

The slab is now being formed up and should pour sometime next week. More updates next week when i go out there again for the pour

bluejeep · May 17, 2012

After a number of delays due to rain and contractor schedules i finally got my slab poured. The slab took 52 yards of concrete and took about 6 hours to complete. They ( 9 guys)started at daylight and worked very hard as the tempretaure climbed and the concrete begin to set. I am happy with the results. Been keeping the slab wet and it is curing real well. I am glad i was here because there were several things on the plumbing that i caught before they poured.

930dreamer · May 17, 2012

What's in the bags under the rebar?

Texas Aggie · May 17, 2012

Looks like it's going to be a nice build. My grandfather (now in his late '80s) grew up in Coleman County. Trickham, TX to be exact.

bluejeep · May 17, 2012

930dreamer said:
What's in the bags under the rebar?

The bags are filled with sand. It is a cheap way to fill and compact an area that that requires alot of fill which i had due to the slope of the land i am building on. My slab guy called it bagging. I believe JDewey did it on his slab recently. The bags are a nylon type feed sack.

bluejeep · May 17, 2012

Texas Aggie said:
Looks like it's going to be a nice build. My grandfather (now in his late '80s) grew up in Coleman County. Trickham, TX to be exact.

My ranch is 3 miles south of Glen Cove. I recently read a history of Coleman county and Trickham was named because a store owner sold creek water as whiskey to passing thru cowboys. He was known to Trick Em

bluejeep · May 17, 2012

The steel is supposed to be delievered on monday and construction of the frame will begin next week.

SiGmA_X · May 18, 2012

Looks like its coming along nicely bluejeep! The bag thing is weird to me, I've only seen gravel and sand used in the PNW. Makes sense, but odd!

The pics of the rebar on or even UNDER the soil (sand?) - that was before they put rebar stands down, right?

bluejeep · May 18, 2012

SiGmA_X said:
Looks like its coming along nicely bluejeep! The bag thing is weird to me, I've only seen gravel and sand used in the PNW. Makes sense, but odd!

The pics of the rebar on or even UNDER the soil (sand?) - that was before they put rebar stands down, right?

I had never heard of the bag thing either but apperantly it is used alot around this part of the world. They put the rebar stands in right before the first concrete truck arrived. There was no way i was going to let concrete in the forms until that was done!

Justanoldguy · May 18, 2012

SiGmA_X said:
Looks like its coming along nicely bluejeep! The bag thing is weird to me, I've only seen gravel and sand used in the PNW. Makes sense, but odd!

The pics of the rebar on or even UNDER the soil (sand?) - that was before they put rebar stands down, right?

See the pic of them placing the concrete.
The rebar is still lying on the dirt.
Makes you wonder what the point of it is. :dunno:

Bruce4310TX · May 18, 2012

Yeh thats a shame that re-bar aint doing anything to help that slab sitting on the dirt waste of money....

bluejeep · May 18, 2012

Bruce4310TX said:
Yeh thats a shame that re-bar aint doing anything to help that slab sitting on the dirt waste of money....

The rebar had stands underneath them in various places to hold it up. They also pulled it up into the concrete as it was poured. I watched it very carefully as it was being spread out. I believe it will be a good strong slab.

SiGmA_X · May 18, 2012

bluejeep said:
The rebar had stands underneath them in various places to hold it up. They also pulled it up into the concrete as it was poured. I watched it very carefully as it was being spread out. I believe it will be a good strong slab.

I hope so sir, I really do. The pour pics are what . I put stands under my bar religiously, I didn't want it near the dirt! I've only had 1 pour to do, a small slab for my hoist, but still, lots of stands!!

Justanoldguy said:
See the pic of them placing the concrete.
The rebar is still lying on the dirt.
Makes you wonder what the point of it is.

That was 100% my concern :dunno:

bluejeep · Jun 11, 2012

Finally some progress last week. Mueller, Inc. delivered the steel for the framing. The framing guys began there work on tuesday of last week. They have the frame basically up and are working on window frames and the three roll up door openings. I got out to the ranch on wednesday night. The concrete guys were supposed to pour the drivway apron which is 20x40 and the patio where my fire pit is which is 14x22 on thursday. Well 1 inch of rain came on thursday morning so that shut it down for the day. They poured everything on friday and the welders begin there work again

Nighttrain · Jun 11, 2012

Brings back memories. Very cool idea on the fire pit.

bluejeep · Jun 11, 2012

The fire pit is a two foot section of 48'' steel pipe used on an a offshore well i worked on. I plan to put limestone blocks around it to make it look nicer . The siding and the roofing will be delivered late this week and hopefully be installed next week. I am working on the electrical plan and will be going over that with the electrician next week.

Making progress slowly but surely.

bluejeep · Jun 24, 2012

I went out to my ranch this weekend to check out the progress on my barn. It looks like a real barn now! All the sheet metal is up on the sides and the roof. The doors and windows are in along with the roll up doors. The roll up doors work really smoothly. All they have left to do is put the gutters up and some more trim. They should be done in the next couple of days. I spent the weekend back filling around the slab. Next up after the sheet metal guys get out of there is the electrical work. I am working on the design for that

DEEDDUDE · Jun 25, 2012

Building looks good.
Coleman County was one of the counties I was looking to by some property in before I started my build. Beautiful area.

bluejeep · Jul 2, 2012

The construction of my barn was finished up last week. i spent the weekend backfiling around the slab .I also power washed the inside working on trying to remove tire marks from the man lift. I also moved the vehicles back inside but i am hesitant to move much more until the electrician gets done. After the electrician is finished it will all be upt tom to finish out. There will be a tool room , several work benches , lots of cabinets , a stainless steel sink and table where we will be able to process deer.

Nighttrain · Jul 2, 2012

They did a real nice job!

draider · Jul 3, 2012

It turned out great! Nice building on a nice piece of property.

jam0o0 · Jul 3, 2012

what is your plan for interior covering? or are you going to leave the insulation exposed?

how thick is the insulation? i'm planning on going with mueller when it's time for me to build my space.

DEEDDUDE · Jul 3, 2012

Jeep, your place looks great. I hope mine turns out as nice. I was thinking of planting a tree near my building also and adding some landscaping. :thumbup:

bluejeep · Jul 3, 2012

jam0o0 said:
what is your plan for interior covering? or are you going to leave the insulation exposed?

how thick is the insulation? i'm planning on going with mueller when it's time for me to build my space.

Right now i am going to build a 10x10 tool room in the back corner. I will probably cover the bottom 8ft portion with a T1-11 siding or something of that nature. The insulation was in big long rolls approximately 2 inches thick. I am very pleased with Mueller. They worked well with my construction guys and were very thourough on the little details. Let me know if you would like to discuss them further

bluejeep · Jul 3, 2012

DEEDDUDE said:
Jeep, your place looks great. I hope mine turns out as nice. I was thinking of planting a tree near my building also and adding some landscaping.

Thanks!The tree was already there so we tried hard not to destroy it in the process. I am following your build. Keep us posted

bluejeep · Jul 3, 2012

Nighttrain said:
They did a real nice job!

They did a real good job! i am pleased with everyone involved so far. Now i am waiting on the electrician. i need to put in a 200 amp service. Then i can work on the inside and start to move my stuff back in.

bluejeep · Jul 28, 2012

Today a friend of mine and i framed up a 10x 10 tool room. It was a very simple job. i also bought a large fan to move some air. The temp was right at 100 degrees outside and working on the inside was not bad at all. I also met with the electrician. I am going to put in a 200 amp service. He is supposed to start in the next week or so.

SiGmA_X · Jul 28, 2012

So this room will store your tools? Do you have a floor plan for the structure? Lookin good all around sir!

And 100, not being too hot, you must enjoy the heat! Dang! PNW spoils me.

Flounder_Pounder · Jul 28, 2012

Very Nice!!

cyamaha2007 · Jul 28, 2012

Looks great keep up the good work!

bluejeep · Jul 30, 2012

SiGmA_X said:
So this room will store your tools? Do you have a floor plan for the structure? Lookin good all around sir!

And 100, not being too hot, you must enjoy the heat! Dang! PNW spoils me.

Yes , shovels axes chainsaws, weed eaters and more of that sort of stuff. I also will put a compressor in there. I will post up a floor plan

i bought a big fan at Home Depot that moved the air around really good. i grew up with the heat so i don't know any better. But i am jealous of your summertime temps

Falcon67 · Jul 30, 2012

bluejeep said:
i bought a big fan at Home Depot that moved the air around really good. i grew up with the heat so i don't know any better. But i am jealous of your summertime temps

He's from Portland, so it just seems hot to him :lol:

Best not to come visit us in west Texas this week though. Very nice building, looks real good. Visited Mueller in the past, seemed like real nice people there and they could fab up anything you'd want.

bluejeep · Jul 30, 2012

Falcon67 said:
He's from Portland, so it just seems hot to him Best not to come visit us in west Texas this week though. Very nice building, looks real good. Visited Mueller in the past, seemed like real nice people there and they could fab up anything you'd want.

Thanks. I have been following your build from the begining. it is supposed to be 105 the rest of the week here. August in Texas, you got to love it

bluejeep · Aug 4, 2012

Just a quick update. My electrician started on thursday. He is putting in a 200 amp service to replace the 100 amp service i had for the ranch house and the old barn. They got all the conduit run , breaker box put in and the switch and plug boxes. They also started pulling wire. The Texas heat though worked on them pretty good with a 109 degree temp the last couple of days so they would only work until about 3:00 pm. They are running the service panel tomorrow and the electrical co-op will come out on tuesday to reconnect everything.

bluejeep · Nov 27, 2012

I have done a lot of work since i lasted posted on my progress. The electrical work is complete with a 200 amp service. I have hooked up all the plumbing to the stainless steel sinks that we use to process deer with. I have also completed my tool room, installed the compressor and ran 3/4 inch black iron pipe with 4 drops each with a 25 ft hose reels. I also found a welding table on Craigslist. I couldnt buy the steel to make it for the $300 i paid for it. It has been a lot of work but it is all coming together now

bluejeep · Nov 27, 2012

more pictures and enjoying a fire in the fire pit on opening weekend of deer season

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