Let's See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

duwem · Dec 22, 2015

For appearance, and functionality reasons, I'm leaning towards a monitor style shop. Most buildings of this style are for horses with a single aisle down the middle and stalls in the lean toos. I would like to expand the center to something like 24-30' so I can have 2 cars parked side by side with a lift in one position. The back 1/2 or 1/3 of the building would have a second story in the center for storage and rec room.

The side lean to's would be workshops, office, paint room etc and storage area/utilities.

Something along these lines:

I'm aware of this one build thread, but not quite the layout I'm looking to do.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51837

Here are a few pictures of some others I have collected on here and the net, would like to see others you have. Most of these are narrow center sections.

Crusarius · Dec 22, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Something like that would be really nice to add a beam and chainfall full length down the center. or if you really want to get fancy a full crane setup.

duwem · Dec 23, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Agree that would be sweet, but sounds expensive!

Bdgjr215 · Dec 23, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Theyre beautiful on the outside

alberto · Dec 23, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

duwem said:
http://s22.photobucket.com/user/duwem/media/Monitor Shop/IMG_0957P_zpsutiodb19.jpg.html

This would be very cool, although I might play around with the door configuration. Drive through the middle door would be very handy to have. I like these types of buildings, they allow a ton of light into the space. There's a very good thread on here somewhere of someone who built one of these showing their entire build. They did an outstanding job of it. If I find it I'll add the link.

duwem · Dec 23, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

I agree that's too much door on the front. If you look at the sketch of mine I would do one big center door and have a side door. I wish the center door was smaller, but don't want to take away from the usefulness of width and ceiling height.

Although I thought it would look neat to make some fake tracks to give the sliding door look, but probably just look silly on a 10' tall door. The sliding doors with overhead behind then is a neat idea, but then you need to manually open the sliding every time you want to use the overhead. and a lot more cost for both sets of doors.

In my case its getting built into a slight hill and near the property line, so I cant do a full drive through, but I will put the loft in that back area and still have clearance for parking cars under it if needed.

404 · Dec 23, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Certainly attractive. In the pic the pink line is profile of what I expect the snow build up will be in winter.
The snow will lean against the upstairs wall, melt, and leak into the structure.

barnee · Dec 23, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

404 said:
Certainly attractive. In the pic the pink line is profile of what I expect the snow build up will be in winter.
The snow will lean against the upstairs wall, melt, and leak into the structure.

Just need a standing seam roof, proper roof slope on the lower and snow guards on the upper to resolve that.

I'm designing a 28' by 38' monitor right now with an upstairs room.

duwem · Dec 23, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Standing seam meaning steel rib? Snow guards those plastic dam things to stop ice from sliding off?

1953mercury · Dec 23, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

They are attractive, but you give up a lot of second story floor space. I believe the original design was to provide airflow to keep the animals cooler and the barn a little less aromatic. Since the foundation and roof are generally the two priciest parts of a building it would be hard for a tightwad like me to give up the room for the acetic. Merry Christmas, Mike

RAYJAY · Dec 23, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

barnee said:
Just need a standing seam roof, proper roof slope on the lower and snow guards on the upper to resolve that.

I'm designing a 28' by 38' monitor right now with an upstairs room.

plus nothing really sticks to a metal roof, and they been building that style barn for decades with out problems :rocker:

merc66rkm · Dec 24, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

This one is my favorite:

link to thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=282077

duwem · Dec 24, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Wow missed that one thanks! Love the open floor plan. And classic trucks.

For my uses monitor roofline makes some sense. want 14' plus ceiling for tall car lift but everything else I own is less than 8' tall so having a full ceiling just means more to heat. The lean tos will make good workshops. And I can do a second story that's like 20x30 with full ceiling height.

Stuart in MN · Dec 24, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Board member NASMAN's monitor barn build is pretty epic. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51837

JCQuick · Dec 24, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

You can't leave shop nut out of this

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3148

Bob Hall · Dec 25, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

1953mercury said:
They are attractive, but you give up a lot of second story floor space. I believe the original design was to provide airflow to keep the animals cooler and the barn a little less aromatic. Since the foundation and roof are generally the two priciest parts of a building it would be hard for a tightwad like me to give up the room for the acetic. Merry Christmas, Mike

This style is beautiful, but I'm with Mike. If I payed for all that roof and floor, I'd want to get two full floors.

b4z · Dec 26, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

You don't have to give up a second floor. Just frame it normally then have the center portion have a lower ceiling. You give up some of the center interior height, which is the for this style, but it looks the same from outside and you have a lot second floor space.

NASMAN · Dec 26, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

b4z said:
You don't have to give up a second floor. Just frame it normally then have the center portion have a lower ceiling. You give up some of the center interior height, which is the for this style, but it looks the same from outside and you have a lot second floor space.

Agree, Monitor barns can provide a lot of usable space , the trick is to get the proportions correct in respect to the footprint.If the center section is too thin and the pitch on the roofs are wrong , you not only have inside problems but a barn that just plain does not look right.However in my opinion , When done right, they are the most attractive style that there is.

In most cases tho you will lose floor space due to the post that are required and will end up always in your way in side. Yes you can do it without the posts. but requires more engineering and ultimately higher built cost. Plus you lose the traditional look when you walk in the barn. Choosing which style of barn to build is like taking a new medicine They all have their own unique side effects.

b4z · Dec 26, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

NASMAN said:
Agree, Monitor barns can provide a lot of usable space , the trick is to get the proportions correct in respect to the footprint.If the center section is too thin and the pitch on the roofs are wrong , you not only have inside problems but a barn that just plain does not look right.However in my opinion , When done right, they are the most attractive style that there is.

In most cases tho you will lose floor space due to the post that are required and will end up always in your way in side. Yes you can do it without the posts. but requires more engineering and ultimately higher built cost. Plus you lose the traditional look when you walk in the barn. Choosing which style of barn to build is like taking a new medicine They all have their own unique side effects.

Exactly. Build costs would go up immensely even double just for the beams. We just bought a house with a 2 car garage. It had a post in the center to support the floored attic above. To get rid of the post we had to use (3) 18" LVLs to span the 22.5'. $1126 for the beams. Multiply that by multiple bays and longer lengths os steel or wood and it Kind of stops your heart.

duwem · Dec 31, 2015

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Any more pictures or threads on Monitor style buildings?

I'm not worried about the snow thing. My house has a porch on it and I dont have feet of snow sitting on it up against the second story walls/windows.

sublime68charger · Jan 1, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Nice thread just posting so that I can find this one again!

duwem · Jan 20, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Bump for more pictures/ideas.

Chaz · Jan 20, 2016

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Here's mine...

Nor'Easter · Jan 20, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

This is a barn our shop built for a client a couple years ago. Center is 16'x40', with each wing being 8'. Roof is 6/12.

duwem · Jan 21, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Chaz, I forget, did you use LP Smartside for the exterior? If so do you have a close up of how you did the board and battons?

Nor, that is a neat building, I love the big beams, but that gets to be very expensive.

NASMAN · Jan 21, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Chaz said:
Here's mine...

Hey Chaz nice to hear from you, as always.

Chaz · Jan 21, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

duwem said:
Chaz, I forget, did you use LP Smartside for the exterior? If so do you have a close up of how you did the board and battons?

It's all hardie board (cement) I used both 4x8 and 4x10 sheets. The battens are also a hardie product. (Hardie batts) It's all attached with small headed screws.

mwbailey · Jan 21, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

duwem,

Obviously, I like the monitor barn design -- especially the one you showed with the snow falling!

A couple of comments: With a little more expense for the glulams, I was able to end up with a roughly 20X24' area without posts. Others have commented about those doggone posts getting in the way. I agree, so took a little proactive effort. Nice to have the second story for lift height -- oops, this does add posts! I have yet to install a two-post lift, but hope to.

I didn't take an approach to have windows on the second floor -- added expense, didn't go well with the selected roof pitch, and I figured to be working mostly in the evening when the windows wouldn't do me much good.

I have enjoyed the loft on the other half of the barn almost as much as the bottom floor. Very easy to do with the monitor style, give or take putting in stairs.

Good luck with your build.

bczygan · Jan 21, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

duwem,
Nice thread with lots of pretty pictures of photogenic buildings.

And that is a useful building type and style.

But I'm going to ask you to start from a different direction.

First, what is the layout of your lot?

And what exactly the functions that you want to accommodate?

Bill

And this post is for everyone who picks a pretty picture, an attractive style or a nice looking plan, and tries to plop it down on a site and stuff it with their things.

That isn't the best way to do it. It's backwards.

First, lay out your functions and how they relate to one another. Then pick a piece of land that will accommodate them. Then, after situating them on the property so they work well with it, wrap them in the structure that best fits.

Seldom do I hear anyone on this forum post a list of the things they want to be able to do. But that is the best way to get to your goal.

Bill

duwem · Jan 21, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

MW is that a sand creek barn?

BC not real sure how the lot has to do with the roof line? I have one area I can build and its into a slope with probably 5' rise from one corner to the other of the building. Both the overhead doors on my sketches are on the not rise walls. With some backfilling I may be able to have a door going into the loft on the back wall.

bczygan · Jan 21, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

duwem said:
MW is that a sand creek barn?

BC not real sure how the lot has to do with the roof line? I have one area I can build and its into a slope with probably 5' rise from one corner to the other of the building. Both the overhead doors on my sketches are on the not rise walls. With some backfilling I may be able to have a door going into the loft on the back wall.

What I am trying to explain, is that the design process is not done by picking the structure type first. You have the cart way before the horse.

That answer flows from the functions you need to accommodate and how they relate to each other and the lot layout. And I mean all the functions for the entire property.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

How did you come to the conclusion that this building type fit your needs? I'm just trying to understand how you got there.

And this is an object lesson for other eyes too. Not saying you can't just plunk a plan down on a site, but you miss many opportunities to tailor things to your needs and lot and finances.

Bill

mwbailey · Jan 22, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Yes, duwen, my workshop came from Sand Creek Post and Beam. I'm pretty sure the first four barns you show on Post #1 are Sand Creek. I've been very satisfied, but I know there are others out there -- like Barn Pros -- who do similar designs.

I was interested in bczygan's comments, and to some extent I certainly agree. One thing that he did leave out -- and it may or may not apply to everyone -- is that The Wife has to be satisfied with how things look, too. That is, aesthetics can play a part -- no doubt, that could be part of how it relates to the lot layout!

duwem · Jan 22, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

You are correct on the images. I got some quotes from them and it was gona be more than I was looking to spend.

Wife is the #1 reason its not a rectangle building with a peak roof. I get it to a degree, we have a nice newish house and a big box "Shed" next to it is not going to look nice. But extra thousands of dollars for steeper roofs and fancy siding is money that could be put into concrete, in floor heat, insulation, furnace etc...

Duck, do you have a build thread somewhere?

bcoke · Jan 22, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

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bcoke · Jan 22, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Well I got to post the pictures but lost the words???? oh well this is the monitor barn I built in 2009 , the stats = 36x40 with 20x36 loft........radient floor heat .....center downstairs has a 12 foot ceiling the loft is 6'4" at the walls and a 9+ foot ridge......interior stair access.....great space and good storage/workshop etc..... Bobbycoke

duwem · Jan 22, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Sweet, your design or did you have it designed by someone?

bczygan · Jan 22, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

A postscript.

I don't mean to say I do not like the style. In fact, I really like it, and think it is the perfect solution for some uses.

If you open up the side galleries with beams, like one example above, you can get large open spaces. And the two story portion in the middle gives extra height or the ability for a second floor.

It is also a building type that is perfect for phased construction. Build the center section first. Then when you need more space, add one or more side galleries. And the sides can first be added as roofs, and later enclosed.

Bill

bcoke · Jan 23, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

The design was purely my own,,,, did the plans on a 20$ 3D architek program and tweeked it with the builder......to achieve an open floor plan needed steel [$$$$$$$$] so went with one post on each size then we used 2"x18"x36' laminated beams, three sistered [glued & Nailed] on each side.........built in the air one at a time , 4men, arm strength. very professional and good group of workers, love the design it is working out perfectly as always second guessing the size [and not smaller if you know what I mean].....still working on it ,never reallt finished ! broke

duwem · Feb 16, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Any other Monitor pictures or discussion?

Have got around 4 quotes now, and all are around $60k for the building shell, not including excavation. Too spendy for my budget, but have not given up yet.

Kevin54 · Feb 16, 2016

Re: Lets See Monitor (raised roof) Style Shops

Nor'Easter......why did you put the boards on the way you did, and not stagger them along and above the doorway. You gain strength by staggering the boards plus have less chance for a leak developing in the seam. Don't take it wrong, the barn looks great, and I like the symmetrical look, but it's not standard practice to put the boards on that way with a running vertical seam.

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