KansasProud
Well-known member
I started this in the introduction forum, but thought it might be better to continue it here.
I have been planning a 25 x 40 x 12 pole barn with an 8 x 40 lean to for a few years and am finally taking the leap. I am restricted to 1000SF for detached structures in my neighborhood hence the strange dimensions. I will use the barn for vintage cast iron restoration projects, vehicle maintenance (I'm adding a 2 post lift for that), smoking and grilling meats, a small wood shop with dust collection and basically hanging out and having fun. I want to put an electric oven in to season the cast iron (my wife hates the smell in the house) and use the area above the rafters for some light storage.
I've been fretting about placement for the 2 post and have been looking for ideas on the internet when I came across this site a few days ago. Holy cow! I found some brothers! It seems like there are a lot of folks here who share the same interests! I've gotten some great ideas from lurking through all the posts and wanted to share a little bit about my journey so far, and what's to come.
We have a 2 car attached garage that I have tried to make a workshop out of in the front, while continuing to park 2 cars in. As I'm certain you guys are aware, I have completely run out of space to store stuff, work, park or anything. Whenever we have some kind of project, the cars will be in the driveway for a few months, while the garage is a wreck. I built a 10 x 12 storage shed to put in the backyard to store lawnmowers and yard tools about 20 years ago to help with the strain on the garage. It helped, but I always wanted a detached garage.
After the kids moved out, I talked to my wife about building a barn and she told me that was fine as long as we re-sided and painted the house. I thought cool, I'll get some quotes from a few pole barn builders in my area to see how much this will cost. In July of 2020 I got his quote.
I didn't think that was too bad of a price, but I had to start with the siding and paint for the house so I put it off. After re-siding and painting the house, I went back for an updated quote with a couple of minor changes this is May 2021.
Dude. I couldn't believe the price difference in less than a year. I did some more research, got some more quotes and cried a little. I ended up settling with some Amish guys with this one. Thicker steel, better lumber, the light insulation everywhere.
Then I went to the city for the permit. Let me caution anyone else planning on building to do this first for a few reasons. Setbacks, building size, height restrictions and any variances that may need to be worked out BEFORE you break ground or put any money down on anything. My issue with the city was the restriction on building size. In my town you are limited to 1000SF of enclosed area. The lady issuing permits took that to include the open air lean to that will run the length of the building and rejected my application. This was after I put 20% down on the building with the builders. Long story short after many phone calls and emails with the city manager and various inspectors, I was granted the permit. I just want to stress how important it is to do your homework and speak with your governing body prior to planning and especially putting any money down.
Now with permit in hand, I had to; tear down a fence where the building was going for dirt work, dig up and remove/move sprinkler heads and lines where the new building and driveway is going to be, move my storage shed that was falling apart from years of neglect, dig up and move a flower bed and create a new bed for the wife. She has some iris bulb in there from her and my parents and grandparents. She says some of the bulbs are possibly 150 years old! After getting those tasks completed we had to have dirt work done.
Here is a shot of the house before siding and paint. The area to the right of the house is where the barn will be.
After siding and paint. We did board and batten on the sides to match the vertical ribs of the steel on the new barn.
This is the backyard where the barn will be. Basically centered on the brush pile in the fire ring. Also pictured is the neglected storage shed I built a long time ago that needed to be moved along with the flower bed with all those old bulbs.
Since we moved the shed and the house looked so good, I had to give the shed some TLC too. The playhouse will be re-done this spring or summer. Always a project...
Finished dirt work
Driveway. The construction fence is where the barn will start.
This is where we are today. Waiting. Waiting is hard. Materials should deliver January 11th and the guys will begin erection.
I have been planning a 25 x 40 x 12 pole barn with an 8 x 40 lean to for a few years and am finally taking the leap. I am restricted to 1000SF for detached structures in my neighborhood hence the strange dimensions. I will use the barn for vintage cast iron restoration projects, vehicle maintenance (I'm adding a 2 post lift for that), smoking and grilling meats, a small wood shop with dust collection and basically hanging out and having fun. I want to put an electric oven in to season the cast iron (my wife hates the smell in the house) and use the area above the rafters for some light storage.
I've been fretting about placement for the 2 post and have been looking for ideas on the internet when I came across this site a few days ago. Holy cow! I found some brothers! It seems like there are a lot of folks here who share the same interests! I've gotten some great ideas from lurking through all the posts and wanted to share a little bit about my journey so far, and what's to come.
We have a 2 car attached garage that I have tried to make a workshop out of in the front, while continuing to park 2 cars in. As I'm certain you guys are aware, I have completely run out of space to store stuff, work, park or anything. Whenever we have some kind of project, the cars will be in the driveway for a few months, while the garage is a wreck. I built a 10 x 12 storage shed to put in the backyard to store lawnmowers and yard tools about 20 years ago to help with the strain on the garage. It helped, but I always wanted a detached garage.
After the kids moved out, I talked to my wife about building a barn and she told me that was fine as long as we re-sided and painted the house. I thought cool, I'll get some quotes from a few pole barn builders in my area to see how much this will cost. In July of 2020 I got his quote.
I didn't think that was too bad of a price, but I had to start with the siding and paint for the house so I put it off. After re-siding and painting the house, I went back for an updated quote with a couple of minor changes this is May 2021.
Dude. I couldn't believe the price difference in less than a year. I did some more research, got some more quotes and cried a little. I ended up settling with some Amish guys with this one. Thicker steel, better lumber, the light insulation everywhere.
Then I went to the city for the permit. Let me caution anyone else planning on building to do this first for a few reasons. Setbacks, building size, height restrictions and any variances that may need to be worked out BEFORE you break ground or put any money down on anything. My issue with the city was the restriction on building size. In my town you are limited to 1000SF of enclosed area. The lady issuing permits took that to include the open air lean to that will run the length of the building and rejected my application. This was after I put 20% down on the building with the builders. Long story short after many phone calls and emails with the city manager and various inspectors, I was granted the permit. I just want to stress how important it is to do your homework and speak with your governing body prior to planning and especially putting any money down.
Now with permit in hand, I had to; tear down a fence where the building was going for dirt work, dig up and remove/move sprinkler heads and lines where the new building and driveway is going to be, move my storage shed that was falling apart from years of neglect, dig up and move a flower bed and create a new bed for the wife. She has some iris bulb in there from her and my parents and grandparents. She says some of the bulbs are possibly 150 years old! After getting those tasks completed we had to have dirt work done.
Here is a shot of the house before siding and paint. The area to the right of the house is where the barn will be.
After siding and paint. We did board and batten on the sides to match the vertical ribs of the steel on the new barn.
This is the backyard where the barn will be. Basically centered on the brush pile in the fire ring. Also pictured is the neglected storage shed I built a long time ago that needed to be moved along with the flower bed with all those old bulbs.
Since we moved the shed and the house looked so good, I had to give the shed some TLC too. The playhouse will be re-done this spring or summer. Always a project...
Finished dirt work
Driveway. The construction fence is where the barn will start.
This is where we are today. Waiting. Waiting is hard. Materials should deliver January 11th and the guys will begin erection.
I really like the layout.
