To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Above 1200 Sq/FT 36 x 54 Pole Barn Build

Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
K

KevinR

Active member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
33
Well, I'm far enough into this build to make this thread a little interesting at least.

My (now) wife and I bought a few acres in northern Indiana in February of 2020. The land had been in Conservation Reserve for the past decade and was just about ready to come out of it. 60823977208__7764AE65-9467-4352-BCF9-51EF65435705.JPG

We planned to get married on the lot and eventually build a home there. In May of 2022, after a year of wedding planning and a year of permitting, we broke ground.
67581233706__26DCC74C-145D-4651-885D-57DB0BD49C01.JPEG

But this isn't House Journal

67588215977__C1639C6F-24CA-4940-9299-D480CFF010E9.JPEG
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
K

KevinR

Active member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
33
For the buildout, I had a list of needs:
Office space (more WFH post pandemic)
Room for future machine work in a clean setting
Workout space
"Dirty" room for welding/grinding and tractor storage
General shop/ flex space for long term auto projects and general construction projects

To fit that, I ended up with a 36x54 with 12 foot sidewalls and a 6/12 pitch roof. The machine cave is about 12x24, dirty area about 24x24, and the general shop is about 30x36. The back half has scissor trusses for a loft for the office at about 24x24 (of that about 14x24 is usable headroom)
 

Attachments

  • Back office.jpg
    Back office.jpg
    57.7 KB · Views: 63
OP
K

KevinR

Active member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
33
Once the shell was up, I had several trucks of fill to bring in to finalize the grade. Compacted, and got ready for the floor insulation and radiant heat prep. Floor and edge have 2 inch foam.

IMG_1632.JPEG


And concrete! ~6 inch pour
IMG_1697.JPEG

Once that was squared away, the inside work for frameout could begin.


Machine cave and dirty room
IMG_1778.JPEG

Loft deck
IMG_2898.JPEG

Machine cave with insulation (dirty room won't be air conditioned)
IMG_1907.JPEG

Office View
IMG_1909.JPEG

Caught a nice day in November and worked on the driveway extension
68935069237__1CD7C6D4-3215-48B7-AAAB-1F978FBAAD94.JPEG

And got my US made light installed.

IMG_1957.JPEG

Then back inside to hang the panel

IMG_1956.JPEG

Got the ceiling framing done for can light access and drywall

IMG_2020.JPEG
 
OP
K

KevinR

Active member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
33
On December 7, we had power! No more generator!

69215226371__637DFA9F-E7C7-41D1-9735-28A485EF5DB0.JPEG


More framing in the office area
IMG_2065.JPEG

No more ladder to get up to the loft

IMG_2101.JPEG
Note the cribbing (from a transmission job) for the lower half of the staircase. Eventually, I'll build or acquire rolling stairs that can slide out of the way so I have full access to pull a truck or equipment in through the garage door.

Batt insulation finished

69307860162__FD472237-5B04-4BCE-9C0D-A4B51247CC0D.JPEG

Mini splits installed

69293763271__500B6982-9E9D-4AC4-979A-5AEF067CA525.JPEG


Then came the drywall!

69559583187__E3C73053-C8A6-46E1-AE19-1AB3937843F5.JPEG
 
5

545_days

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 30, 2016
Messages
581
Location
Texas
Your rolling stairs idea is one I plan to steal. I am planning a shop build right now, and fitting the stairs into the floor plan was giving me troubles for the exact same reasons.

I will have to get inspected though, so I may have to build stairs that I remove after the final inspection.
 
OP
K

KevinR

Active member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
33
Inspections on outbuildings are a little more forgiving out in the county vs in town where I’m at. But we had similar issues with hand railings etc when building the house
 
OP
K

KevinR

Active member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
33
I wasn’t that nervous, but that was just a temp location, it got shifted over. Teaser pic attached
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0724.jpeg
    IMG_0724.jpeg
    616 KB · Views: 92
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
K

KevinR

Active member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
33
I roughed in a full bath before I poured the slab, and hired the mason working on the house to do the CMU work on the side out in the barn. Two days with a crew and we were in business! IMG_0116.JPEG
IMG_0119.JPEG
IMG_0126.JPEG

The mezzanine on top is for light storage, and some extra play room for the shop cats. Shop dog Lex for scale.

IMG_0207.JPEG
 
OP
K

KevinR

Active member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
33
Electric

When planning for the electric, I wanted to make sure that I had room to grow, without looking cobbled together. So I elected to used conduit for the install.

In the main shop, I have one circuit for each wall, with an additional circuit for the high outlets. The radiant heat has it's own 120 circuit.

In the machine cave, I have two 120 circuits, alternating each box. Additionally, I will feed a 50 amp subpanel there for future 220 machines.

Similar setup for the dirty work room, except that it will have a dedicated 50 amp 220 run for a welder and an additional 50 amp 220 run for a vehicle charger or RV hookup behind the barn where I park the trailers.

The office is fed by a single 120 circuit.

The lighting in each shop is on its own circuit. I elected to use can puck lights from Halo for the primary light source. I like very hot light in work areas, and more amber for the office. Farm lights from Steel Lighting Co supplement the cans. Main shop is 34 cans, machine cave and low clearance dirty room each have 12. The lights were installed inside of plywood boxes in the ceiling. This lets me reach through from below to service them and prevents insulation getting all over. Furthermore, it should help limit mice intrusion. Each box in the ceiling has conduit running between them.

Heating and Cooling
Primary heat will be by a radiant system from Menards. I bought the panel pre plumbed and a 199k NG unit for the heat source. Hoping to have that hooked up before the weather gets really nasty this winter. I have 7 loops through the floor.

Currently, the main shop is heated with a 36k mini split from Mr. Cool, 12k ton unit for the office.

I thought that my first oil change in the heat would be great...first oil change in the AC was even better!

Plumbing

Fairly standard for the bath. I adding two drop for a hot and cold hose faucet in the shower, set 16 inches off the ground because a 5 gallons bucket is 15 inches tall.

Small kitchenette for late snacks with a larger sink for cleanup.

IMG_0850.JPEG

Added one hose bib outside, with a shutoff valve to go to a future hose reel in the dirty shop.

Finally, I hooked up an old washer and dryer so I don't get the stink eye for washing my shop clothes in the house anymore.
 
OP
K

KevinR

Active member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
33
Picked up this Parker vise from a local medical manufacturer closing. My wife saw the sign and stopped in. I told her to offer $100 for it. Seller countered with $150 but you need to take the table with it.

$150 for a vise and Lyon table? Done.

The drill press is a Craftsman from my grandfather.

Eventually, the Kennedy boxes will end up on a mobile cart for light parts and an assembly table.
IMG_0725.JPEG

Jack got me chasing StrongHold cabinets a few years ago. These were all auction buys, I've got a couple more in the dirty room for auto part storage. Two of the computer workstation ones I plan hack up and turn into a heavy duty Alemite style setup. Future lathe will go on the back wall and mill will go beside the drill press.

IMG_0686.JPEG
 
OP
K

KevinR

Active member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
33
Floor heat seems to be running. We'll give it an over night and see. Boiler had an assembly issue from the factory that caused it to leak inside the housing, but with that squared away we'll keep moving forward!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom