40x60x16 Build - Started 4/23/15

[mcirish101]

Well, after a long cold and snowy winter my build started today. Last fall, trees were cut....land was cleared and graded

The plan is a 500 sq ft apartment and a 1900 sq ft shop/boat storage area.

Heated flooring throughout, spray foam insulation on the walls throughout the structure.

2 bedrooms in the apartment....there will be 2 zones for heating (one for the apt, the other for the shop. Tile floor in the apt to help radiate the heat as needed.

Green Metal roof and dark tan vinyl siding; will also side the house that sorely needs a refresh to match.

I am sure I left out several things (in a rush to get this posted). The pics provided are coming from an IP cam i have in a side window of the house....I will document more as things progress

Fell free to ask any questions....advice is always appreciated

 

[Cjk]

Congrats. I built a similar building last year. Very happy with the heated floor, spray foam walls and r60 cellulose in the ceiling. Last winters heating cost was less than I had expected.

 

[mcirish101]

Thanks!! my builder built a very similar structure to mine and when i walked into that pole barn on a cold, damp chilly day I was amazed....the thermostat was set at 62....the bldg felt MUCH warmer

The same crew that built that one will be putting in my heating system...."powered" by a propane water heater and several pumps (as i recall)

 

[mcirish101]

Here are a few more pics from the past few hours as well as some additional info:

I will have 2 garage doors, one 14x14....the other 12x12 - one 36" wide service door for me/guests. 2 window unit air conditioners in the apt...one for each bedroom.

The cement floor will slope from back to front....drains will be installed near the doors.

The pole barn is in Osseo, Michigan...a very small town in southern Michigan...

 

[mcirish101]

They are hauling a$$!!!

 

[Onewolf]

They are hauling a$$!!!

That's certainly one advantage to a pole barn.

 

[Cjk]

That is going up fast! You might want to check with your builder and make sure that the water heater is rated for space heating. Some are, some arent. Both will work but the space heating rated one will last longer. Keep the pics coming.

 

[mtwaterguy]

Probably too late, but you should have used bookshelf girts. Frames inside and outside walls at the same time and better at helping to prevent racking.

 

[mcirish101]

That is going up fast! You might want to check with your builder and make sure that the water heater is rated for space heating. Some are, some arent. Both will work but the space heating rated one will last longer. Keep the pics coming.

Thanks for that......the guy that does the install for the in floor heating system is awesome...he has been doing it for many years so we already spoke of the proper appliances for my system

On a side note, i asked him about a zone 3 and a heating parking pad (LOTS of snow) and he said if i wanted something to melt the snow, i should get an actual boiler....so i had to pass on that "want"

I am pretty pleased with the group of guys associated with my GC...i sure hope I am saying that at the end of the build

 

[mcirish101]

Probably too late, but you should have used bookshelf girts. Frames inside and outside walls at the same time and better at helping to prevent racking.

Thanks mt....i had to look up "bookshelf girts"

The concept makes sense!!

 

[mcirish101]

Thought I would post some pics from various perspectives.....the only thing that will be changed is the headers for the garage doors.....

this week....electric will be trenched, the install for the heated floor will begin, green metal roof will be delivered tomorrow; install will begin shortly afterwards...concrete inside the structure should be poured by the end of the week (next monday at the latest)

 

[mtwaterguy]

Are you moving the RV door to the end? That's where my 5th wheel, water tenders are parked. Better than walking around them to get to something. I have doors on both sides of my shop. Easier to move things in and out that way.

 

[mcirish101]

Are you moving the RV door to the end? That's where my 5th wheel, water tenders are parked. Better than walking around them to get to something. I have doors on both sides of my shop. Easier to move things in and out that way.

Although I do not have an RV currently, to answer your question, yes, that is the plan!!...bigger boat?? RV?? I will at least have options!

Also perusing the GJ threads for info on the best lift for my situation; I am not a gear guy like many folks on GJ....but am planning for a lift for modest auto repair and the ability to get to the hull of my boat when needed

 

[mtwaterguy]

Always good to plan ahead. Better for resale also. Lifts are hard to recommend. Everyone's needs are different. Mine is a 4 post from Bendpak. Works great for me.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Be sure to have your concrete poured thick enough......for the lift

 

[ryan77]

nice build....enjoy!

 

[mcirish101]

Be sure to have your concrete poured thick enough......for the lift

i was told it was going to be 4 1/2 inches.....my GC is also a concrete guy....we spoke about the lift on saturday....a lift is a want and not a need at the moment

Does 4 1/2 inches sound like enough?

 

[barnjunkie]

I think your build looks great. I had a 40x60x14 built last year and I'm into the thing about 35k. I'm hoping to get the concrete in a few weeks, but too far south for heated flooring. Are you going to run the electrical yourself or contract out?

 

[mcirish101]

I think your build looks great. I had a 40x60x14 built last year and I'm into the thing about 35k. I'm hoping to get the concrete in a few weeks, but too far south for heated flooring. Are you going to run the electrical yourself or contract out?

I am having the electrical done, it is way beyond my scope of experience - i will have plenty of wattage in the cottage!!. I modified the apartment portion of the barn over the weekend....instead of 2 bedrooms 14x 11 each , i decided one BR same size....made the bathroom a lil bigger @ 9x 7 and then i will be able to have an open concept kitchen/family room @ ~ 14 x 18

Do you have pix of your build?

 

[barnjunkie]

That's awesome. I wanted plumbing in mine, but too many other (expensive)things that go with it. This is the only photo I have.

 

[barnjunkie]

Pics refuse to upload....

 

[mcirish101]

PVC laid out for apartment and shop (water, waste etc) .....windows framed..green metal roof installed..portion of the bldg wrapped....now waiting for inspection; hopefully by this tuesday....then heated floor installation can begin......if all goes well, concrete will be poured May 11; the concrete floor will be 5 inches thick

 

[mcirish101]

In floor heating system is laid (so to speak) and waiting for inspection - plastic barrier, 2" thick Styrofoam ( i believe), and pex tubing. There will be two zones.....both controlled by Nest thermostats - 500 sf apartment will be one zone and 1900 sf shop for the 2nd zone.

Inspector is coming 5/12/15 and once I pass, concrete will be poured. My contractor says slab will be 5" thick and will slope from back to front; there will be drains in front of each garage door.

I will have more pics next weekend, I was not able to make it up this past weekend due to honey do lists and family commitments.

 

[rpenterics]

looking good, what are you using for a heat source?

 

[mcirish101]

looking good, what are you using for a heat source?

thanks Ryan....propane water heater...i know there will be several pumps...but unsure of the brand and specs; i do know that the guy doing the install has been doing this for many (many) years and uses high quality "hardware

i can post later when i know!!

 

[mcirish101]

Not a whole lot(grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr) of updates....heated floor in place.(inspected and passed) ...no concrete until Tuesday,,,power on Monday....siding and windows by the end of the week (hopefully)

 

[mcirish101]

Well, its been one month and I have attached some pix of where I am today....cement is poured over the pex......5 inches sloped back to front towards drains.......electric up and running.......siding almost done...windows and door installed

It's my understanding that the siding will be wrapped up.....garage doors installed......and electrician will start his thing

soon afterwards will be spray foam insulation


I asked (strongly suggested) that we be as close to complete with the buildout of the apartment portion of things by july 4 weekend

 

[mcirish101]

have not posted much lately since not much has happened...electric rough-in will be completed on 8/4...inspection on 8/5 - 500 sf apartment is framed out - plumbing rough-in done and inspected

spray foam insulation after the electric has passed inspection.....drywall to follow that (if my memory serves)

shop will have plenty of LED lighting - 2 72" span ceiling fans to keep warm air down in the winter

things are moving along...just never as fast as I had hoped!

 

[Radix2]

Beautiful spot and project ! -Will you be keeping it frost free, or heating only when in use?

Take the following as a cautionary note to think about as you finish up and maintain the place and not as any criticism for things you probably had no opportunity to consider.

I really don't understand your builder putting up such a nice building and yet putting no provisions in to protect the edge of the foundation from the deep frost and months of snow and moisture that the slab edges, wall sills and wood will be will be exposed to up here since this is not a simple unheated barn.

I would consider grading a nice deep swale around the building to get it as dry as you can - maybe even read up on frost protected foundations and see if you want to bury the required perimeter insulation to prevent heaving of the slab edge. Not too much can be done to handle the melting drifts getting to the wall bases outside of grading and keeping growth away but prevention is the key now.

Again- don't take this as any criticism to you, but rather a complaint toward the contractors who fall short when taking the rather crude provisions in a pole barn design and seriously looking to what is needed when converting them to livable spaces with the expectations of permanent wall base framing and sealing.

 

[mcirish101]

No offense taken and you are correct.....not something I had considered. My contractor is very good and has built many of these..but it never hurts to ask questions and cover all the bases now.

The radiant heat both for the shop and apartment will be on all the time in the colder months - I upgraded to a Navien boiler and my plan is to leave 2 Nest thermostats at 55 degrees or so when not there in the winter. My boat, my sisters boat and our friends boat will all be stored in the barn - they will have more opportunities to use the barn that I will - during use, (Friday thru Sunday) the temp will be bumped by 10 degrees or so. With spray foam insulation in the walls and cellulose in the cieling, i suspect the building itself will stay quite comfortable.

I will certainly talk to my contractor about the questions you raised...I appreciate the heads-up!

thanks!

 

[mcirish101]

Getting ready for the BIG push...lots will happen over the next several weeks. Spray foam insulation on all exterior walls to be completed today Monday 8/17.

Drywall to be delivered Tuesday and should take a week for the apartment and fire-wall to be complete and ready for paint. Painting till take place around 8/27 or 8/28

In the shop, metal ceiling to be installed and cellulose insulation sprayed to a value of r48

Water to be connected and soon after, a Navien Combi boiler and components will be installed.

This build is all happening at my 2nd home in southern Michigan , roughly 3.5 hours from where i live near Chicago....so i can only document things on the weekends. My contractor has been outstanding and is quite communicative; we figured out a solution for an overhead hoist to get heavy items for storage from ground floor to the loft.

I will keep taking pics and things should happen quickly - thanks to all of you that have helped with your comments! The finished product should be complete by mid September (knock on wood) with a drop dead date of 10/8 (my niece is having a portion of her wedding in the new barn)

 

[mcirish101]

Drywall is up and all the spray foam insulation is done....a few more mudding sessions are in order and then sanding to get ready for paint - it is my understanding that by the time I walk back in the barn next weekend the following will be complete:

all walls primed & painted
metal ceiling in shop & loft area installed
cellulose insulation above ceiling blown in
water and sewer hooked up (well & septic)

As of now, the following week will be tile floors and trim work

once the shop ceiling is in and cellulose is done, the the electrician comes back to install all my lighting and two large ceiling fans (72" span i believe)

2 liftmaster mt5011's to follow also in that time frame

the plan is to be complete and functional by mid -September....we are having a small portion of my nieces wedding inside the completed space

i enjoy reading about all the various sizes & shapes and uses of your collective garages - mine will be used mainly for boat storage and maintenance in the winter.....and a variety of uses in the summer

 

[mcirish101]

Walls and ceilings in the midst of being primed by yours truly...about 70% done...a professional will come in this week and finish it off and finish in the various colors we picked out

THEN the electrician comes and installs my lighting...especially excited to see the led shop lights and gimungous ceiling fans

still shooting for mid September completion

- we shall see

 

[mcirish101]

Shop Ceiling...

 

[George Hill]

Looks great, thanks for sharing!

 

[mcirish101]

Thanks!! Some cell phone pics of my LED lighting and ceiling fans in the shop _ i will be up there this weekend to get some quality pics

 

[bobmulry]

Very nice.................

 

[hosedragger622]

What brand and size ceiling fans are those?

 

[mcirish101]

Craftmade Mondo 72" Ceiling Fan in Brushed Polished Nickel with DC Motor - Blades Included - MND72BNK6

it was VERY hot and humid in the barn this weekend....these two fans are 16' up on the ceiling....they LOOK fantastic....but was hoping for more of a breeze from where i was standing/painting/working.....to be fair, the main reason i bought these was to keep in warm air from the heated floor down closer to where it will be needed....

 

[mcirish101]

Pics from the weekend.....apt and shop wall painted and ready for flooring in the apt - things scheduled to happen this coming week:

tile floor - complete
shower tile - complete
apartment lighting - complete
sewer and water hook to to existing well etc
begin install of in floor heating mechanicals/navien boiler
concrete install 60'x 15' in front of shop - hopefully!!