Building a building between two pole buildings - wanting input

[effie_53]

I have a 40' x 40' shop and a 40' x 48' barn, both pole buildings. The shop was there when I bought the property. I had the barn built lined up directly 8' apart from the shop as I always wanted / intended to build and enclose between the two buildings as if they were one large building. Originally, I just wanted to attach the second building but builders didn't want to because the roof pitches are 90 degrees apart. And they had concerns about getting it leakproof being the roofs are turned. I think that should be able to be managed even though all the snow and rain run-off from one side of the shop will come down on the center roof and split.

The shop has 14' sidewalls and the barn 12' high. I got two 36' trusses (think 4-12 pitch) from the local Menards this summer that they had on their clearance lot. The 36' is fine as I don't need to go the entire length and think it may be easier to tin in the seams between the old and new buildings. I don't need any more than a 7' ceiling height in the center. Just enough height for walk out doors on each end. There are existing walk doors on the sides on the two buildings. Planning to set the new construction in about the depth of the corner tin trim on one end and it would be about 3 3/4' shorter on the other end. That works as I buried the electrical line on that end that services the barn.

I think I'll attach the horizontal 2x6s to the original buildings 2x6s (after removing the tin on each existing building side) and then attach the 6x6 laminated posts to support the trusses. I'm building the 6x6s posts myself.

I'll want to have a concrete floor but don't know if I'll get that done this fall. When the builder put up the barn, he didn't get the floor height the same as the shop building. I haven't measured it but it looks to be at least an inch lower and could be as much as 2-3' lower. So I figured to have the floor height of the center building to be the same as the barn and step down from the shop.

I'm ooking for inputs on this project as I hope to do everything myself except maybe the concrete floor. I'm not opposed to doing that either but don't have any experience to speak of with concrete. I can post pictures later of the buildings..

 

[effie_53]

Here is a picture of the two buildings taken a couple years ago, the summer after the barn was built. The fence in the foreground has since been moved to the "proper" location coming off the wood just to the right of the walk door on the barn.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I think I would build a roof under the soffit on the left, the ridge running the same as the one on the right.

 

[matt_i]

Getting this leak proof is going to be the crowning feature of this project. No matter how you proceed its going to be success or failure based on flashings. If it were shingled you'd do an intersecting roof and some valleys, although there are some challenges based on the eave height being apparently different. The metal roof can be made to do this also with attention to details.

A rotary laser level with sensor will complete the "floor height survey" in 10 minutes, 9 of which are spent setting the unit up on its tripod

 

[effie_53]

I think I would build a roof under the soffit on the left, the ridge running the same as the one on the right.

I hope to get the roof under the soffit of the shop roof but haven't actually measured the height of my trusses and see how it will all fit. That is the biggest area of concern I have in regard to doing the roof and having it not leak. Yeah, liberal flashing and silicon caulking should help a lot to keep leaks away.

 

[-Brent-]

What about connecting the two with an enclosed (even glass) walkway? The roof can be lower, avoiding the cost of mating the two at roof height, and it can be built to look like it was purposely done (not an afterthought). It could be made wider than a hall or pass-through and use double doors if passing equipment through was a requirement, as well.

 

[pmiranda]

Yeah, I think if it's flashed correctly and the new roof is entirely below the level of the two existing roofs, you can do it. Putting a gutter on the left building would probably help alot.

 

[effie_53]

My shop has the foil faced foam between the exterior tin and the framing. The pole barn is not insulated at all. I added Styrofoam between the horizontal 2x6s and put sheetrock up inside the shop as it is heated with a natural gas furnace.

I also want to insulate the building between and am unsure about any heat at this time. I'm thinking about putting the same foil faced foam on the walls and plan to build a ceiling inside that I can insulate with blanket insulation. My question here is: am I looking for trouble if I don't put the foil insulation on the roof like the shop when I use the blanket insulation on the ceiling? My reasoning for not doing the foil faced insulation on the roof is it saves that inch of height and I may need all the height to stay under the soffit on the shop.

 

[Playwme]

I'd extend the lower roof right across to intersect with the other one. You'll need to remove some roofing from the left building and buy longer bits but you'll probably be able to reuse the other bits elsewhere.

Anything else will risk looking like a makeshift passageway between 2 buildings.