CanyonRider
Member
Hey Y'all!
Long-time lurker/learner and infrequent poster. I've done lots of searching and have seen many builds and projects, but as we all know, each one is different. So I thought I'd share my project (with pictures) with the collective and see what suggestions percolate.
The Barn
I have a 36x48 pole barn with a dirt floor whose intended purpose was to house horses, chickens, cats, etc. It has served that purpose well for nearly 20yrs. It has a 12'x48' hay loft above the center isle. The roof is all stick framed - no trusses. Here's a pic:
It has 6x6 posts 12' on center around the perimeter and throughout the interior to form 12'x12' stalls and to support the hay loft - creating the raised center isle you see in the pic.
The plan
Since the horses are gone, I've been given the green light to convert "most" of the barn to a shop. I plan to wall-off one bay on the end that will remain chicken coop and yard storage, leaving me with 36'x36' for the shop. Here is a sketchup model showing the existing poles & foundation and my vision of the final product. I would remove two of the four center columns (resulting in 24x36 open area) and half of the hayloft and pour a floor. The remaining 12x24 hayloft will provide an awesome amount of storage.
The Challenges
1- There is about 11'-4" clear from the dirt to the bottom of the framing.
2- Removing the two columns and half the hayloft. I've already had a licensed structural engineer look at it and we have come up with a plan. The structural modifications will allow us to remove the two columns and gain 2' of headroom above the center isle only. The framing above the outer bays will remain at 11'-4" AFG.
3- Pouring the floor. A)If I pour the floor on top of the existing grade I will lose precious headroom. B)I could excavate the floor of the barn 8" for a 6" slab resulting in the finished slab elevation being the same as the current dirt floor elevation. C)I could excavate more than 8" to create even more headroom - I'd like at least 14'. I guess I could live with 13'-4".
Let's look at the existing foundation - It consists of 24" dia concrete punch pads about 24" below grade; 8" concrete piers about 2' high; and then 6x6 PT columns sitting on the piers. The elevation of the piers are all the same and the dirt floor is currently at the same elevation of the piers - ie the 6x6s are not in contact with earth. Here's an enlarged view of the model - it shows the future 6"slab even with the top of the piers.
So I know most people form the floor by running a skirt around the 6x6s, but that would put my slab too high. I guess I could form a skirt around the outside of the piers, but that will create a shelf below the siding because the piers are larger than the 6x6s.
Furthermore, If I decide to drop the floor below the top of the piers (to increase my headroom beyond 13'-4"), I'll have to remove the two piers in the center where I removed the columns because they will be sticking up above the slab.
I'm leaning toward excavating and pouring the slab even with the top of the piers, then maybe putting a chamfered edge on the slab where it extends beyond the siding so it'll shed water.
I have to add, I'm more than a little nervous about thrashing around in there with a Bobcat, to excavate the floor. I have visions of backing into a column and knocking the entire barn down on my head.
Wadaya think?
CR
Long-time lurker/learner and infrequent poster. I've done lots of searching and have seen many builds and projects, but as we all know, each one is different. So I thought I'd share my project (with pictures) with the collective and see what suggestions percolate.
The Barn
I have a 36x48 pole barn with a dirt floor whose intended purpose was to house horses, chickens, cats, etc. It has served that purpose well for nearly 20yrs. It has a 12'x48' hay loft above the center isle. The roof is all stick framed - no trusses. Here's a pic:
It has 6x6 posts 12' on center around the perimeter and throughout the interior to form 12'x12' stalls and to support the hay loft - creating the raised center isle you see in the pic.
The plan
Since the horses are gone, I've been given the green light to convert "most" of the barn to a shop. I plan to wall-off one bay on the end that will remain chicken coop and yard storage, leaving me with 36'x36' for the shop. Here is a sketchup model showing the existing poles & foundation and my vision of the final product. I would remove two of the four center columns (resulting in 24x36 open area) and half of the hayloft and pour a floor. The remaining 12x24 hayloft will provide an awesome amount of storage.
The Challenges
1- There is about 11'-4" clear from the dirt to the bottom of the framing.
2- Removing the two columns and half the hayloft. I've already had a licensed structural engineer look at it and we have come up with a plan. The structural modifications will allow us to remove the two columns and gain 2' of headroom above the center isle only. The framing above the outer bays will remain at 11'-4" AFG.
3- Pouring the floor. A)If I pour the floor on top of the existing grade I will lose precious headroom. B)I could excavate the floor of the barn 8" for a 6" slab resulting in the finished slab elevation being the same as the current dirt floor elevation. C)I could excavate more than 8" to create even more headroom - I'd like at least 14'. I guess I could live with 13'-4".
Let's look at the existing foundation - It consists of 24" dia concrete punch pads about 24" below grade; 8" concrete piers about 2' high; and then 6x6 PT columns sitting on the piers. The elevation of the piers are all the same and the dirt floor is currently at the same elevation of the piers - ie the 6x6s are not in contact with earth. Here's an enlarged view of the model - it shows the future 6"slab even with the top of the piers.
So I know most people form the floor by running a skirt around the 6x6s, but that would put my slab too high. I guess I could form a skirt around the outside of the piers, but that will create a shelf below the siding because the piers are larger than the 6x6s.
Furthermore, If I decide to drop the floor below the top of the piers (to increase my headroom beyond 13'-4"), I'll have to remove the two piers in the center where I removed the columns because they will be sticking up above the slab.
I'm leaning toward excavating and pouring the slab even with the top of the piers, then maybe putting a chamfered edge on the slab where it extends beyond the siding so it'll shed water.
I have to add, I'm more than a little nervous about thrashing around in there with a Bobcat, to excavate the floor. I have visions of backing into a column and knocking the entire barn down on my head.
Wadaya think?
CR
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