exterior edging for pole barn

[johnson1975]

I have been lurking around this site for a long time and finally decided to join...

I am building a 30x40x12 pole barn and I am using the LP smartside as my exterior cover.

Some of the barn is slightly below grade , so when I backfill - there will be about 2-3" dirt put back around barn.

I plan to put a thick plastic barrier between shop and dirt - however my concern is when I use the weedeater - I do not want to damage the siding.

I am thinking about possible buying some of the black plastic garden edging and attaching to shop at gound level or possibly getting some sheetmetal and cutting into ~6" strips and attaching to barn to protect it from mowing.

Any other suggestions?

FYI - I do not want to or plan to mulch around shop - I have enough mulch around my house already

 

[dichdoc]

A large portion of my welding business has become landscape edging. We use 1/8" x 4" flat (it's available from 1" up to 12" in 1" increments). Weld the seams and weld on rebar stakes about every 5 feet. I'm not familiar with the siding product your using but maybe you could just drill holes and screw the metal to the siding?? I leave the rot issue to you. TB

 

[rodnok1]

I would grade away fom the building even if it's a couple of inches down and create a drainage area away from the building, it will eliminate need for edging. If you cut it back correctly you can barely see it. I would avoid putting anypart below grade, bad idea unless it's concrete.

 

[haugy]

Mine right at grade level or higher for water runoff to always be below the shop.

But to address your edging question, I knew I didn't want to deal with that same thing, and something about a bare building just standing there looks cheap to me. I went and got some 4x4 posts about 8' long. They are called landscaping posts I think. I put two on top of each other laid out longways. Drilled out a hole at each end, and drove a stake down into the ground. This created a solid barrier. I then put riverrock between the shop and the posts. A nice clean look.

I have pictures, but not on my computer. It looks much better, and I can edge the posts with the weedeater with no problems. If it makes a mark, by the next day it blends in.

 

[mark250]

When I built my pole barn I used the concrete board at the bottom to make it look like a foundation. I used the 4x8 sheets and cut them length wise for the height I needed and nailed them up and back filled to grade. I have vinyl siding on it above that.

 

[Stargeezer]

A large portion of my welding business has become landscape edging. We use 1/8" x 4" flat (it's available from 1" up to 12" in 1" increments). Weld the seams and weld on rebar stakes about every 5 feet. I'm not familiar with the siding product your using but maybe you could just drill holes and screw the metal to the siding?? I leave the rot issue to you. TB

That landscape edging you describe sounds cool. Might you be able to post a pic or a link?

Thanks