Garage advice

[Jared1982]

I’ve been going back and forth on to build a pole barn or stick built garage. I shot the building site elevation, and found that the low part of the site is 40” low. So I will have to have clay hauled in and compacted and wait for it to settle. So I have a while to figure what direction I need to go with pole barn or garage. I’m pretty sure I want to go with a 40x60x12. I plan to make a wood shop on one side and a mechanics shop with lift on the other side. Any and all advice is appreciated from info on compacting clay fill and how long to wait before building to monolithic pour or stem wall? Thanks and please don’t hold back on info.


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[ItsNemo]

I've always been partial to stick built for easy of insulating, wiring, finishing, and a multitude of other reasons. It's a bit more expensive initially but can even out if you end up framing up the inside anyway.

 

[ynned]

Level the site so you only have to haul in 1/2 the fill. Importing is always more expensive.

 

[rburke65]

Just be sure you build your base to be high and dry. All your effort and money will be for naught if you end up with water in your garage/shop.

 

[doublearon98]

As @itsnemo said you are much better off with a wood frame and shingled roof. Metal buildings are a pain in the rear later down the road with repair/maintenance.

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[zmotorsports]

I'm partial to stick built vs. pole building.

Agree with others to make sure to get your compaction correct or you will fight it the rest of your life no matter the construction type.

 

[Copymutt]

Clay? As fill? That scares the **** outa me. Must be a special inert blend that doesn't shrink/swell.
Jim

 

[zmotorsports]

Clay? As fill? That scares the **** outa me. Must be a special inert blend that doesn't shrink/swell.
Jim

Agreed, I would think some form of engineered aggregate would be a better choice in that situation but I'm no engineer.

 

[Jared1982]

Here in southern Il people use clay dirt as fill all the time. What I’ve been told it does require to compact it in 6” lifts, and let it settle for quite a while. With my project it would cost me over $10000 for fill rock which is out of the question for me.


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[glentre]

Agree with the others regarding clay fill. The wrong kind will cause nightmares. Here in Virginia, summer drought causes clay soil to shrink considerably and the rainy spring and fall causes it to swell. Both conditions result in damaged foundation walls and footers. Cost me $30K to have mine fixed years ago when the problem was not well understood.

Later, we built a house on a gently sloping lot. It has footers, a concrete block foundation wall with concrete filled cavities, about 3 ft of compacted sandy fill at the deepest part and a mesh reinforced 4" concrete slab floor. No problems for the last 19 yrs. Same thing can be done with garages.

I'm also partial to stick built but cost for most is a factor. Mine is in a residential area and close to the house so it's designed to match the house. IMO, pole barns look like commercial warehouses unless you spend the money to spruce them up on the exterior. By that time, you've spent as much as you would have for a stick built.

Glen

 

[Jared1982]

Thanks for all the advice. I had a couple excavating companies give me quotes on dirt work for my pad. One of the guys has at least 40 years moving dirt / building up building sites. I stressed my concern with using clay as fill. His reply was he had been doing it this way for ever with no issues. I guess right now I’m going for a stick built 40x60x12. I will have him start on the pad within a few weeks and let it settle (after he compacted it) for 10-12 months. He seems to be very confident that I will not have any issues if I wait till next year to build. Other issues I have been tossing around are attic trusses or not. Do any of you guys or gals have any regrets on your builds? Things you should or shouldn’t of done? Thanks again everyone!!!


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[James-W]

Personally, I prefer a stick built structure. But a lot can be said for a pole barn too. I guess in the final analysis it is all in what you want.

 

[BassProCamaro97]

Not all clay is created equal. a soil test can be performed on it to see what the bearing capacity is. When you have a project that requires that much fill I recommend that you let the site sit for a year after earthwork before you install the pad. There WILL BE SETTLEMENT on your site. Asphalt grindings and crushed concrete have been used in that past as fill over virgin stone as a cost savings. Each however comes with other issues.

~Jim~