Horse Barn into Workshop

[BB Sig]

I'm buying a house that has a 16 x 48 horse barn (built 2001) on the property with a 60 amp service run to a breaker box. I would like to turn this into a workshop/office.

The only problem I see is a future one; the 4x4s that are placed ~every 6' are in dirt. I'm in North Florida and anticipate a problem with rotting posts. My current plan is to run a board around the outside of the posts and fill the inside with a concrete slab. After that cures (and my budget does too) I plan to put stud walls in between the 4x4s.

The posts look to have been kept painted and in good shape with a 18" overhang. Is my plan going to work or should I look at jacking up the rafters temporarily while I pour a continuous slab and then build a stick wall?

 

[OneOfEm]

Depending on where you are located specifically, the 4x4 posts might succumb to wind before they rot.

I'm finishing up a workshop build near Pensacola, and mine was engineered for 140mph windloads - 6x6 posts. The inspection department said that they are starting to see more post frame buildings with 8x8"s, even.

In many areas, the slab is poured in pole barns after the structure is up,just as you described. It can be done.

In my area, agricultural structures are exempt from permitting, and therefore windload requirements. That may have been the case in your area, too.

In many areas, the slab is poured after a pole barn structure is up, so your plan should work. It's not as common down here for some reason, so you may have to hunt for someone to do it.

 

[Hooked]

Are the posts in concrete? If so, I would go with your plan. Dig down to the concrete and seal with a tar(like) substance around the post up to top of slab. I did this with my boat shed (15x40) several years back. I also drilled into the posts and inserted a piece of rebar to hopefully keep the concrete from shifting/sinking.

 

[cybrdyke]

I'd probably start over with new holes and posts. Not sure how big of a deal that is for you. I'm thinking that posts that are just placed in dirt are, sooner or later, going to lean.

 

[BB Sig]

I'll find out about the concrete today. Going over to discuss some of their things they don't want to take with them.

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[bluegoose972]

Alot of time, effort, and expense will get ******* in this shop. I would definitely start with a good foundation. Would be very concerned if the posts are just set in dirt. Better to start over.

 

[denis4x4]

I converted a horse barn into a shop and poured concrete after the fact with no issues. However, the posts were metal and secured on concrete piers. My hay barn was a different story. Metal posts were in concrete and we poured the slab before framing the walls and placed bolts in the pour to secure the sill. Used T-111 outside and corrugated metal inside.

 

[Fueler]

If the rest of the building is sound here is a possible repair.

 

[BB Sig]

If the rest of the building is sound here is a possible repair.

That's a nice retrofit!

 

[BB Sig]

They responded fairly quick. Unfortunately they don't offer anything for 4x4s. I [emoji53]

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[BB Sig]

So I have been going back and forth over this workshop. I altered my plan for a short bit and was going to extend my pole barn but by the time I do this, my budget will have been exhausted with out getting the addition enclosed. Back to this line of thinking...

So my plan is to use a 2x6 to frame the perimeter and act as a form for concrete. Dig a shallow 6 - 8" footer around the inner perimeter of the 2x6 and 4x4's. Place a thin rebar through the 4x4's and tie it into the "foundation" rebar for the wind loads that we get in North Florida. This may be over kill but it is closer to code than what was probably done for the existing footer.

Electrical will have to be redone. They used a different panel manufacturer and 3 different brands of breakers in one box! And it is only 3 wires, 110! 60 amp breaker in the sub panel and 50 amp in the main panel wired. Can't figure out why so I'm going to start completely over with a panel that matches the main panel (I know they don't have too) so I can buy one style of breakers. I'll run under ground conduit with new 4 wire bundle. Thinking 60 - 80 amp total amps. I'll run 2 AWG or higher wire for the ~80' run.

Should the foundation go around the whole post and then caulked for rot resistance? Does any of this sound wrong?

 

[kbs2244]

Are the 4x4's load bearing?
Every 6 feet sounds like stall wall supports.
If they are not holding anything up I would just pull them out.
(Most pole barns use truss roof support.
If you have a truss roof you can pull them)

 

[BB Sig]

4x4's are what's holding everything up. They are the studs. Can't remove them without great effort.

Barry
North Florida