I need shop advise!

[jsice78]

Im planning on building a shop in the spring/summer time 40x40x16 pole barn. With the idea that down the road I will add another 40 feet on to it. It will be my first building project that I have done 90% my self with the help of a few friends. I would like to have a loft in the trusses and solar sometime.Im not sure where to start. Iv talked to the code enforcer a few times and gotten a few truss estimates. Also Iv leveled my land where my building will go but thats about it.

 

[autonaut]

Well.. The 4 post lift is good ease of lifting, and setting the wheels if you have a wheel measuribg device. They're probably good for other things as well but

The 2 post and 1 post lift combined will be a combo that can take care of any kind of repairs.

So if you can only afford 2 lifts in total, that'd be my advice.

 

[jsice78]

This shop right now will be for personal use with possibility of turning it into a career down the road. My question is I dont know what roof pitch to choose if it has attic space/solar. Also would probably add a lean to sometime. Whats the best way to draw the plans up and figure out what will be needed.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Lots of guys use google sketch up to start on plans.
Roof pitch will depend on your local codes (snow load and building height restrictions) as well as how much attic space (width and height) you want. The truss company should be able to help you out if you tell them what you want.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

Take your rough plans to a "lumberyard", not Home Depot etc. and they have truss estimators/engineers either on staff or have access to them and get a better idea of what you really want.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Well.. The 4 post lift is good ease of lifting, and setting the wheels if you have a wheel measuribg device. They're probably good for other things as well but

The 2 post and 1 post lift combined will be a combo that can take care of any kind of repairs.

So if you can only afford 2 lifts in total, that'd be my advice.

That's thinking ahead, giving advise on what lift go get after the shop is built!!

You may also want to see how much a kit would be, vs stick building it. About 10 years ago I helped a friend put up a 50x100 miracle truss building and the kit was darn easy to build with just a couple of people and a scaffold. All of the engineering was already done, with sets of drawings for the building inspector. Miracle truss went under when the economy tanked, but there are others around.

I thought about putting my building up myself, but I priced all of the options and for the extra money I wound up paying Morton put up my building. I know it cost more money, but I had a complete turn-key building put up in my yard in a couple weeks.

Do a build thread with photos.

Chris

 

[jsice78]

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n517/jsice78/IMAG1939_zps94af7ce2.jpg

 

[wnstwolf]

This gave me close to the dimensions you have listed with 800 sq/ft of storage above. Lift is in the center bay which has 16' ceiling height..

 

[Richard Cranium]

I though that I had missed some thing when the 2 post on this was about a lift, I went back and reread the question....

 

[Peter Schwarz]

Consider having a crew come in and at least set up the framing for you. I have been plugging away at my 30x40 pole barn for a few months now. I am building it on my own with some help from friends. It takes longer than you may think. In retrospect, the $5000 it would have cost me to have a crew frame and roof it would have been worth it. I would have rather spent my time on the siding, insulation, wiring, etc. It is difficult to assemble a building with an inexperienced group of friends.

 

[jsice78]

My father owns a commercial construction company and overhead door business for the last 30+ years. He's build hundreds of pole barns and steel building. Its just that he a business man and lives 3 hours away so I haven't asked for help from him yet. I wanted to draw up detailed plans and material list first. If I draw the plans right he will redraw then with any changes he see needs to be done then for $100 he can get them stamped. I just dont know where to start to get my ideas on paper.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Have you mentioned it to your father at all ? If he has the company, it might be easier for him to just draw it up for you along with the material list.


BTW, when posting from PB, copy/paste the IMG code for the picture to show up. That's what I did in your above post.

 

[jsice78]

No I havent talked to him about the shop.I talk to him maybe once a month with my busy schedule and him being busy or out of town.