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just in planning ... thoughts suggestions?

Joined
Dec 10, 2013
Messages
9
Well, first post so hang in there ... this is just phase one ... so I'd like to get some plans on a garage/ shop .. I've got a lifted jeep and a 85 completed fully restored ( built not bought ) 85 GMC 4x4 long bed .. about 18.5' long so I definitely need parking for them .. and work space ... I was thinking I need to build the width at 32' with a 36" for a work bench ... I live in southern Indiana so some winters get ruff ... I've got a old wood/coal furnace I have to use as the heat source ... so far space for 2 vehicles and a extra bay for a work area as far as welding and what ever ... I also have herd mixed opinions regarding concrete as far if I need a footter or not witch completely will tell if its going to be a pole building or studded ... can I get a way with just using a pole barn method ... I need to know my floor will not sweat too ... iv Ben in several older garage that do sweat so there's a vapor barrier issue ... any way I need to determine a length to start with what method to use .... I'm on a budget so pole building makes since ... you guys have any suggustions or ideas so far ? Thanks BTW I have no codes to follow ... at all ...
 
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Spirit20

New member
Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Messages
4
Location
Near Lansing Mich
I have a 30 X 40 X 10 pole barn with a concrete floor. I also epoxy coated it & have a vapor barrier. I have not had a problem with it sweating, my machines now is another story. I also have a 4 post drive on hoist & if I did it again I would go with a 12' height. also put a ceiling in.
 
OP
B
Joined
Dec 10, 2013
Messages
9
Did you run drains ? I know there are several different methods as far as draining systems like one central location where the whole floor slopes to the middle or two drains .. and I've seen a troff down the middle of garages and at the doors and I've even seen where the whole flore is has a inch fall from the back wall to the over head doors..
 

kamesama980

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Joined
Mar 28, 2013
Messages
471
Location
columbus, IN
Where in southern indiana are you? I'm in Columbus.

I have a 24x40x10 pole barn with slab (non-foundation). we just got the house but the garage has been up for 8 years and has no issues. I will say it's full with a daily driver, project car, summer car, few bikes, and a bunch of boxed stuff (mostly on shelves). big truck plus project it'd probably be OK.

I'd also suggest going as tall as you can afford, 10' rafters is high enough for putting my little 2wd toyota pickup on a maxjax (4' lift). It'll feel like your jeep and truck will hit the rafters just getting it up enough to change the tires...

I'm sure you've been doing reading but I'd throw out the idea of doing 4" MINIMUM thickness concrete with at least a wire grid if not full rebar. (thinking in terms of your truck on a lift...plan for the best/worst right?)

Others can tell you more about sweating concrete but from what I've read, summary is: put down vapor barrier before you pour.
 

boiler7904

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Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
3,414
Location
NW IN
I'd double check the town, township, or county to verify in fact that you indeed "have no codes to follow ... at all ... " The state has an adopted building code - local enforcement and inspection varies between jurisdictions. Wouldn't want to see you get burned and have to spend money making nice when it could go to your building instead.

Conventional framed will be easier to finish on the interior than a post frame building.

If you have the space, set the ridge of the roof to allow for future expansion (more bays) when finances allow. Install a header and infill framing for a large door on that side so the spaces can easily be connected - don't install plumbing or electrical within that headered section of wall.

12 or 14' ceiling height with high lift door tracks. Minimum 9' wide doors but would prefer 10'
 

Corsair4360

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Nov 7, 2013
Messages
63
Location
Logan, Utah
If you are going to have a lift in it, then plan on a minimum 12 foot height. Sure you can get away with less, but each one that works with that limitation has compromises, some are awful.
 
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OP
B
Joined
Dec 10, 2013
Messages
9
Oi could tie sticks together and not have issues ... I live in martin county we have a huge Amish community close by .. if I can get away with a pole barn structure metal building that what I'm going for ... I've herd that if you don't pour a footer you'll have sweating ... right now I work as a civilian for the army and with dod budget cuts I'm not making out very well financially so I need to go cheep and when we pick up if ever I can go back and fill in what I need as far as interior later ... bacicly I just need a shell and I'm good for now in the far future I'd love a lift in there ... are you sure 4" thickness is OK for a half ton on a lift I was contain plating 6" in one bay for that reason And a 6 foot over hang over hang across the front of garage with a 12 ft apron ...
 

D.J.

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Joined
Sep 16, 2009
Messages
1,116
Location
New Haven IL
Well it is possible to use metal as siding on a stick built structure and insulating is a lot easier and efficient than a pole built structure. In a pole structure you will prob end up framing out for Insulation anyway. Just a axed expense in my opinion. Go with footing and foamular insulation under your slab and pex-al-pex tubing for heating.
 
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D.J.

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Sep 16, 2009
Messages
1,116
Location
New Haven IL
Well it is possible to use metal as siding on a stick built structure and insulating is a lot easier and efficient than a pole built structure. In a pole structure you will prob end up framing out for Insulation anyway. Just a axed expense in my opinion. Go with footing and foamular imsulTion under your slab and pex-al-pex tubing for heating.
 

tomroblee

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Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
446
Location
Indiapolis, IN
I would consider going a bit wider with the garage. You have two fairly wide vehicles to park, and it's nice to have a bit of room to open the doors so that you can comfortably get into and out of the vehicles without banging the doors into the wall or another vehicle. It's very easy for the third bay to get filled with tools and supplies---leaving you only a narrow aisle to work in.

I had a 36' wide pole barn built in SW Indiana about 8 years ago and it seems to be a comfortable size with a 18' wide door and a 10' wide door.

In SW Indiana, Daviess County Metal and Graber Post Building seem to have the pole barn market fairly well cornered--both for material packages and completed buildings. I think that they both subcontract the erection to independent Amish crews. They were very competitive in price when I had my barn built (I used DC Metal.)

The lack of building codes and regulations in some of the poorer counties in Indiana has both advantages and disadvantages. The typical pole barn built in these areas would not meet code requirement in most more populated areas. Most building codes require the builder to put a concrete pad under the base of the posts while the rural builders generally just dump a bag of concrete mix into the bottom of the hole. Most rural builders just nail (or spike) the girders and/or trusses to the posts while building codes may require the use of stronger fasteners.

I've had floor drains in two garages that I have owned, and am not a great fan of them. It seems easier to just slope the floor toward the garage doors rather than try and create multiple slopes toward several different drains. A floor drain sounds like a good idea if you want to wash vehicles inside in the winter, but it's hard to do that in a tight space without hosing down everything in the garage.

Garage floor sweating is a tricky issue. Moist air will condense on cold items, and the garage floor is likely to be cold. Plastic vapor barrier is cheap, but I often wonder how effective it actually is. If relatively thin plastic is laid down over a gravel base, will the plastic be punctured and torn when the slab is being poured? My pole barn was build in a low area, so I filled the area with a foot or so of crushed stone and have very good drainage now. I don't have a vapor barrier, and don't notice any sweating.

If you are going to eventually finish your building, you need to plan for it now. Most economy pole building will have trusses about 8' on center. The trusses may not be designed to support a ceiling (and insulation), and it is difficult to install a ceiling with this truss spacing. Truss spacing of 4' won't add much to the cost and will make ceiling installation much easier. Truss spacing of 2' will make ceiling installation even easier, but will raise the price.

I like the looks of a modest overhang all around, but it adds to the cost. I don't know the purpose of your proposed 6' overhang in the front, but it won't be cheap. Unless you have a specific reason for wanting such a large overhang, it might be more cost effective to just add 6' to the depth of your building.

The major cost savings of a pole building (over conventional stud construction) is that you don't require a foundation. The downside is that the poles will eventually rot. As a compromise, I used Perma-Column's.

https://permacolumn.com/

The added cost was about $100 per post (eight years ago).

One disadvantage of not having a foundation is that critters like to burrow under slabs. Some locations (with building codes) require a rat wall even when there isn't a foundation.
 
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