Mennonite 'barn' build (30x40)

[cdnc]

A quick video tour of finished product (Sept 2020)

We have finally started the build for a small 30x40 equipment storage / shop / barn build on our farm. Friends locally have used a great Mennonite builder to put up similar structures and to repair bank barns. The only challenge is that he is really busy

We finalized the plans in the summer and obtained the permit in September. Removed a hoop house that was on site (and historically the site of a farm building that was removed in the 1970s). We've been waiting for the concrete crew to be available given other projects. Finally had the go for late December.

Local excavator cleared the land and dug the foundation last week for the footings and foundation wall. Concrete crew (2 guys) came last week and poured footing then poured the rataining walls. We started back filling this week

Started with some gravel and then filled with limestone screening with me and my two boys packing each lift. Hope to start framing work soon and should be finished in 3 - 4 days. We are going to wait for everything to settle and will then insulate and pour slab. Plan to install pex for radiant floor heat to have option in the future.

Building is 30x40x12, two story traditionally framed building. There are three 10x10 rollup doors, an oversized man door (36"x92") a horizontal window on first floor, two windows on second floor and six skylights. There is a single post on main floor to support steel beam.

 

[captain14]

Ok i will follow your progress

 

[Cypherian]

Well umm first problem I see is the foundation is upside down... : ]LOL Just kidding what will you be using it for ? I see the equipment storage and such but the shop part ?

Cypher

 

[drivesitfar]

CDNC: there is a thread over in Free Parking that might help with the cell pictures and posting. you'll have to do a search because I haven't seen it for a while.

or do you have a laptop or desk computer? if you do can you email pictures off your cell phone like i do to your email then save pictures to your computer? then post pictures on GJ from your laptop like i do? i know i can post pictures from my cell directly to GJ, but i usually need the pictures for some other thread eventually or to email and easier to find in my laptop than scrolling through my cell's pictures.

ask if you still need help.

looks like a great size garage. isn't it too cold to pour cement in your area or are you still 10 degrees above freezing?

good luck and welcome to the forum

 

[Chateau Slate 66]

This one looks very interesting. I'll be following along.

 

[cdnc]

Yes we were hoping to start the build in the fall but have been lucky that the weather has been unusually warm. The pour wasn't an issue as it was well above freezing and the concrete additive they use here after about November helps.

Here are a few progress pictures:

Before

Gone!
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Footings and foundation wall
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Backfilling and compacting
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[1/2 Cup]

Looking forward to following your build.

It has great style and size.

Regards

 

[Bib Overalls]

It is going to be nice. Five days to frame up and close in will be a real hussle. When do you usually get your first snow? Thought you would have some by now.

 

[cdnc]

It is going to be nice. Five days to frame up and close in will be a real hussle. When do you usually get your first snow? Thought you would have some by now.

You are absolutely correct...we should be on skis by now and there should be a foot of snow! We're hoping the crew can get the structure up quickly - larger team, building fast. One of the dump truck drivers mentioned the same builder had put up an 80 foot building in about five days

 

[sublime68charger]

good luck will be following along!

 

[drivesitfar]

CDNC: looks like you've figured out how to get links for pictures so don't forget to take lots of pictures and then post them maybe when the snow comes so you can get as much done as possible.

good luck

 

[cdnc]

Drivesitfar - yes thank you for your help! Photobucket seems to work. Many thanks for your help!

Crew protesting poor working conditions and pay
View media item 76944
Lost track of how many loads came in. Started with 2" crusher run to build up access for concrete trucks and dump trucks. Then onto 3/4" washed stone for drain pipes and then endless loads of screened limestone. After considering some cheaper sand and stone mix from the local quarry I ended up going for higher end stone from quarry around 1hr away - three trucks bringing in stone.


Good sized machine with 30' reach and fantastic operator really helped!

View media item 76945
More to come

CDNC

 

[stu999]

Subscribed... looking forward to updates!

 

[jwhcars]

Looking forward to updates.

 

[Scottishross]

Looks great mate
Keep up the good work

 

[drivesitfar]

CDNC: great pictures and keep them coming as you have time. might I suggest to just take a ton of pictures and when the snow comes and you can't work outside then maybe start posting them.

i'm liking your build and your humor so i'll probably stick around if you don't mind to watch until you finish.

cheers

 

[Hostyle]

I'm in! The sketch looks amazing.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm in! The sketch looks amazing.

I was wondering if it was done on a paper towel ? I'd be frraming that and hanging it on the wall after the place is finished.

 

[cdnc]

I was wondering if it was done on a paper towel ? I'd be frraming that and hanging it on the wall after the place is finished.

Well yes there is an interesting story to the sketch. I had the rough idea of the size and style and sent that plus some Google Sketches that I had done to the design firm. They did the final set of drawings.

I then sent the drawing to a good friend of ours that is an architect and she is the one that did the sketches with a few suggested modifications - siding, window placement, more skylights to give it a 'considered' look as she called it. Which I think is the right term - the design should have a feel that everything was considered and not slapped together. I'm happier working in a place that looks and feels good - so that was important to me.

She happened to be on vacation, so she banged those sketches out on some rough paper. I'm always amazed at the skill and ease of design for people like architects. She mostly does residential so I think this is her first random thoughts for an equipment storage build!

I like the idea of putting them in the building. I don't have the originals and there is a good chance the sketches ended up in the trash :-(

View media item 77082

 

[TerryH]

Cool build. Subscribed.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

I then sent the drawing to a good friend of ours that is an architect and she is the one that did the sketches with a few suggested modifications - siding, window placement, more skylights to give it a 'considered' look as she called it. Which I think is the right term - the design should have a feel that everything was considered and not slapped together.

It's always good to have someone taking an independent look at things for some added design input.

For example - I work in a 4 story office building with a center atrium that was undergoing renovation. They posted a few renderings and the detailed floor tile layout on a project board. I looked and saw an awkward spot in the tile layout where the design didn't accommodate a set of stairs coming up into the atrium from the parking garage.

When they got to laying that section of the floor I noticed the management team (suits) and the tile setters having a "conference". They made a minor adjustment to the design that made everything line up and look much better.

Your project looks great and I'm jealous.

Cheers

Jim

 

[cdnc]

Well winter is finally here. We've had cooler temps and a few days of snow over the last week. Framing crew is supposed to start this week - should be fun!

 

[Bib Overalls]

Fortunately the weather held off until you got the foundation in. You can do that sort of work in the winter but it usually turns to work site into a bog. Snow should not slow your Mennonite crew down much. has to be a real foul day to keep them off the job.

 

[cdnc]

Fortunately the weather held off until you got the foundation in. You can do that sort of work in the winter but it usually turns to work site into a bog. Snow should not slow your Mennonite crew down much. has to be a real foul day to keep them off the job.

I agree...it's supposed to be -20C/-4F tomorrow so it may be a slow start. Hoping the trucks with the lumber can get up the drive.

 

[cdnc]

Ok sorry for the long delay! Lots of good progress that I will post over the next few days. We've made some great progress in the last week. It took a bit of time to get all the material dropped - a few last minute calls to have someone clear the drive so trucks could get in (1000 foot uphill and tractor trailers don't do well together!)

This is a good example. The garage doors being delivered and me having to leave work, drive for 2 hours and then unload the truck on the road and sling these doors up the drive. Three 10 x 10 rollup doors - two electric.

View media item 77085

 

[cdnc]

A few more recent shots of progress. A key element for the relatively open span is the steel beam. A nice 40 footer allows for one post on the ground floor and still support the second floor. I was a bit puzzled about how a team of Mennonites would get this in until a material handler arrived. They dumped the beam in my drive and a wonderful neighbour dragged it up the drive with his tractor.

View media item 77083
Last one. A 2 man crew arrived and spent about a day framing the walls. All by hammer and nail - no power nailers. Amazing.

View media item 77084

 

[MacTexas]

Subscribed Looks like a good build to watch.

 

[Jon In Tucson]

Subscribed. Amazing that two men without pneumatic's banged out all those panels in a day. As I look at the last picture the panels are laid out in order of assembly. That is planning... God Bless.
Jon In Tucson

 

[Road_runner]

Looking forward to seeing this one progress. Nice size as well!

 

[captain14]

Two man framing crew? Did they cut material at once and then
Build each wall?

Gonna be a nice size when
You get it finished.

 

[cdnc]

This should be an interesting update. This is the result of a larger crew over four days...and during a good sized winter storm. Walls up, beam in, second floor joists and rafters in. Full building sheathed and second floor decking in. Rear covered area framed. Plywood on roof. Six skylights and ground floor windows in.

Steel roofing all dropped as was soffits and facia.

Really impressive work so far and some impressive hammer swinging.

Western side

View media item 76946

South side

View media item 77087

East side

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Inside

View media item 76948
More to come

 

[ADSR]

very cool!

 

[CNGsaves]

FABULOUS !!! . . . . . LOVE the drawing and progress !!

Gotta ask . . . you say . . . "Lots of hammer swinging" . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . are the Mennonite crews working without nailers / air compressors ??

I've heard that on other builds that they drove every nail by hand.

 

[cdnc]

Yes they are doing all the framing with hammers. The siding is being screwed on with battery drills. They also have a driver that brings them to the job and home (and he may run the material handler as well). Fascinating and very hard working crew!

 

[GunRunner]

I really like your design and progress, if you have an opportunity it would be cool to see the upstairs and how much room you will have. I am in the planning phase of a 30X40 or 32X40 so I'm looking at a lot of threads for ideas. I need to have a full apartment on the second story with still trying to achieve 12' main floor walls

 

[cdnc]

I really like your design and progress, if you have an opportunity it would be cool to see the upstairs and how much room you will have. I am in the planning phase of a 30X40 or 32X40 so I'm looking at a lot of threads for ideas. I need to have a full apartment on the second story with still trying to achieve 12' main floor walls

Yes I will be posting some of the Upstairs in the next few days. It's a big space - probably about 800 sq feet of usable space with 15' peak plus storage ( we'll likely put in three to four foot knee walls). Usable space (ex stairs) is about 22' x 36'

 

[1wook]

Looks Great, I like the style.

I'd try to find a big steel tube to support that that beam in the center, just so a jib crane could be added later!

 

[vekster]

looks great!
sub'd......keep the pics comming

 

[cdnc]

Looks Great, I like the style.

I'd try to find a big steel tube to support that that beam in the center, just so a jib crane could be added later!

Yes, that's temporary! I believe the steel pillar was put in today when the finished the core part of the build. I'm not sure about a jib crane, but I would like to use a small chain hoist if I can - I'm hoping it will support a few hundred pounds without issue....?

 

[Bears Fan]

Great build, I'm subscribing