Metal Pole Barn Strength......

[jwillis]

I put a metal pole barn that is about 22X24 in my yard that is on a concrete slab this spring and use it as a garage for my two cars. It is the typical garage that has metal siding and roof. All of the poles are five feet apart and are 2 1/2" by 2 1/2" as are the beams that run around the top and bottom and the rafters. I am in the process of studding it up on the inside and I have one side studded and covered with Smartboard siding on the inside. I started wondering about doing the opposite side of the garage and I am concerned about the building racking from the weight of the walls. All five beams that support the ceiling have a cross support welded across the peak and I doubt that I would have any problems. Still, I might go ahead and stud the entire building up and connect all four corners before I put any more siding on the inside. The peak at the ceiling is about 20 feet. Any thoughts about this? Anyone else have one of these who have put walls up on the inside? Thanks for any input.

 

[folgers]

If I understand your question correctly, I don't think the interior stud walls you're building will add much sideways stress to the exterior walls. If you are worried about it can't you add some diagonal bracing to the interior walls?

I was wondering do you have anything under your metal on the exterior walls. I ask because wind will pour through the metal siding at the overlap and the top and bottom.
Years ago I covered an old corn crib with metal on the exterior then put fiberglass batts.with facing and more metal on the interior. Air poured through it like a sieve. I should have put sheeting under the exterior metal.

 

[jwillis]

I didn't put any insulation between the siding and the interior walls for a couple of reasons.......I was concerned about the metal sweating and causing the insulation to get damp. If I went to the solid insulation like styrafoam, it would add about $500.00 in cost and I am not going to be out there that much in the really cold winter. Once I get the walls up, they should cover all of the openings around the corners. I have been sticking/shoving insulation in the corners and I have considered using spray foam to fill the smaller gaps in the metal. Now getting around the edges of the doors is another thing and that might be a problem. But since both of the cars I keep in there probably won't be driven that much this winter (since they are both kind of in storage) I will try to figure out some way to correct that. Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it.