My 45' X 30' pole barn

[djkilgus]

We just moved into a new (to us) house July 1st and with it came a 45' X 30' Morton pole barn. Over the past few weeks I've been installing horizontal studs and rewiring the entire building to support its future use. Yesterday I had open-cell spray foam installed throughout the building. I have a Superior Radiant 20' UA 60K BTUH Natural Gas radiant tube heater on its way.

Our stuff (in preparation of the insulation).

I've added the horizontal studs & framed the 4 windows.

This is where my sub panel will go.

This is where I'll have most of my light switches, fan switch, garage door openers, etc...

 

[djkilgus]

Here are some post insulation pictures. The top half (above 8') was painted white. The bottom 8' is the natural color of the insulation. I'll be covering the bottom 8' with 1/2" OSB.

 

[TomCat1]

Awesome ..... Keep us updated on your project.

 

[JackB1]

Nice job!
I have heard good things about Morton!
I got their catalog and will get a quote on our next property purchase.
Any pics of the building before you started? Pics outside?

Thanks for posting!

Best!
Jack

 

[Motown 454]

Thats insulated like a cooler, no drafts for sure. nice looking shop.

 

[WJ MARK]

If you don't mind me asking what did it cost for the insulation??? Im really thinking about doing that in my 30 x 50 but havent called on any pricing yet??

Thanks,
Mark

 

[GHOSTDANCER]

You mean you bought a great garage and they through in a house with it.

We just moved into a new (to us) house July 1st and with it came a 45' X 30' Morton pole barn. Over the past few weeks I've been installing horizontal studs and rewiring the entire building to support its future use. Yesterday I had open-cell spray foam installed throughout the building. I have a Superior Radiant 20' UA 60K BTUH Natural Gas radiant tube heater on its way.

 

[djkilgus]

Nice job!
I have heard good things about Morton!
I got their catalog and will get a quote on our next property purchase.
Any pics of the building before you started? Pics outside?

Thanks for posting!

Best!
Jack

No pics before, the guy we bought it from put the building up. I do have some outside pics I'll throw up when I get home.

 

[djkilgus]

If you don't mind me asking what did it cost for the insulation??? Im really thinking about doing that in my 30 x 50 but havent called on any pricing yet??

Thanks,
Mark

It cost me roughly $3500 for the insulation & I think about $300 or so for them to paint the top half white.

 

[TomCat1]

Wow nice car trailer too, I wish I had one like that...........

 

[Ezzie]

Just curious why you selected open cell foam instead of closed cell?? Won't you need to put a vapour barrier over that foam before installing any sheeting?

 

[djkilgus]

Just curious why you selected open cell foam instead of closed cell?? Won't you need to put a vapour barrier over that foam before installing any sheeting?

The main reason I chose open versus closed was price. Comparable closed cell would have been about $1000 more. They guy that did the foam said that in his experience the vapor penetration was negligible and I wouldn't have to worry about it. I'm putting OSB on all the walls and am not concerned about moisture. It's a risk I am willing to take.

 

[djkilgus]

No pics before, the guy we bought it from put the building up. I do have some outside pics I'll throw up when I get home.

These pics were more of the enormous tree trunk I got rid of and not the shed, but you can see the shed in the background. As soon as I get my sub panel finished (today I hope), I'll put some pics of the wiring job and the front of the shed.

 

[djkilgus]

I thought I'd post a status. I've got half of the OSB up on the walls and about 20' of loft done.

 

[djkilgus]

Here is my electrical plan:

Click here for a bigger copy (you can see more detail)

 

[djkilgus]

Here is a diagram of the layout:

Click here for a bigger copy (you can see more detail)

 

[NUTTSGT]

Looks like a nice building there.

 

[djkilgus]

I hung the heater yesterday, here are some pics.

 

[jktruck150]

Good job on the garage! I like the insulation!

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

Just subscribed to this thread, as I plan to build a 32 x 48 shop in the future, love how this is turning out.

Great work.

 

[djkilgus]

Just subscribed to this thread, as I plan to build a 32 x 48 shop in the future, love how this is turning out.

Great work.

I hope my thread helps! I plan on trenching water, natural gas, and upgraded electric (currently 20AMP 10/3, moving to 60AMP 6/6/6/8 (not sure that's how to note it)). Also plan on putting in workbench, shelving, ceiling fans...

 

[FireWrench]

I like what I see. I will just have to subscribe to this thread.

 

[Motofixxer]

If you plan to upgrade the electrical, I would recommend just using regular aluminum Service Entrance Cable it's 2-2-2-6. It's large enough to easily upgrade later and won't have any voltage losses as long as you stay on the charts. You might find later you want a really nice 7hp compressor that pulls 30a all by itself. Then with lights, heat, couple power tools...you start running out of power quick...

 

[roaddog359]

I was in the process of starting my 30 x 48 Morton building, until my wife got laid off her job. She may go back to work by March 1st I hope. If that happens I will try and start my build then. Keeping my fingers crossed she goes back to work. Damn economy!

 

[jonnysteals]

What is that heater. never seen one like it before. Maybe some details and a price. Thanks looks great

 

[djkilgus]

I have a Superior Radiant 20' UA 60K BTUH Natural Gas radiant tube heater on its way.

I purchased the heater from these guys: http://www.infraredinfo.com/superiorradiant.html. I think it was just under $1200 shipped. That included a thermostat and hanging chains. I have yet to fire it up (currently trenching natural gas out to the building).

My dad used to work at a fertilizer plant and they had one of these (bigger model) in their shop. When it fired up it heated the building up pretty quick. I plan on keeping mine on all winter. Haven't figured out what I'll set it on, but probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 - 50. I went with radiant because I have 3 garage doors, 4 windows, and a walk-in door and didn't want to lose heat while I was working out there if I had to leave a door open for a while. After reading up on convection heat versus radiant, I was convinced radiant was the way to go.

I hope to have the water, NG, and electric ran by the end of the weekend. I'll throw some pics up when they are done. I also hope to be able to tell you how toasty warm it is sometime in the coming weeks!

 

[djkilgus]

It took a little longer than I had planned, but there is now heat. Just in time for the Illinois winter. Here are some pics:

2 trenches. Left one for water & gas, right one for electric.

This is where I tapped into the cold water supply in my house.

My contribution to global warming... cap and trade that Pelosi.

Gas supply coming into the garage. I used 1" in case I wanted to add additional NG things in the future.

Exhaust. Type - B even though I didn't need it.

The completed loft. 30' wide, just over 8' deep.

Finishing touches on the heater.

3/4 inch PEX for water supply.

Switches, spots for garage door openers, & wires for fans.

Subpanel

 

[djkilgus]

A couple other things to note. I've kept it @ 45 degrees and that seems to be about right. It's been relatively mild the past couple weeks so we'll see how things go when it really gets cold.

The other concern I had pre-heater was the positioning and evenness of the heat. I was worried that by putting it perpendicular to the length of the building in the middle that the garage wouldn't heat evenly. So far the heat is amazingly even. When the heater is running it's obviously warmer in the middle of the garage, but overall the heat is pretty even throughout.

 

[Fueler]

So far the heat is amazingly even. When the heater is running it's obviously warmer in the middle of the garage, but overall the heat is pretty even throughout.

Once you get "stuff" in there it will be more warm and even than now and have less run time.

 

[djkilgus]

Here are pics of the workbench I just built. 2 - 8' X 3' workbenches. 1 of them has a shelf on the bottom. They are approx. 36 3/4" high.

 

[ARTEMIS1759]

Radiant and floor are the most efficient. Been in garages and shops that use one or the other...All I have to say...Amazing.

 

[TomCat1]

Here are pics of the workbench I just built. 2 - 8' X 3' workbenches. 1 of them has a shelf on the bottom. They are approx. 36 3/4" high.

What do you mean approx, 36 3/4" high? Could you go out and get me a more specific measurement? Ha Ha! When the bar going to be open?

 

[kentuckyplow]

Can you give us any info on the heater? Size, btu, etc? Where did you get it? Thanks.

 

[sevensandeights]

How did you fasten the horizontal studs to the poles? Did you screw them in or just toenail some nails in?

 

[Grizz1963]

Love this pic.... tools, my idea of heaven

Lovely garage you have there.

 

[Bib Overalls]

Nicely done! A little white paint on the trusses and walls will really brighten it up. It is amazing how much light bare wood will absorb.

 

[articsilber323]

while your garage is 45' deep im looking into building a 20X42 and was wondering if its enough room to park 2 full size suv's (Cadillac escalade esv the big one) one in front of the other ?

 

[klogan121]

Love that heater! Someday will get one for my 24 x 40.

 

[djkilgus]

Can you give us any info on the heater? Size, btu, etc? Where did you get it? Thanks.

I purchased the heater from these guys: http://www.infraredinfo.com/superiorradiant.html. I think it was just under $1200 shipped. That included a thermostat and hanging chains. I have yet to fire it up (currently trenching natural gas out to the building).

It's 20' long, 60,000 BTU.

I've had it running for a couple months now and absolutely love it. I'd highly recommend it if radiant in the floor is not an option.

 

[djkilgus]

How did you fasten the horizontal studs to the poles? Did you screw them in or just toenail some nails in?

I toenailed with screws. 2 on the bottom and 1 on the top of each 2x4. It actually worked pretty well. My dad did the same on his shop so I knew that it would work. Having the foam sprayed in afterwards really helped firm everything up, but even before the foam went in they were pretty stable.