My Low buck build

[aerobb]

I was reluctant to post after seeing all these beautiful builds, but what the heck It's probably good for some to see that everything doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.
This is my build:

30x40 Barn with a real loft. 10' ceilings (yes I know it's short). Loft is full size with 6'6 at the hip up to 10' at the peak, stringer at around 7'10 every 48".

I live in Amish country in NW Pa. My Neighbor has the sawmill and his son (and crew) did the work. 4 Days from start to finish of the shell.

I'm currently in the backfill and compact stage on the interior. It's almost winter here in the snowbelt so work will probably come to a standstill. but scheduled for the spring will be:
1. Concrete with radiant heat. just finished the design spec's and I'll probably get a quote for an early spring pour
2. Elec. I have two services to the house now with one mostly unused, will be running a sub in the barn
3. Insulation and Overhead doors.

Here's what I've got into it at this point.
$250 for the dozer work. (but that was more work than just the leveling for the barn
5000 for materials of which 2500 was metal roofing
2500 for labor
I'm estimating ~4k for concrete, and about 3k for the other things I've listed above. Overall I should be in for around $16k

 

[TrixR4Kids]

I like it alot. Get that concrete poured and some doors and your in business.

 

[timgr]

That looks great - 30x40 is a big building for a garage. Lots of storage above too.

When you say low-buck, how much is that?

 

[aerobb]

When you say low-buck, how much is that?

What you see in the last picture cost $7500 to that point.

 

[T1704]

Keep the pictures coming as you progress.

 

[daddylama]

looks great...

what part of NW PA? I'm from outside of Pittsburgh, been all over the state tons of times. Haven't been back since I moved West some 20 years ago, but it's a beautiful state, 'specially up your way...

 

[aerobb]

looks great...

what part of NW PA? I'm from outside of Pittsburgh, been all over the state tons of times. Haven't been back since I moved West some 20 years ago, but it's a beautiful state, 'specially up your way...

Little town called Sugar Grove Pa, West of Warren, about an hour and a half east of Erie.

 

[Bib Overalls]

We all come here to learn. Anyone who can get walls and a roof up for $7 sq foot has something worth sharing!

 

[Bull]

I absolutely love it. There is just something about a barn that is so appealing. And, I love anything low-buck. Makes me wish I were half as resourceful.

Please keep the pics coming.

 

[Franz©]

We all come here to learn. Anyone who can get walls and a roof up for $7 sq foot has something worth sharing!

You missed the key words Amish & sawmill.

If you're near an Amishman with a sawmill, and have cash you can build near anything from wood at a low cost.

The only thing I don't see is the Distilfink.

 

[Mr. Welsh]

That first picture had me worried, but the last picture looks great!

 

[aerobb]

You missed the key words Amish & sawmill.

If you're near an Amishman with a sawmill, and have cash you can build near anything from wood at a low cost.

The only thing I don't see is the Distilfink.

I told the older Amishman that was working on it that I needed one and he looked at me like I was crazy. I remember seeing them as a kid on all the barns, but I think this "sect" of Dutchmen never used them. I grew up a couple hours east of where I live now and they were much more common.

Working with undimensioned lumber makes the finish work a little more difficult, you just have to be aware of it. But it's nice knowing that all my joists are true 2x10's.

I'm hoping to get it stained this weekend. It's been up for about 3 months and should be dry enough. I'll shoot a couple more pics.

 

[Jey]

It looks awesome. I would never classify it as a low buck build. I would say it's a true barn, which, to me, is awesome.

 

[fotoflojoe]

I told the older Amishman that was working on it that I needed one and he looked at me like I was crazy. I remember seeing them as a kid on all the barns, but I think this "sect" of Dutchmen never used them. I grew up a couple hours east of where I live now and they were much more common.

Working with undimensioned lumber makes the finish work a little more difficult, you just have to be aware of it. But it's nice knowing that all my joists are true 2x10's.

I'm hoping to get it stained this weekend. It's been up for about 3 months and should be dry enough. I'll shoot a couple more pics.

OK, I give up, what's a Distilfink?
Google was no help at all.

That's a fantastic barn, congratulations!

 

[PAToyota]

Hex sign - like this:

And spelled "distlefink"...

 

[twinwillows]

Looks nice - I'll bet you'll enjoy it, nothing like 2400 sft for vehicles & storage. We lived in Warren back in 93/94 & remember it being the coldest & snowiest I've ever been thru (-44F @ the lowest). I much prefer the south!

 

[daddylama]

Little town called Sugar Grove Pa, West of Warren, about an hour and a half east of Erie.

I know Warren; an ex girlfriend is from there. went and visited a few times. Can't say I recall Sugar Grove, but might well have been through there.

Amish lumber... that's one thing i really miss. I'm in Oregon... in lumber country... and wood here is friggin' expensive. dimensional cost an arm and a leg here. even salvaged lumber is pretty pricey.

an uncle of mine who's a building contractor in the south west, occasionally takes a trailer to western PA and brings back a bunch of lumber when he's doing a specialty house. cheaper to do that, even with the transportation costs.

the barn looks awesome... keep up the good work!

 

[arbee]

Looks great. Curious about what looks like board and batten "panels" in the last picture.

 

[aerobb]

Looks great. Curious about what looks like board and batten "panels" in the last picture.

Exterior is 1x12 rough cut boards. Since it's cut at a mill on a gasoline powered crosscut mill (don't get me started on the hypocracy of the Amish) the boards aren't truly square, so they are overlapped with the 1x4 "battens".

Rough cut lumber is not kiln dried like what most people are used to so it shrinks as it dries, this method keeps things moderately tight.

I'll be the first to admit, for those of you that are retentive (and I mean that in the most endearing way) This construction isn't the best. Other than using pressure treated 4x6's for the posts, it's pretty much the way barns have been built for ages. (minus the steel roof)

I'll probably end up going with 2"foam board to go up against the exterior sheeting between the stringers, then I'll use standard stick frame 2x6's to make up a wall that I'll run batt insulation in, then drywall. That will tighten it up pretty. I'll be able to get decent R value, but it'll never be air tight.

 

[Kevin54]

I'll probably end up going with 2"foam board to go up against the exterior sheeting between the stringers, then I'll use standard stick frame 2x6's to make up a wall that I'll run batt insulation in, then drywall. That will tighten it up pretty. I'll be able to get decent R value, but it'll never be air tight.

Use either Tyvek on the inside, visqueen (sp), or I would cover it with roofing felt paper on the inside before the foam board. That would help with air tightness. BTW...I think it looks great. I like the style!!

Kevin

 

[aerobb]

Looks nice - I'll bet you'll enjoy it, nothing like 2400 sft for vehicles & storage. We lived in Warren back in 93/94 & remember it being the coldest & snowiest I've ever been thru (-44F @ the lowest). I much prefer the south!

Ironic that while I was in the army I was in all hot areas. Alabama, Kansas, Texas, Saudi/Iraq. Never could get used to the heat. Now that I'm getting older, cold is starting to get to me. I still love winter, but unlike when I was a kid, I just don't seem to be able to stay outside all day long. Other than the heating bills, No major complaints. Great Hunting, beautiful scenery. No permitting issues like I read so much about. I own 5 acres have a nice farm pond, the farm house I own was built in 1880. I can see the axe marks in the joists in the basement.

Done babbling, sorry

 

[daddylama]

Ironic that while I was in the army I was in all hot areas. Alabama, Kansas, Texas, Saudi/Iraq. Never could get used to the heat. Now that I'm getting older, cold is starting to get to me. I still love winter, but unlike when I was a kid, I just don't seem to be able to stay outside all day long. Other than the heating bills, No major complaints. Great Hunting, beautiful scenery. No permitting issues like I read so much about. I own 5 acres have a nice farm pond, the farm house I own was built in 1880. I can see the axe marks in the joists in the basement.

Done babbling, sorry

may be OT, but post pics of the house... a few of us here seriously dig old houses

 

[aerobb]

may be OT, but post pics of the house... a few of us here seriously dig old houses

Have to wait until I get home. I have some "before pics" on my photo bucket site but none of the after.

One of the reasons that I had the Amish build the barn is I've been residing the house, along with adding a 420sf Deck. Been a busy year.

The house is pretty interesting. Started life a standard farm house. It's got a beautiful Stone fireplace and every floor is hardwood. Downstairs is Oak, and upstairs is knotty pine, if you've never seen 100yr old knotty pine floors, well I think they are neat. Only 1 knot hole has fallen out, and that's under the bed. At one point the previous owner added an "in-laws" apartment, so basically I had a duplex. At that point it had; 5 bedrooms, 2 full baths, a 3/4 bath and a half bath. During that construction, they added a Widow Watch or cupola if you prefer, so it's combination of styles Old farm house with a sprinkling of Northeastern Coastal.

We bought the house because.... it didn't need anything.

10 yrs later there remains only 1 bathroom that hasn't been remodeled!

 

[daddylama]

knotty pine flooring is beautiful...
we restored some 10" wide knotty pine flooring in a house in an old suburb of Los Angeles a few years back. all NE lumber, all the mill work looked like NE stuff... turns out it was a kit home bought from a company in New York, sent over by train.

we've got old growth fir floors in our 1913 built house. not knotty, but still beautiful.
we bought our house because it needed everything

 

[curlyws6]

You should be proud to show your barn off! I really like the whole barn look !

 

[Mr.C]

I would love to see some pictures of the loft. This is just beautiful!

 

[comp]

yes new pics