Pole Barn Site Visit

[Cb-man]

The pole barn company is coming out tomorrow to do a site visit and go over options.

I'm still unsure what I want.

I am going with a 40x60. doors on the Gable end.

I am not sure what doors I want. two large doors or three doors
10x12's on the outside with 12x12 in the middle.....

Any suggestions?

Also I think I have decided to put the lift in the back corner.

At most I will have two running daily driven trucks up front and possible my boat in summer but it can sit outside

I am just really up in the air about doors and lift placement.

Just looking for anything I should look into or ask about before he comes

 

[Krash Kadillak]

Any chance for an RV in there in the future? if so, a door on the opposite end for drive-thru ability would be a plus.

 

[bmxdad]

I have doors on both gabled ends ... a single 16'x8' garage door and then a 12'x8' slider. My shop is only 24'x36' .... very handy to be able to drive through, especially if you have limited access around the building.

 

[cj7jeep81]

I'm getting ready to start my build in March. I'm going with a 40x64x16. The extra 4' in length was really cheap, so might look into that.

I am going with two 14'x14' doors in teh gable end, and an entry door on the eve side. I plan on putting a lift in the front right bay. My garage will primarly be a personal shop, and didn't want to have to move things aroudn to use the lift.

I am also having 2 scissor trusses installed towards teh back, so that I can put in a loft, and have good head room on top and bottom.

 

[rburke65]

Well it's better to postpone the build if you are not sure! A four post lift does not have to be bolted done so that could be movable and relocated later. Love the size.

 

[theoldwizard1]

You left out some very important information ! Is this primarily going to be used for cold storage, possibly even with a dirt floor, of is this going to be a true work shop ?

If primarily a work shop, you will probably have concrete floors. Do you want heat ? Heat full time, 50% of the time, or less ? Cooling ?

If you are looking at heating and cooling more than 50% of the time, a pole building is not your most long term cost effective solution.

 

[zkdiesel]

3 doors almost full width of gable end will look bad

 

[Cb-man]

OK Morton just left.
He showed me the 3D. I think 2 large doors will be better. Probably 2 14Wx12H doors
and Walk thru door on front as well.
Shop will be a working shop with concrete. I have never been a fan of the 4 post lift.
Back half of shop will have 6in concrete for lift.

Most likely heating with radiant tube heaters with Natural gas.

I wont ever have an RV.
I have a 30x30 already for cold storage. So shop with be heated. I will keep it around 45 in winter.
I don't need A/C

He went over how they insulate with the blanket sheets and install plastic vapor barrier over it.

He mentioned if the vapor barrier gets punctured it can cause condensation.
This worries me for the reason of running electric. having to bring the service in the side and all wires and boxes must be mounted inbetween the vapor barrier and metal wall covering. So they attach 2x4 nailers across the posts. SO electrical boxes need to be 1 1/2 in deep,

I have never seen a shallow box like that.

 

[rburke65]

Not much room there in an inch and a half!

 

[Cb-man]

I found the special boxes on Grainger. just shallow boxes.

I have never been a fan of paying the price for a big name pole barn builder but I like how they send someone out to your house and discuss everything with you and seem very knowledgeable.

And bring up a 3D image of what it will look like right there and build it with you on the computer.

I want to see what the price of the interior package is installed.

It would be nice to have the shop complete and only have to run my electric.

They just seem to have it all figured out with building techniques and insulation and what not.

But if the price is too high I think a local builder and spray foam may be in order.

 

[Cb-man]

Now my other worry is if the bank will even give me enough to build this thing.....

I might have to down size my plans and build to a budget. I will be stopping by the bank tomorrow to see what they can do.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Most likely heating with radiant tube heaters with Natural gas.

Cost effective ! I will tell you that a radiant floor is a much mor "comfortable" heat. Yes, $$$.

He mentioned if the vapor barrier gets punctured it can cause condensation.

This worries me for the reason of running electric.

I would run plywood n the walls up to about 8' and then run my electric in EMT on the outside of the plywood. I like the "industrial" look of exposed EMT and metal handy boxes.

 

[diypolebarns]

I'm with theoldwizard1. Running OSB up the walls 8' is a perfect protection for you insulation and produces a lot of options for hanging tools on your walls. One dispute, though. One little tear isn't going to all of the sudden create condensation. It takes a lot more than that to allow enough moisture in to damage your insulation. That said, you wouldn't go wrong in protecting it a bit more. You might even check with them to see if they can simply use a thicker vinyl backing that is laminated to the fiberglass insulation. Insulation manufacturers have vinyl for all sorts of environments from light duty to heavy duty.

Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions that you think I might be able to help you with.