Resources on building a pole barn

[76cruiser]

Hello all,

First, let me say that, like many others, I spend a lot of time reviewing posts in this forum. My favorite part of the day is reading the new Garage Journal posts. Anyway...I am in the planning stages of a 64x40x14 pole barn and I am going back and forth on buying a package and doing the work myself or hiring it out.

First you would probably like to know what experience I have before taking on a task such as this. I have done some interior remodeling (bathrooms, etc), finished a basement and some other projects like fences, sheds, etc. Granted a pole barn build is taking it to the next level, I am fairly handy.

My reasoning behind approaching it myself is twofold: 1) The satisfaction of doing it myself, 2) doing the build on a budget. I estimate that I could save 5 - 8k by doing it myself.

My concerns include: 1) lack of experience in a build like this, 2) heights 3) building a quality structure. I live in Wyoming, so the thing has to be darn near hurricane force wind proof.

As I debate my approach I thought the group here might have some recommendations on resources (books, websites, etc) that would be beneficial. I have read a number of posts here for DIY builds and they are great. I guess I am looking for a more granular construction guide.

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

 

[Dale1962]

me too please. im planning a 40 x 60 x 16 myself

 

[kbs2244]

http://www.pole-barn.info/pole-building-construction.html

 

[budman1964]

Well, here was my situation. For the last year I've been designing my pole barn, and going back and forth on the design. Then back in April I was ready to pull the trigger and actually bored the holes. I'm very handy, and actually built our screened in porch, patio, and various other projects. BUT, that was 10 years ago, when I had friends that had nothing better to do than come out and lend a hand. Now that most of my friends are ******* dealing with their own house maintenance stuff, along with kids and such, I didn't feel right about trying to round up help. PLUS, even if I DID get some help, chances are everyone's schedule would never work out. Therefore, I contracted out parts of mine. I had a guy come set the 6x6 posts, trusses, and put on the metal roof. Then me and my son framed in the gurts. I had a friend help pour the concrete. The garage door company installed the doors, then I had my contractor come back and finish out the soffets and metal siding. He had the metal brake and tools, and tons of experience, so it just made more sense. And again, him and his crew knocked it out in 2 days, whereas it would have taken me 2 months of weekends. So although I can't say I built it all, there's still plenty of work to be done. Right now, I'm installing my reclaimed tin ceiling, and insulating it. I'll post a build when I catch up...

Buddy

 

[oilslick]

I found getting help difficult on my 32x54 12. It is mostly hard work involving long pieces of wood! I had access to a crane,skid steer,hole auger and rolling scaffold and still took me 3 months to do what a crew could have done better in a few days! Not to mention burning out my wife and friends. If I did it again I would save some more and get it roughed in by a pro. I am proud I pounded most all of it with my hammer but pride has a price it cost me my whole summer!. Bottom line is I can but never would do it again!

 

[Daddy454]

Don't really have much as far as building your own,but I had mine built by Cleary Buildings out of Idaho.I,like you,wanted to do my own for the reasons you stated,but once I started looking into plans,permits,timeline,all the details,I decided it was better to just have it built.Granted it cost a little more this way,but I knew it would be done right,they handled all the plans/permitting,and it took their guys only 3 days to put it up.Plus they left me all their leftover materials.I have however done all the rest myself.

 

[bigguns69]

Cruiser:

I did exactly what you are wanting to do for the same reasons as you described. I built a 36x50 pole building with 15' side walls three years ago. I spec'd out a kit through "Menards" and built "most of it" myself. Don't know if you have a Menards in your area, I am in the midwest, but they have an excellent 25 page design brochure that shows all the design details as to how to build a pole building for the do it yourself point of view. If you can't find one some how, let me know, I can scan it and send it to you some how.

My main pieces of equipment used to build the building were: compact tractor with loader and 3 pt. post hole digger, hand digger, 3 level scaffold with wheels and railings, and then of course the obvious carpentry tools and ladders to get the job done. All of these items I own.

Things that I hired done: setting trusses and pirlins and putting the exterior steel on, pouring and finishing the concrete floor. I was running out of time with the weather in regards to the trusses, pirlins, and steel. This is also a multi person job and except for the hired out portions I did everything myself with help at times from my 13 yr. old son help setting poles and the such.

For the concrete, I had everything formed leveled, vapor barrier, insulation and rebar in place for them. All they had to do was pour, screed, bull float and fresno trowel the surface. For my 36x50 interior pad and 20x36 exterior pad, it cost me $1,000 more than had I done it totally myself. The concrete contractor had better, volume pricing, on concrete than what I could get and they were definitely better than I could have been.

All the interior finishing I did myself, wiring to and in the building, insulation, interior framing, wall finishing, painting. Also installed (2) 12x13'6" roll up doors myself. I used the scaffolding a bunch for these activities and is an absolute must for working safely at height. I saved a bunch of money doing all these interior items myself. I did get a few quotes just to see how much it would cost to have done. I was supprised as to how expensive some of the quotes were. Obviuosly, when working for myself, my time is free, and that is where the savings is at.

If you need anything else, let me know. Just go for it..........

 

[cyamaha2007]

Check out my build in my sig we did everything on our own except concrete finishing.

 

[12valve]

I am building a 50x100 red iron building south of you in Colorado. I say go ahead and build it if you can. I put up 99% of the rediron with no help. The sheeting is another story. I am using the large rolls of insulation. positioning the insulation and the sheeting over the top of it is a pain. I had friends out to help on the roof 3 times and when we got rolling the wind came up and we had to quit. I have 60 foot up now and need two more calm days to finish the roof. Of course it is windy or snowing when my friend have time off. We did manage to finish each long wall in one day each. I need to frame the garage door opening in the endwall and sheet the end wall now. My dad had a 4800sq' steel building buit 6 years ago and it was over $16,000 for just the erection. I purchased a telescopic forklift and a man lift from craigs list for less than that ( and I could resell them later, but I won't ) All the excavation and back fill was done with my skid steer. I did have to hire out the concrete as I am not skilled in that area. My Uncle has a morton and it was built very well. I could not get my local Cleary guy to respond with a quote even after 2 calls and sitting down with them and specing it out in their office. Just make sure you have help sheeting the building I know it gets windy in your country.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Last winter when the garage build started looking more and more like a reality (it was a "we will build one next year" project for 5 years..LOL) I bought a pole barn book which was reccomended to me on another forum...great book, ended up stick building. But if you want the book....PM me.

 

[4EyedTurd]

I'm kinda in the same boat as the op but I'd like to put up a metal framed pole barn. I can't seem to find any info as far as minimum column sizes for a free span barn, if I burried the posts. Anybody point me in the right direction?