REAL MAN TRUCKWORKS & SURVIVAL

TOOLS, CONSTRUCTION, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY => Shops Garages and Barns => Topic started by: moto123 on October 26, 2015, 02:15:26 PM

Title: Small Barn Construction
Post by: moto123 on October 26, 2015, 02:15:26 PM
I decided that I needed an out building, barn or shed of some sort to keep my tractor and implements out of the weather.  After researching the available options, I wasn't completely satisfied with the durability or cost and wanted to build it myself.  Luckily when I bought the property there were several older telephone poles left from when they replaced the line on our road.  So I got to work building the largest structure that I could with the size materials available and that I could reasonably accomplish on my own before winter.

Step 1 was to clear all the trees, brush and re-grade the area flat.  I don't have any before pictures.  But here is what it looked like when I started to layout where I was going to place the posts.

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150807_171409_001.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150807_171409_001.jpg.html)

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150807_171317.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150807_171317.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: moto123 on October 26, 2015, 02:20:26 PM
The next step was to drill the holes, clean them out, level them the best I could by eye and drop the posts in.  The were all set at the full depth of what the auger could dig, so about 4 feet down.  The winters in our area of IL require that most construction has footings at least 3 foot underground I think, but I wasn't sure of the exact depth so I wanted to be plenty deep.

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150807_172029.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150807_172029.jpg.html)

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150807_182603.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150807_182603.jpg.html)

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150807_185808.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150807_185808.jpg.html)

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150807_194855.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150807_194855.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: moto123 on October 26, 2015, 02:30:04 PM
After that the posts were tamped in and leveled.  The tops were all cut with the chainsaw into a V in preparation for the main beams.  We selected the straightest trees we could find, the larger one was already dead and the smaller one was partially dying anyway.  Cut them down and dragged them back.  My son was a great help peeling the bark!

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150808_103444.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150808_103444.jpg.html)

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150808_130709.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150808_130709.jpg.html)

This is where I began to deviate from the original plan.  I wanted to frame the entire roof with lumber I had in the woods.  Unfortunately after further investigation, the trees I have down and ready to cut up are not very straight.  Those all came down with a recent storm.  The only trees straight enough were over 50 feet tall.  I couldn't bring myself to cut down healthy trees for my project, so off to the lumber yard we went.  I guess I would rather use healthy trees from someone else's property than my own.
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: moto123 on October 26, 2015, 02:32:02 PM
This decision also sped up the roof framing time considerably.

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150809_175335.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150809_175335.jpg.html)

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150809_182143.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150809_182143.jpg.html)

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150814_074338.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150814_074338.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: moto123 on October 26, 2015, 02:34:18 PM
It should be noted that each post to beam connection has a heavy metal strap over the top of the beam to hold it down into the V notch at the top of the post.  Also there are two 12" metal spikes that were pounded down though the beam into the post.  I fully expected to add diagonal bracing of some sort at each joint, but when I was installing the layer of 1/2" plywood on the roof I could basically jump side to side at the top of the peak and the roof didn't sway at all in any direction.  So I never did install any diagonal bracing.

More to follow...
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: Flyin6 on October 26, 2015, 02:37:44 PM
I like it

Simple, cost effective, smart

Giving me ideas of what to do with those stinkin' cedar trees all over my property!
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: Atkinsmatt on October 26, 2015, 02:46:19 PM
Cedar is a great building material.  Good looking project here.
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: Dawg25385 on October 26, 2015, 06:42:24 PM
That looks really good, and great utilization of materials! Are you planning to enclose the sides and back?
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: stlaser on October 26, 2015, 08:14:16 PM
I like it, way to be resourceful!
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: TexasRedNeck on October 26, 2015, 08:43:12 PM
Looks really good.  Nicely done
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: moto123 on November 02, 2015, 01:34:52 PM
(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150814_074400.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150814_074400.jpg.html)

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150823_151008.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150823_151008.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: moto123 on November 02, 2015, 01:37:07 PM
(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150828_175411.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150828_175411.jpg.html)
(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20150930_183906.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20150930_183906.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: moto123 on November 02, 2015, 01:39:08 PM
(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20151003_162030.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20151003_162030.jpg.html)

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt49/moto123233/Barn/20151003_162054.jpg) (http://s596.photobucket.com/user/moto123233/media/Barn/20151003_162054.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: moto123 on November 02, 2015, 01:55:40 PM
Ugh ... my work computer locked me out of my own thread with an error message about not allowing access to websites that allow playing games ... wtf?!?

So I posted these quick from my phone, no internet at home.  But you get the idea.  1/2 inch plywood sheeting with galvanized sheet metal roof and walls.  All the dark grey trim was found in menards scratch and dent metal pile.  I think it was $0.50 per foot.  I saved around $200 there.  The plywood was similarly $5 per sheet instead of $15 because they had dropped a pallet and damaged the corners of most of them.  So all done with the gravel and everything I am at approx $800.

And aesthetically I was pretty happy with it  until my wife saw it.  Her first comment ... why did you build a manger?  I don't have a good answer, other than its what I felt like at the time and it was the most efficient use of the length of plywood and metal I had for the roof.  But perhaps next time I will sketch something to see if she has a better idea first. 
Title: Re: Small Barn Construction
Post by: TexasRedNeck on November 02, 2015, 07:37:28 PM

And aesthetically I was pretty happy with it  until my wife saw it.  Her first comment ... why did you build a manger? 

That's when you should say " When you get out here and help build then you can have a vote in how it gets done"......on the inside....

I think it looks fantastic.
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