Pole barn? >>>questions & advice

[Jinzo Ningen]

Looking to put up a pole barn sometime this summer/Fall. My wife & I measured everything we currently have in our garage, sitting outside or what we want and/or plan to put in the pole barn and then drew blocked "paper dolls" on graph paper and lined them up, with approx. 3feet between vehicles, machinery, etc. Even took into account my 6x10 trailer (including outer measurements wheel-to-wheel and tongue length...)

Anyhow, we'll need at least 36'x54' to have enough space for all the junk we have, PLUS enough area for me to have a work space for DIY and tinkering stuff.

I am looking for advice from anyone who's had one built, built it themselves or is also doing research like I am at the moment.

I have looked at Morton (the most popular in my neck of the woods), but I've priced some kits thru Home Depot, Lowe's and Menard's, local lumber yards, etc. I've also gotten a few online quotes for steel buildings, since I have no preconceived notions about particular building materials. Just need a specific Width x Length x Height to fit our stuff. (I'm only doing 10ft high since I have no large machinery nor do I plan to buy any.)

Any advice, whether about what TO do or just as important, what NOT to do is much appreciated! Horror stories are welcomed too, since everything is a learning curve for us at this point in the game.

Many, many thanks in advance!

 

[mechanic mark]

Pour a concrete slab & then weigh your options a metal building vs. building it yourself. Remember electrical, plumbing, gas, etc. before pouring concrete.

 

[Jinzo Ningen]

Definitely gettning a concrete floor. Electrical is already planned out. No other options at this time, although I may opt for some sort of multi-fuel stove to heat it in winter if the need arrises. Never thought about metal building for a personal pole barn until I checked a few online sites. Still unsure. Morton seems to have the best overall deal for price + warranty/guarantee + options. They promise in/out on the actual construction in 5 days. Have sub contractors set for site prep, concrete pour and clean up. Just wish they were a few thousand less, then it would be no contest.

Thanks for responding.

 

[RobertBrown]

Do you need to acquire a permit to build this?

 

[Jinzo Ningen]

Do you need to acquire a permit to build this?

Unsure, but most likely. I am still in the earliest stages, so that's one of MANY items on my checklist. I know I will NOT be building it myself. I simply have neither the time nor skills necessary to attempt it. As such, whomever gets my money, (a specialty company like Morton Buildings... or individual contractor), I will ensure they have all bases covered before moving forward.

Just wondering if anyone has good/bad experiences with particular brands (like Morton), packages from lumber yards or DIY box stores (like Lowe's) that they can share to hopefully save me some time & headaches.

Thanks for bringing the permit aspect up. It reminds me that I need to cal the county fathers for info on if/when/how much/etc.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

When I built my garage, it was supposed to be a 28x56, which turned out to be far too costly and also a bit wide and would cut off too much of my view behind the house. It ended up a 24x48 after much thought and checking of available funds. Pole barn was out of the question, as township didn't allow them at the time. (They do now.) I got a beautiful garage out of it though, and the price was right. Bought a kit from Menard's and hired a contractor to pour cement and build it. Came in under my budget, (cost overruns were less than 200 bucks) bought all my electrical equipment from Menard's with 11% rebate check from garage purchase, and wired it myself. But, it's now full of crap from the final move-really need to do a huge yard sale. It still has plenty of room to store both my trucks, my ATV, and my tractor. Just need to expel the junk.

 

[Gcorron]

That's funny. I'm a ham, and the same group (pretty much) talked each other to work for nearly 20 years. One morning, they asked if I had gotten some heavy duty maintenance done on a vehicle over the weekend. I replied that, no, because it had rained I did not. Then I proceeded to say I had long thought of closing in my old carport so I could work in inclement weather.

I was surprised when about 4 other voices piped up saying "DON'T DO IT!!". They all said the same thing, if I enclosed it, it would immediately be filled with junque and I wouldn't have either a place to park, OR work, on my car!

Still have a carport, and, unless it's an emergency, don't work on vehicles in the rain! :laughing: Good advice, is good advice.

George AF4JH