Wife and I want to tackle building a pole barn garage ourselves. We're looking for some good starting points, maybe some tips of what to look for and avoid, a what some of you have experienced when building one (problems, tips, what to avoid, etc) We would like something in the size of 24x24x10. I'd also like a large overhang on at least one side of the garage to be used as a porch and/or covered area for wood. Anyone ever built one yourself?
I juggle 600 lbs stoves by myself. I'm not afraid of lifting heavy objects. I don't want one built for me. I want to build one myself. If I am going to spend 10-12k, I am going to maximize my dollar and get exactly what I want. Also, spending a few hundred here and there over the course of several months is easier to budget than plunking down 10-12k for a design that may not be everything I wanted.
Get the corners located. Lay it out square & level with some string, stakes & a string level Install the corner post base supports & the center post supports. I used these, dug down to gravel, then filled with gravel & compacted then the pier block with the top of the concrete at ground level. Sonotubes filled with concrete are good too, no frost movement if deep enough. Fill with concrete, put the post support bracket in , get all of them level, & let it cure. Then the posts & angle brace them square & solid. 4X4 should be big enough, 4X6 corner post if you think it need to be stronger On your way. You can buy or make the roof trusses. OSB the roof, add roofing, & your dried in. Fun project
Depends on how much money you want to spend. Do you have access to Amish sawmill where you are? That is one way to enclose the sides and roof cheaper. (1x6 or 1x8) I am going to be building one in the future as well. I will use 6x6 pressure treated for my post, and try to save money in another area. I used 6x6 on my porches, less chance of twisting, stronger structurally, and on the porches you can see them and I like the way they look better. But you can get the strength other ways as well. Depends on how you build it. Subscribed with interest as well.
will it have an earth floor or a concrete pad? you'll need to go to frost depth on footings. I'd almost think you will have to rent a lull or something simular to move the beams into place. I'm not saying it can't be done the way you want with two people but it will be more difficult. Do you have any plans? do you know what materials you want to use? lots of logistical questions to be answered.
Not sure at this point. I have seen and read that I could do an earth floor first and add concrete at a later date. Not sure how well that would work. I like that idea of going with an earth floor first since it cuts down on the initial cost. That I knew. We will need to take down a maple tree and three pine trees to prepare the area, also. Will need to grind down the stumps and some of the root systems. Not sure at this point. I'd like to do it in stages. Buy some of the materials, build it out, then buy the next stage of the project. So, the first step for me would be to prepare the ground and create a level area. I like the direction Bogydave pointed me in as it matches up well with what I have previously read. [/quote]Do you have any plans? do you know what materials you want to use? lots of logistical questions to be answered.[/quote] No actual plans yet. I am leaning towards board and batten siding and a metal roof.
Did mine with 4x6, and they twisted and curved. Do you plan to insulate? If I had it to do over, I'd just have a slab done with the proper insulation/vapor barrier underneath, then stick build it. I built stud walls in order to put batts in the walls, so I didn't save anything there by doing pole construction. Maybe I could have gone a different direction for insulation, but I don't know what it would be. Mine's 30x40. Make sure to layout for the trusses from the same end of each wall. Posts went just over 42" in the ground (frost line 42") on top of concrete pancakes, then backfilled. We're on sand, which is on top of more sand, so very good drainage. Check your AHJ. Use the proper nails for the treated material you're using. Put whatever doors on the gable ends or you'll have snow/rain falling on you and snow will become a big problem. Big overhangs to avoid splashback, unless you do the shed roof/porch thing. There's more.
My 30 x 40 barn was only $11,000 bought and they built it in 2 days? There is also the car port option? Buy a 24 x 24 car port, then frame it and finish it yourself. There is another company by me that would do a large car port (installed) for around $2,000-$3,000. Many options that include sides or doors. Either way, it's done in a day or two and leaves you to do your thing. The car port way would be much cheaper. (These prices are minus the concrete slab, unless using gravel) As for DIY? I wanted to... But couldn't. To much work for me at the time.
Dry storage is not over-rated. Having dry cold storage is sweet. Easy to wall off and insulate an area for heat. Love my dry storage Could always use more
They are very cheap in my area. I can get a flyer from my dealer? To see if they have one in your area?
Steel is a good alternative and the materials are less expensive than wood. You may not get the look that you want with a wood frame and your thoughts on DIY will go away but it is a good idea for the money.
I would not be opposed to that. If pricing drastically differs in my area I can at least talk to them to see why the pricing is so different.
I had a 24x32 pole building put up in 2005. Vinyl sided, shingle roof, insulated garage door and side door, couple windows and full concrete slab for right around $9k. That included permits, removal of a big mulberry (they left the wood of course) and site prep. I did the electrical work and finishing inside. I'd like to have done some or all of the construction, but it would have taken me a lot longer and probably cost me more in the long run. I'm pretty handy, but by no means a construction expert. I could have gone up to 1200 square feet based on zoning laws but didn't. I figured 768 square feet would be enough. All I can really offer is this: if you think 24x24 is big enough, make it 24x32, and so on.
I'd like to use this project as a springboard to other renovations. I have a spring room that I would like to know down a stone wall and extend it out by eight feet. I would also like to knock down a wall in the living room and at least one wall in the kitchen. This would open up the floor plan a lot and really change the feel of this old home. I want to build the garage first so if I screw something up there it is not attached to the home and the damage is limited to a location that is not attached to the home. Agreed. We are leaning towards 24x32.
Be careful doing it in stages. Lumber does some crazy things in a half built exposed structure. Make sure your trusses get ordered first. You want to be able to lock the structure together as soon as possible after the posts, purlings, and carriers are in. Trench footing and stick built would make a better structure all around if not cost prohibitive. More work however.
