My uniquely built 30x50 Pole barn

[LD1]

I have been working on my current pole barn/garage since breaking ground in summer of 2006. I have only shared a few pic here and there in other posts, but I figured I'd lay em all out start to finish. Mainly because guys at work are always asking to see pics, and since we are not supposed to use personal thumb drives on work computers, I figured I'd post them here so it will be easy to pull up from ANY computer. And for you guys' enjoyment as well as to help anyone who is wanting to build their own.

I did EVERYTHING on this. Ofcourse with some help from friends and family, what I mean is NOTHING was hired out except concrete delivery. But that is delivery ONLY. We finished it ourselves. This is not my first build, but it is certainly the most cost effective and imperfect:laughing: That is what makes it unique. The use of those "anythign but straight" electric poles. But hey, they were free.

Anyway, I have SEVERAL pics so this will be several posts long

These first ones are leveling the hillside for the garage.

 

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Starting the framing

 

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Trusses. These I built on my own. Used the first one as a template for the rest. 30' span, 6/12 top pitch 4/12 underside. This extra height is needed for the loft I was planning you will see in later pics. These cost me ~$33 each to build. Best quote I got was for $109 ea. No-brainer here.

 

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Preraring for the pouring of the 30x30 concrete pad. I save a bit here by not concreting the entire building. The area where the tractor and implements is parked doesnt need fancy concrete floor, at least not yet. I do plan to concrete it in the future.

 

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And the actual concrete

 

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And I decided that since I would eventually concrete the other 20x30 area, that I would go ahead and concrete the apron and into the garage a bit so the garage doors have something to close aginst.

 

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And some garage door install pics

 

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Little bit of lights and wiring

 

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Some steps leading down to the side service door of the garage from the house, and some door pics.

 

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Some more garage door pics. A few before trim and a few after.

I had to make my own trim. Dealing with the electric poles of varying thicknesses and not square and all. I just had the place I bought the metal cut me full width peices to length and I rented a break with a cutter. The corner caps, ridge caps, and rat-guard were all purchased. But the trim around the doors and the overhangs I had to do.

 

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Here is the finished looking exterior with all the trim

 

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Now some interior. I mentioned the loft earlier. The plan was to have a loft over the 30x30 concreted area. Then build a wall to divide the two areas that way I only have to heat the 30x30 ad not the whole 30x50.

So here are some of setting the I-beams

 

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Some framing for the loft/ceiling and the dividing wall

 

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The finished upstairs loft

 

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Unfortunatally that is all I have at the moment. I dont have any good pics of the workshop area. It is currently heated with a barrel stove and has been finished for about a year now. So this is not something that I just finished. I would go out and take some pics but it is pretty messy at the moment.

 

[FastPauly]

Nice......Very Nice!!:thumbsup:

 

[Birdhunter1]

Nice looking building you got there, I just built one the same size with overhead doors on opposite ends and inline with each other so I have a sort of pull through area. On mine I hired out the concrete work because a good friend of mine has a large concrete biz, he does great work and honestly when it comes time to do a 30x50 floor you needs folk that are able and know what they are doing hence I hired it out.
I went with the same pitch on my roof too, sure does suck to walk on those 6/12 metal roofs doesn't it?

 

[tugboat-2]

....??? Well I don't know what just happened to the first part of this message where I was expounding on the absolutely fantastic job you've done. The whole complimentary paragraph disappeared when I submitted it?

Also, I wondered about any re-enforcement in the floor concrete, ... wasn't sure if I was seeing some screening laid down or if that was just rake lines in the earth.

I'm just curious,...(certainly NOT being critical),.. heavens sake I never even quite got around to pouring "any" concrete in mine, (30 years ago) still got the plain dirt floor except for the shop section. Shop floor is simply framed, insulated and floored with 5/8" t&g plywood. Shop is just 10' X 10' x 7' high and a small baseboard heater kept my little shop comfy in winter. Had a woodburning Quebec Heater with lots of stovepipe in the rest. Wasn't adequate, but ok for warming your hands occasionally. No insulation either. Just never finished it, too busy restoring and winterizing our 155 year old stone farmhouse which after 35 years is "almost" done ha,ha!

Looking at yours, I'm tempted now to "try" and "clean" it out and pour a floor.

Oh, sorry to run off with "my" thoughts,... good grief man, I just wanted to tell you what a fantastic job you've done there,...and I did NOT miss the part of "you" doing the entire job, "mainly" by yourself,.. CONGRATULATIONS on a really terrific job !!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[two_bit_score]

Looks great LD1. Thanks for the pics, too.

 

[LD1]

Also, I wondered about any re-enforcement in the floor concrete, ... wasn't sure if I was seeing some screening laid down or if that was just rake lines in the earth.

Yes it is re-enforced. That is actually just welded wire fence from a dog kennel I tore down earlier. And it is setting on the bricks to keep it suspended in the concrete instead of just being pushed to the bottom.

. . tug

I went with the same pitch on my roof too, sure does suck to walk on those 6/12 metal roofs doesn't it?

Yes it does. I wouldn't do it without being tied off on mine. It is about a 14' drop. Now my house is also 6/12 but shingles and that is a peice of cake. I walk right to the edge to clean the gutters.

And thanks to everyone for the kind replies. I forgot to mention that if anyone has any specific questions about how or why something was done, feel free to ask.