Lighting for the pole barn

[GManBart]

How easy/hard was it to install the ceiling panel? Our church property came with an existing 104' x 38' x 12' pole barn with 7 bays. One of the projects I want to do is put ceiling panels inside.

Like KennyG said, it's not too hard. I did it by myself, which made it a bit more tedious, but still not bad. I used my scissor lift to raise the panels, the then a ladder to climb up and down to ensure alignment on both ends before securing in place. The hard part was that I would ride the lift up, align the panel, then climb down the ladder I had already positioned behind the lift....then drag the ladder to one end of the panel, climb up, check alignment, climb down, drag the ladder to the other end, and repeat before sinking the first screw. With two people it would have gone very quickly.

The big thing is to get the first panel as square and straight as possible. It's still hard to be perfect because the end walls and trusses are rarely perfectly straight, but usually close enough for being in a barn.

You can see generally how I was hanging them here...last panel on the lift, already climbed down the ladder and moved it to align one end.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I'll have to rent a lift to do it. this barn has 7, ~15' wide bays. Each bay has a wall between it 8' high, T&G 2x6 boards, and there are internal poles in these walls. Floor is all concrete with a nice large concrete apron in the front. Very sturdy barn, but needs some TLC to get it cleaned up and looking attractive behind our church building. I want to reskin the outside with new metal. It has a 400Amp electric service, with two working outlets, nothing else.

 

[KennyG]

I bought a drywall lift (E-bay) after I looked at rental cost and how long I would need it. High lift units are around $200. I'll sell it one of these days when I get around to it.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Gman, how long are your ceiling panels? how long is overlap?

 

[GManBart]

Gman, how long are your ceiling panels? how long is overlap?

I bought mine from Menards (best price I've found), and they cut them to order from 2-36' in 1" increments. Mine were a bit over 12' long, and I have about 5" of overlap (3"+ is suggested). To give you an idea of cost, they were $20 per panel, so a bit over $500 to cover a 24x40' ceiling.

I will say that if I were doing it again, I would have ordered the panels cut to two different lengths...the middle truss wasn't really in the middle of the room. It would have been a bit better if the panels overlapped right at the truss, so one screw would go through both....would have made the overlap look nicer. I didn't think of that when I measured everything, so I just divided the span in half....maybe next time!

 

[KennyG]

I did 12'-4" for my 40 x 48 pole barn. If I had not been doing it by myself, I might have been tempted to go longer, but 12 feet is about as much as I like to handle myself. Also, I was able to store them vertically in the unfinished portion of the building. Before ordering, I spent some time measuring the truss spacing to make sure they were 48" maximum. Mine were very accurate, but I've heard of buildings that had some significant variation.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Good idea. I have a drywall lift, good for 8' or so. I can rig something up with it.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

thanks for the info.
These bays are around 15' each, but have thought about running to the next truss and overlapping there. Don't have Menards here, but the place I bought my pole barn from will cut to length, I forget the price, been awhile since I called them.

Pic of one of the bays with the 8' wall between bays, the interior posts. trusses run front to back. There are 2x6's running side to side to the interior posts, under the trusses. ceiling panels will stop at each of these and continue on the other side. We have been cleaning out the bays and pressure washing the walls.

also added a pic of the barn when we bought it. Those front sliding doors are really heavy, 4 have blown off, and are being replaced with garage doors.

I should start my own thread I guess, but our upgrade / repair will be gradual as we get the funds.

 

[KennyG]

Looks like an interesting project. Do you intend to run the ceiling perpendicular to the trusses or parallel. It looks like you could add a 2x6 stringer between the ones that are there and then run the ceiling in the shorter dimension direction. Any reason not to have the metal under the 2x6's to minimize the edges and panel cuts? If the bays are about 15', 5 panels will just about fill it. The bays will look better if the panels run front to back from the door. just my thought on it.

 

[GManBart]

Looks like an interesting project. Do you intend to run the ceiling perpendicular to the trusses or parallel. It looks like you could add a 2x6 stringer between the ones that are there and then run the ceiling in the shorter dimension direction. Any reason not to have the metal under the 2x6's to minimize the edges and panel cuts? If the bays are about 15', 5 panels will just about fill it. The bays will look better if the panels run front to back from the door. just my thought on it.

I like the panels running front to back from the door as well, but it looks like he'd have to notch the panels for all of the vertical posts, which would slow things down a lot. I wasn't quite sure from the picture if running on the trusses would avoid that since I'm not sure how the 8' walls attach.

 

[KennyG]

Looks like the poles go all the way to the trusses so he will have to notch either way. A filler plate could be added between the poles at the bottom of the 2x6s so each bay would have an independent ceiling. That would require a little more carpenter work and J-strip trim but it would make the metal installation very easy and look good.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Ceiling will go sideways on trusses 4' oc. 2x6 front and back of each middle pole so ceiling will go against them.
Wall between 1st and 2nd bay goes to roof.
Typing on phone is slow.....

 

[TurtleCreekFarm]

I finally got the ceiling hung on the shop side (24x40x13) and got all of the lights back up. I think it turned out well (excuse the errors you see in the ceiling...my first attempt!). I took these pics a few minutes ago (10pm) and it was totally dark outside.

From the doorway:





Looking the other direction. I didn't put a light over the one corner because that will be framed out as a bathroom with 8' ceilings and a storage platform on top.

I'm starting to build a new barn that will have 13' ceilings. I am thinking about using the lights you used. Are you still happy with them?

 

[GManBart]

I'm starting to build a new barn that will have 13' ceilings. I am thinking about using the lights you used. Are you still happy with them?

Absolutely! The lights have been great, and everybody that walks in remarks how bright it is. They aren't cheap, but I think they're worth it.

I did a quick video after I framed out the bathroom, and had the interior overhead door installed...it'll give you an idea of how much light there is (especially right at the end when I walk to the far corner).

E2B5D232-9E18-4A8A-AD03-5D62B4AC6161_zpsqdciiisk.mp4 Video by G-ManBart | Photobucket

 

[TurtleCreekFarm]

Absolutely! The lights have been great, and everybody that walks in remarks how bright it is. They aren't cheap, but I think they're worth it.

I did a quick video after I framed out the bathroom, and had the interior overhead door installed...it'll give you an idea of how much light there is (especially right at the end when I walk to the far corner).

E2B5D232-9E18-4A8A-AD03-5D62B4AC6161_zpsqdciiisk.mp4 Video by G-ManBart | Photobucket

Glad you like them. Have you had any large equipment in the bay, like a car or tractor? Could you work on them without using a drop lights? Do the lights produce a uniform even light or more of a spotlight effect? Thanks.

 

[wmonroe]

The shop is coming along very nice.

 

[GManBart]

Glad you like them. Have you had any large equipment in the bay, like a car or tractor? Could you work on them without using a drop lights? Do the lights produce a uniform even light or more of a spotlight effect? Thanks.

I have had my Massey in there, and normally keep one of my pickups in there as well. You could definitely work without a drop lamp other than under the hood or underneath (sort of obvious). I think the light is very uniform, and I haven't noticed any spotlight effect at all. I didn't put a light where the storage deck over the bathroom is, and that looks sort of dark in the video, but in real life you don't need any additional light when you get up there...it's not really dark, just darker than the surrounding areas are.

I'll try to remember to take a picture with the truck in place over the weekend.

 

[GManBart]

The shop is coming along very nice.

Thanks! I've gotten so much done that I've actually taken the last couple of weekends off and done other stuff....my wife was shocked!

 

[TurtleCreekFarm]

I have had my Massey in there, and normally keep one of my pickups in there as well. You could definitely work without a drop lamp other than under the hood or underneath (sort of obvious). I think the light is very uniform, and I haven't noticed any spotlight effect at all. I didn't put a light where the storage deck over the bathroom is, and that looks sort of dark in the video, but in real life you don't need any additional light when you get up there...it's not really dark, just darker than the surrounding areas are.

I'll try to remember to take a picture with the truck in place over the weekend.

Thanks. Did the ones you got from Home Depot come with an acrylic lens? Their web page doesn't say. I know Lithonia has a no lens option.

 

[GManBart]

Thanks. Did the ones you got from Home Depot come with an acrylic lens? Their web page doesn't say. I know Lithonia has a no lens option.

Luckily, I took a picture of the back of the box, and it says the lens is "frosted acrylic" which fits with what I remember.