Anyone use Barn Geeks?

forgeblast · Jan 24, 2018

Hi all, I am in the planning stages for a large barn. I have an area almost ready to go which is mostly level close to power and I have just bought a sawmill.
I was looking at timberframing, but its something that while I would love to learn I know I just do not have the time to learn atm.
So I started looking at post and beam construction.
That is where I saw the Barn Hardware Store
They sell plans, and they will also sell the hardware for the connections.
I have not been able to find any reviews on them on other sites and was wondering if anyone here has used them?
Or what people here thought of them.
I really like the 40x50 horse barn. It looks like it would be enough center space for me to offer turning on a spring pole lathe classes, while the wings would be great for spoon carving, bowl hewing...etc.
I am still a few years away from putting it up, but if I can cut timbers in the summer it would help me by getting a jump on the process.
thank you,
appreciate the help.

forgeblast · Jan 25, 2018

144 views, guess no one has used them. I am on the fence and will have to do more digging about them.

RedNeckRacin · Jan 25, 2018

Never used them. Looks like a neat idea but I would still want someone to review the design for the local conditions. Maybe contact them and see if anyone local to you has put one together?

majorwager · Jan 25, 2018

SOCKETSYSTEMSLLC. canfield OH. Take a look, better product.

EddieWalker · Jan 25, 2018

I just glanced at their site and it looks like good stuff, but only if you are wanting something fancy. If that's your goal, then money isn't a concern. If you want affordable space, then go with either a metal kit, or for even less, a standard pole barn with posts set in the ground. Decide on your size, then you can price out the different types of construction, and the price differences.

forgeblast · Jan 25, 2018

"Maybe contact them and see if anyone local to you has put one together?" Headslap thats a great idea thank you!

"Decide on your size, then you can price out the different types of construction, and the price differences." I will have to do that, it makes perfect sense to know what it will cost various ways.

SOCKETSYSTEMSLLC. canfield OH Ill check them out too thank you!

I retire in about 12-15 years, and before I do I want to have a folk school started. If the barn is nice enough when I am not teaching classes I could rent it out for weddings. (But this adds to the foundation work for water and waste....) Pole barns, red steel buildings, just do not scream folk school. So its not just for storage, I need to think of the image I want to sell too. Which is making the process a bit more difficult.
I have 17 acres of mixed hard woods and a band saw mill that has a 32' track. I plan on doing a lot of cutting to save $$.
Thank you all for your input I really appreciate it.

GLyford · Jan 25, 2018

Look at the free plans on some of the university ag program sites, like

https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/extension-aben/buildingplans

You may see something in a style close enough to what you want, and most are either stick frame, pole-barn, or post-and-beam. These are all cooperative extension plans, and you have already paid for them through your tax dollars--might as well use them if you can.