Barn Floor

[BXmark]

I'm planning to build a barn probably 20x24 or a little larger to house my tractor and implements. Problem is, getting equiptment in to excavate and pour concrete without damaging our landscaping and concrete driveway. I'm considering a pressure treated 2x6 T&G wood floor over treated joists. This would disturb the site much less and as I study the numbers cost less compared to excavating, pumping concrete to the site, and having it finished.
Has anyone else built a new barn with a wood floor? I'd like to hear any ideas.

 

[MikePA]

Hmm, a BX plus implements could end up being a pretty large static load. In essence, you'd be building a floor system capable of supporting about a ton. What would the floor rest on? How far apart would the joists be? You'd have to have ventilation & a vapor barrier under the floor to prevent rot. The more I think about it, it might end up being more complicated than pouring concrete.

 

[rdln]

I think you will have to bite the bullet. Building a floor to handle
the load is easy enough but your joists have to sit on something solid
which requires material and excavating to build that would have to be
brought over your grass.

 

[Devildog]

Good question, Although what im building is smaller but I am interested in what is needed to support a small tractor in a shed, 2x6, 2x8, 2x10 ? Not near the size of your building. My shed will be a 12x16, Leveling out the building site with box blade now but will be storing B7500 in it.

On Edit: It will be resting on 4x4's to be able to move at a later date.
__________________________________________________
Take care all, Jim

2001 B7500 HST 302 Fel R4 Tires, Befco BRB60
Semper Fidelis<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Devildog on 11/26/01 11:13 AM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[MikePA]

As rdln mentioned, while it's important to properly size the joists, it's equally important what those joists are resting on. Building a wooden floor instead of a concrete floor is, in essence, building a deck that is real close to the ground (hence the need for ventilation). Except that a deck only has to support its own weight plus furniture and the people that would be on it. In this case, instead of people, we're talking about a 1,500 pound tractor (is that what a BX weighs?) plus various implements that might be stationary for a while.

 

[HalseyGreen]

Haven't given the static load much thought, but I have been in a good many bank barns where you backed your wagon load of hay in and off loaded it, all on a wooden floor. Looking back, the barns all had heavy wooden beams like arount 12" square supporting the load with some long spans.

 

[MikePA]

I was thinking of those as well but, as you pointed out, the beams in those old barns are large as is the foundation they rest on.

 

[Devildog]

So would it be safe to say that a 12x16 shed with 2x6 floor joists 16" on center resting on 4x4"s 2foot on center would support my B7500? I was also going to use 3/4 plywood for the flooring.
______________________________________________
Thanks all, Jim

2001 B7500 HST 302 Fel R4 Tires, Befco BRB60
Semper Fidelis

 

[TerryinMD]

Jim,

I have a shed that is 10X10 to store by JD 4100. No implements!! I'll just explain the flooring since walls be walls. The flooring is 2x8's on 2' centers going both ways. Just like a checkerboard. The flooring is 3/4 pressure treated plywood on the as the first layer and 5/8" tongue and groove for the second layer. The floor is layed directly on an 8" bed of gravel and is secured to the ground with screw in anchors. Been there for 5 years and no problems (except for pesky groundhogs).

My JD4100 weighs in around 1600 lbs. The floor shows no signs of sag or wear. The shed also is home to all of our gardening stuff, a chipper/shreader, push lawnmower, etc.

Hope this helps.

Terry

 

[Devildog]

Terry,
Thanks that is exactly what I needed to know /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. I'm putting it on 4x4s cause we will need to move it when and if we can build the garage.
__________________________________________________
Take care, Jim

2001 B7500 HST 302 Fel R4 Tires, Befco BRB60
Semper Fidelis