Barns - what would you do different?

[rootytoot]

Cruising through the threads in this sub-forum, I see that a lot of folks have built barns and pole barns, or had them built. I'm in the situation where I'm considering building/having built one new building to consolidate all the functions of the failing outbuildings on my property. I've got an old barn that is about at the point of not worth saving, a shop that needs bracing and siding and new doors, and a cottage that is pretty shaky. I'm thinking of rolling these all into one building so that I'm not continually fighting losing battles to keep buildings that don't serve me well from falling down.

So-o-o, my question is, for those who've been down this road, what would you do different if you had done it over again? Kind of an open-ended question, I know, but we all find out things after the fact.

Additional background about the purposes of the barn, or whatever you want to call it: need to be able to house a small herd (~8) of goats. Possible cow or two in the future. 20 chickens. Couple pigs. Some straw, hay, feed. Ford 1920 tractor, rotary cutter, tiller, PTO thresher, a BCS walk-behind and some implements, Allis-Chalmers Model G and some implements. Riding mower. A welding/shop repair area. About a hundred bags of soil amendments. Possible milking parlor and cheese processing room.

Thanks for your input.

Kurt

 

[rootytoot]

PS. I've been looking at the plans at www.barnplans.com, by the way. I'm guessing that the 32x40 garage/shop barn might be the best, but I'm open to opinions.

 

[milkman]

Make it bigger.

 

[tommu56]

Make it bigger.

what he said X4

tom

 

[whistlepig]

I have had two built with out a pad. They were built on the existing ground and then the floor filled level. On both these barns I had to fight some drainage issues. Next one I have built I will build on a raised pad.

 

[tallyho8]

I've built myself 3 horse barns over the years. The first one I built with a 12' main aisle. The aisle was 14' in the second one and 16' in the third one. If I ever have to build another one the aisle will be 20' wide.

 

[hitekcountry]

I have to agree with the others 32x40 for your needs is way too small.

 

[dave1949]

You have an awful lot planned for a 32X40 barn. I agree with the others.

Break it down by use. Get a 1/4" x 1/4" planning pad at the grocery store or Walmart. Let each quarter inch square be a 2' x 2' space. Start laying out pens, tractor parking, doors, water spigots, etc. Add a foot (in your head) all the way around the outside to allow for wall thickness.

This is the best way I know of to get an idea of how much space is needed and how the space will be used.
Dave.

 

[rootytoot]

Thanks for the feedback! Yes, I've got a quadrille pad that I'm starting to lay out things with, and the space does seem to go very quickly. I'm trying to save space by avoiding interior aisles and hallways (at least in the animal housing department) by giving each room an outside door (probably a dutch door).

Another way to economize, and I may do this with some items, is to keep things like the rotary cutter under a shed roofed area off the side of the barn. I know I want the tractor itself in the barn, but certain implements can be under cover, but not inside, you think?

Kurt

 

[ronjhall]

Make it higher. Mine is 10'. Should have been 14' plus. I also have a 2 story barn. But lower level is less than 8'. Not high enough to store tractor with ROP up.