Pole Barn Must Have's

[El Wood]

Alright guys, I'm starting to gather up some ideas for a new pole barn and need some help. This will be my first pole barn so I figured I would start a "must have's" list from you guys that have experience owning them.

As far as use goes, I plan on storing / doing the following:
-JD 3320 and implement rack.
-ATV and maybe a future golf cart.
-I plan on building a work bench and storing some tools.
- I'm thinking about putting a horse stall in the corner and then building an animal door on the outside wall in the horse stall. This will allow some critters (goats and maybe a small pig) the ability to warm up in the barn but still go out into an enclosure behind the barn.

As much as I would like a HUGE barn, my budget is about 15k and I'm thinking about the following setup:

-30 by 40 by 12 all steel pole building.
-1 foot overhang on eaves and gables.
- Concrete floor
- 2 windows and one man door.
- 2 separate 10 by 8 service doors.... I like the look of 2 but is this a bad idea? Should I just get one large door?
- Wainscoting paint job.

What do you guys think? Is there anything you would add or change? Thanks!

 

[Harlan Bilbrey]

I have one that is 28 x 40 x 10. Studio apartment up top. I did not build it, it came with our house. Unique thing he did was use recycled sliding glass doors for windows. Lets in alot of light in the day. Right now I have our tractor and utv in it. I think you will have plenty of room for what you have planned.

 

[El Wood]

I have one that is 28 x 40 x 10. Studio apartment up top. I did not build it, it came with our house. Unique thing he did was use recycled sliding glass doors for windows. Lets in alot of light in the day. Right now I have our tractor and utv in it. I think you will have plenty of room for what you have planned.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305873"/>

Nice looking barn! Do you have any problems with the single bay doors? Are they wide enough for you?

 

[Xfaxman]

I would recommend bigger doors, you said 10 by 8, I would go at least 10 by 10.

I have a 12 by 12 door at each end to let the south wind blow through in the hot summers down here.
My old shop had the walk in door on the north end, it would freeze over in the ice storms we get.

Put windows or skylight panels high on the south or west wall, to let light in.

 

[Bigkrank]

If you are not putting a white roof on, at least put a radiant barrier or Thermax under the roof panels.

 

[mikehaugen]

I don't know about you, but I find water invaluable. I have a utility sink and a hose with drain in my garage, also a water heater. Now that I have it, I don't know how I got by without it. Obviously, living in Michigan, need to be careful about freezing. Turn off and empty lines in winter if you aren't heating it 24/7.

 

[outinthetalgrass]

1. Lots of lights with switches, so you can turn on/off what you need.
2. Air lines on walls leading from central compressor with quick connect lines where to be used
3. doors/windows on opposite sides for air circulation
4. Ceiling fan ( mine an old one that wife wanted replaced in house)
5. Network line to barn. I have an old computer in shop area to look up and order parts right from the barn. Saves tracking into house to look up part numbers.
6. Phone/intercom line from house.
7.Cable/dish feed for TV. makes it nice to listen /watch sports while working on projects. plus if ever needed makes a nice back up man cave.
8. Heat, if northern areas, even a propane heater is welcome when working on snow blower or plow in winter
9. insulation, to keep heat in/out

there are my top ones, not necessarily in any order, just things in mine that I would miss if I didn't have.

 

[mvwicker]

The extra cost of going to 60x40 will be well spent.

One wide door rather than two narrow ones will make it easier to back a trailer inside.

 

[SPIKER]

One thing is a Lean Too off one side for me, that way you got some open air storage for implements with eve high enough so ya can back in under it to hook/unhook the items. Make it maybe 10 or 12 feet wide.

I also like the WIDER Garage Doors on both ends for cross draft in summer to help cool it inside or BIG windows all around (like mine.) I put in 10ea 4'x5' sliders and 8ea DH 36x50" up stairs.

north-east pick inside

I have pretty much a 50x50 with 10' lean-too & should have gone 12' lean-too off it. Mine is on North Side (mainly due to that was best way for property layout. I intend to someday MAYBE put a 10' greenhouse off the south side.

lean-too pic

Put in a good number of in-floor extra 4" in-let and or conduits so you can add power heat elec water etc later if you dont intend to put them in NOW so you can add the concrete now.

I like the Wash Room too I added one for mine so we can clean up (still in-work) with a crock in floor for drainage

other guys hit all the good points.

I would have liked to not have the posts down the center but was needed for my build as it is all stick framed inside for later insulation & sheeting/drywall & plumbed for infloor radiant heat which is fed from outside wood or propane boiler (not finished yet)

mark

 

[El Wood]

Thanks for the comments and pictures guys! Your info has been very helpful.