Pole barn question

[phaux]

I have some land in Commerce, Tx I would like to build a small shop/ shelter on. I need something to park a tractor in and work on projects and also a place to stay out at. I'm looking to build it 24 x 36. I'm going to be doing a concrete slab, will 4 inch be thick enough with 16 inch footer? I'm planning on using 2 7/8" drill stem pipe for the poles and 2 3/8" and perlins for the roof. The reason for the pipe is because it's cheap and readily available around here. Any input on this? How far apart from one another should the poles be placed? Any advice before I embark on this?

 

[scgargoyle]

4" should be thick enough, if there's adequate reinforcing wire. I had a machine shop with a 4" floor, and I had an 11,000 lb. CNC machine sitting on 4 small pads! I fully expected the floor to crack, but it never did. If you plan something like a lift- that's a different story.

 

[Modn]

I have some land in Commerce, Tx I would like to build a small shop/ shelter on. I need something to park a tractor in and work on projects and also a place to stay out at. I'm looking to build it 24 x 36. I'm going to be doing a concrete slab, will 4 inch be thick enough with 16 inch footer? I'm planning on using 2 7/8" drill stem pipe for the poles and 2 3/8" and perlins for the roof. The reason for the pipe is because it's cheap and readily available around here. Any input on this? How far apart from one another should the poles be placed? Any advice before I embark on this?

General rule of thumb is if you will be driving on it go 6". 4" I usually reserved for sidewalks and basement floors. I wouldn't go much over 4' O.C. for the pole spacing IMHO. I always went 8' O.C. for pole barns, but that was with 6x6 poles with 2x10 ribbon on both sides then the trusses sat on top. On another note, have you priced out the lumber to do stick framing? At least around here when pricing out a pole barn WITH a slab it is cheaper to stick build if you are doing the slab anyway. The pole barn is a nice feature though if you would like to pour concrete later on though which gives you options as the pole barn is self standing without concrete.

 

[phaux]

I can get pipe anywhere from .79 to $1 a foot. Plus I like steel, it lasts a good long time and I've had bad luck in the past with termites which sort of sets me off wood.

 

[Modn]

I can get pipe anywhere from .79 to $1 a foot. Plus I like steel, it lasts a good long time and I've had bad luck in the past with termites which sort of sets me off wood.

Good Point.....never thought of that as where I am that isn't much of a worry.

 

[Modn]

Just wondering what the "norm" is there? Do you set the pipe into the concrete, or do you set them into the ground and pour around, or both?

 

[SPIKER]

just wondering plans on sheeting? how to attach to the stem? Purlins rafters z channels ect. these will need to be thought of ahead of time as well. while U bolting might work it would be a slow and tedious job for sure. also wonder about wind loads on the stem, I'm sure it may get a small breeze now and again out there. What about local codes ect.

just a few questions prior to you gettin to far into it that you may want to think about.

Mark

 

[phaux]

I was planning on using purlins as I've seen a few other posts in which polls were used and they looked to be using purlins. Any advice on this area? I'm very new to all this and any advice would be greatly appreciated. As for on the inside I was planning on using some sort of spray on insulation and leaving it at that.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I can get pipe anywhere from .79 to $1 a foot. Plus I like steel, it lasts a good long time and I've had bad luck in the past with termites which sort of sets me off wood.

That price is half or less of what I'm paying at my usual sources. I would have a couple of questions about the material.

All pipe isn't the same. What the steel yards sell as fence pipe schedule forty is the absolute minimum for wall thickness and I've found it inferior for strength also. The only stuff I'm aware of going for those prices is thin wall, real thin wall, fifteen-sixteen gauge.

I would use pipe and purlins. But then I've got a couple of patents pending on brackets using pipe to purlin and purlin to purlin construction.

 

[SnowRidge]

General rule of thumb is if you will be driving on it go 6". 4" I usually reserved for sidewalks and basement floors.

According to a contractor I have been talking to about pouring some concrete, 5,000 PSI fiber reinforced concrete, four inches thick, with no wire or bar at all is the way to go for a shop floor, parking area, and drive. He just did a job like that for a friend of mine.