Spencer's Pole Barn Project

RobS · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Great photos Spencer! Your snow looks familiar, I was plowing some of the same stuff this weekend. I'm very envious of your barn, it looks well thought out. I gotta agree with Dumdog, the tarps are probably your best bet for a winter roof covering. You can get them in green and brown these days, so they might not look quite so bad.

How close are you to Schoolcraft? Ever been to B&G discount there? They started selling gloves and tarps but have evolved to all sorts of Chinese tools and an odd assortment of closeouts. We call it the "Junk tool store". Tons of tarps though, in a variety of colors and great prices. It's right on 131 south of downtown Schoolcraft.

Can't wait to see the finished barn /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MikePA · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Except, I fell real guilty when I'm busy with projects while they are off playing together. As a result, I've decided to put things off until they get older and can be a part of it or have something else they'd rather do like being with their friends.

Spencer and Mosey, I hope you don't read this as a lecture /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif, but from someone who has 'been there and done that'; Our oldest daughter is a freshman in college, our second daughter is a junior in high school. When they were young, the house we bought (and are still in) really needed a lot of work. It wasn't advertised as a handyman's special, but it should have been. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif So, it was very tempting to tell myself that when I was working on the next remodeling project, that I was providing for my family every time a school related event came along or the girls wanted to do something. I say 'tempting' because my natural inclination would be to work on a project than go to a park or a circus, etc. I kind of viewed the latter activities as a waste of time because the whole time I was there I kept thinking what I could have gotten done on whatever project was waiting at home.

Then something made me realize that my kids will never be this age again. I only had one chance to see their 4th grade Christmas play, only one chance to see my daughter's first 7th grade field hockey match, only one chance to play 'tea party' with my 2 year old, etc. The projects around the house wouldn't care that I attended the awards banquet, but my daughter would if I skipped it to hang drywall. Obviously, no one is in a position to to evaluate someone elses projects or to stand in judgement of their decisions. Please take this post as encouragement as well as a prayer that all of us with kids, or other family responsibilities, will find the right balance.

MarkV · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Spencer,

In my experience the house wrap will not make it through the winter any better than felt. When we need to use roof felt that is going be on for an extended amount of time with out shingles I do a couple of things. First I use 30 lbs felt rather than 15 lbs. The extra thickness seems to resist the wind a little better. I would attach the felt with plastic cap nails, which will hold better than staples. The second thing is we run 1x2's perpendicular to the direction of the felt runs and place them on roughly 3-foot centers. I don't get the snow you do but have had this set up last through some heavy winds and hold up well for a number of months.

Looks like you are doing a great job and it will sure be nice to have that much space when you are done.

MarkV

Anonymous Poster · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Spencer, thanks for the great photos as well as all the links that you provided for attachments, grading, etc. Great post.

I also had to think about the balance of what I did myself vs the time I could spend with family. Our kids are older, so most of the time they are on their own wavelength, but it's funny how they still need us when doubts or trouble arises.

Anyway, I've attached a picture of our new barn - 40 x 50. It will have slab, plumbing, shop, and bath facilities so I'm really looking forward to final completion. I decided to pay to have a barn company install it, then I subcontract the slab. Barn construction took 4 days. All the plumbing and prep for slab was done by me - I found that to be a good balance between what I could reasonably do and still not feel too overburdened by what needed to get done. I understand that it's really a huge accomplishment for what you've done - building a large structure is WORK!

On the roof, if you attach 30 lb felt (rather than standard 15 lb) with the large disc washers and/or wood strips, you would be surprised at how long it would hold up. Wind is your biggest challenge.

Great job you've done - please continue to post pics as time (and weather) permits!

JohnMiller3 · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

I think the 30 lb felt will suffice through the winter...but... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Since the roof is not started... and also since your pole barn is not sitting next to your home to conform for looks sake...

Have you considered a metal roof instead...? Should give you twice the longevity as shingles and being a one-man band... may be easier & quicker to install and perhaps cheaper...?

Just a thought... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

pajoube · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Spencer,
Again great shots of your progress which we are all enjoying.
One suggestion for the roof. Use 30 LB felt and run bailing twin along the base of each run and staple down. We use this in high wind areas and works well. The metal roof idea is one to consider.
PJ

cowboydoc · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Housewrap isn't an option as it will leak. If you think you can't finish it I would just wait until spring. If that osb board gets wet it will rot.

MikePA · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Do you think Tyvek would hold up? 
From the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tyvwek.com>Tyvek</A> web site;

Made from very fine, high-density polyethylene fibers, Tyvek® brand protective material offers all the best characteristics of paper, film and fabric in one material. This unique balance of properties, which cannot be found in any other material, makes Tyvek® lightweight yet strong; vapor-permeable, yet water-, chemical-, puncture-, tear- and abrasion-resistant...The unique qualities of Tyvek® help stop air flow through wall cavities; help hold out bulk water and wind-driven rain; and allow moisture vapor to escape from inside walls.

Mosey · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

I agree with the suggestion to use a metal roof. Since it's surrounded by large trees, you will have some fairly large branches falling on the roof during storms, and metal might hold up better.

You certainly have more determination than I do by putting up lights to work at night, etc. Is it just you and the Boomer doing the work?

Spencer · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

DUMBDOG, Thanks for the tip on the interlocking shingles, I will ask them about those at the lumberyard today.

Spencer · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

RobS, I use to live over near Mt. Pleasant in the late 70's but I am over on the West Michigan Lakeshore now (near Muskegon).

Spencer · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

MarkV, Thanks for the tip on the 30 pound felt and the plastic cap nails. As far as running the 1x2's vertically, what do you do with all of the nail holes in the felt when you remove them?

Spencer · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Chevdog, I just caught up on my reading over at CBN a few days ago and came across your posts there. It made me question my reasoning in my own project. You paid a lot more of course but you got a barn up in 4 days. I have been working on this for a long time and still do even have a roof on yet. I know for certain that my wife would just have preffered me to just hire it out. I did look into it last fall and couldn't believe the one quote I got. I called 3 different contractors that were highly recommended by our local lumber yard. Two of them actually came out and looked things over and talked to me. Only one of them actually got back to me with a bid. It was $17,500 to clear the building site, bring in the fill sand, and put up a 732 sq. ft. plain jane building w/concrete. Some of that money, probably $750, was for some related driveway clearing but still there was no way I was going to shell out that kind of money for a 732 sq. ft. building.

Spencer · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

JohnMiller3, a metal roof would be a good answer to my dilema. I really didn't even consider using metal when I was designing the building because I have heard a lot of negatives about them. I've heard that they are loud, that they need a lot of maintenance to keep them from leaking, and that they condensate on the inside. My wife probably wouldn't have been thrilled about the look either. I'm talking about the standard glavanized roofs that you see on a lot of ag buildings. There is another kind of metal roof that does look real nice. I don't know what it is called but I see them a lot down in Tennessee and that area while I am traveling.

Spencer · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

pajoube, can you further elaborate on the bailing twine? Wouldn't it need to be removed later when I go to put the shingles on?

Spencer · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

cowboydoc, I don't want the osb to rot so if I can't handle the project myself I guess I will have to hire it out.

Spencer · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

MikePA, thanks for looking that information up for me. I thought the stuff was real tough but others here have made it sound like a bad option. I have never worked with it so that is why I asked others who have.

Spencer · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Mosey, Yes it is mostly me and my Boomer who have done all of the work so far. I did get some help from different friends while I was setting the first of the poles. I had one friend help me set the main four corner posts and the center one in the back. Then another friend helped me set the other two in the back. Another friend helped me set three more, and then I had another friend help me set four of them. So out of the 29 posts I have set so far I had help on the first 14 of them. I just hate to bother my friends with something that I can do myself. I have helped a lot of friends on their projects and I do call in favors once in a while but if I can do it myself, I generally will. If it was still fall I would just plan a kind of party for the weekend and get it done that way. Now that it is winter I don't feel right asking people to come over and freeze their a$$ off.

cowboydoc · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

no way I was going to shell out that kind of money for a 732 sq. ft. building

I agree with you there. I built an 86x120 building last year and it would have cost around $70k to have it done like I did mine. I did it myself for around $30k. I wouldn't have half of what I do if I hired everything out. Plus there is quite alot of satisfaction when it's all done and you can look back and say I built that building.

What I would do if I was you on the roofing is look around for someone to hire on to help you do it instead of hiring someone else to do it. Or buy the buddies pizza and beverages for the weekend and do it that way. Roofing is really easy to do. Rent a couple of nailers and you should be able to complete it with 3 or 4 good days of work.

MikePA · Dec 3, 2002

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

I thought the stuff was real tough but others here have made it sound like a bad option
I just conducted a test with some Tyvek. I placed it on top of a coffee cup, made a small depression in the center and poured some water in. None of it has leaked through. So, I am hard pressed to see why Tyvek would not work and work better than builders felt for keeping out rain.

How do I happen to have some Tyvek just laying around? Many of the sleeves CDROMS come in are made of Tyvek. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif