Spencer's Pole Barn Project

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

I have been completely swapped with business this year, so I haven't had any time to devote to my barn (or my tractor). I am hoping that work will slow down some this winter so I can get some metal siding put on the barn. I would like your advice on what to look for when purchasing siding. A few different people have told me that there is a place in Michigan down by the Indiana border that is the best place to buy the steel. They say that it is the same place that some box stores and lumber yards get their steel from. Of course, the people who tell me about this place can never remember what the company is called. I did a little "Googling" tonight and came up with this place:
Michiana Building Supplies

Please take a look at their siding and tell me what you think. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

No it's still not done yet, but I am making some progess.

I still have a couple of more sections of concrete to pour to finish the floor in the barn. These sections will need floor drains to satisfy the township. I will be using 12"x12" plastic drains hooked up to 4" schedule 40 PCV pipe. Both drains will be run to a drywell.

I hate digging big holes so I thought I would let the tractor do it instead.

Pic attached

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

The water table is pretty high here so I decided to use a kind of "check valve" inline in the 4" schedule 40 PCV pipe. I don't want any ground water or gases to come up out of the ground and into my barn through the drains I am installing.

Here is a picture of the "check valve" that I am using.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

This is what it looks like on the inside of the check valve.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here is a picture with both drains run out to the hole where I will install a barrel filled with large limestone rocks to make the drywell.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Now were getting down to business. I spent a few days over Memorial Day weekend getting this section of the barn up to grade and compacted down.

Here is a picture of the conrete crew laying down the vapor barrier in this 24'x32' section of the barn.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here is the concrete going into this section.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here they are manually screeding it off for the first time.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here they are using a power screed.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here they are finishing up this section with the power screed.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here they are starting the pour on the 16'x16' section of the barn.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

We ordered a little extra concrete because we didn't want to run short (especially because it was Saturday). I was pretty sure I calculated everything correctly and because I did most of the grade work myself I was pretty confident that we wouldn't need that much extra concrete. So I had them frame up a 4'x8' section outside the 3'0" door opening just in case we had extra concrete.

Sure enough we had enough extra to do the 4'x8' section.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here is a picture of how much concrete was left over (waste) out of the 15 yards we ordered.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here is a picture of the 24'x32' section as they were waiting for it to dry some before they got on it with the power trowel.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here is the 16'x16' section drying.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

I wanted a 16'x32' approach to the 16'x16' section of the barn. We wanted to bring the approach area up to grade on Saturday while we were waiting for the concrete inside the barn to dry. Turns out that I didn't have enough fill sand on site so I had to get some brought it.

Here is a picture of the approach before we brought it up to the right grade.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

I had them dump about 13 to 15 yards of this 24 yard load of fill right by the approach so I could bring it in slowly with the tractor and let the concrete guys compact it as we went.

 

[thcri]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Gee, Spencer,

Here I thought you up'ed and moved away from us. How's life been treating you. Last time we talked you were pretty busy, looks like it is still going that way.

Welcome back,

murph

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Back to the concrete it the barn now. Here is the owner of the concrete company going over the 32'x32' section with the power trowel.

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Here is one of the workers doing some finish work on the 16'x16' section of the barn.