Stable / hay storage build

[Mike476]

The ground in my area has hard pan about 8 inches down, about 8-18 inches thick depending where you're at. I compacted the dirt beneath the blocks before laying them, which some people will tell you means it will be more affected by frost than if I hadn't compacted it but I wanted it to be on level / firm ground.

At the end of the day, probably more for my peace of mind than anything else, I think I'll put 4 anchors down. I went through the trouble of putting the hurricane ties on the trusses, we can get fairly strong winds in this part of the province and with the way the weather is going, better safe than sorry.

 

[dave1949]

My guess is that with the horses, stored hay, bedding, and some snow, it isn't going to freeze much below the building. But that is not a very educated guess. :laughing:

Yeah, who knows about the wind, so you are probably smart to put some anchors down. It can't hurt. If you think it will frost heave, you could make-up something that has some expansion ability between the ground anchor and the building attachment. Chain is something you could monitor, leave a link or three of slack and see if it gets taken up over the winter.

 

[dieselscout80]

Can you post a drawing of your barns layout.

It looks great.

 

[Mike476]

Thanks, regrettably I'm not a CAD program kind of guy and unfortunately all my drawings / scratches are on a whirl board at home in my shop, but I made this up quickly to hopefully give you an idea of dimensions etc.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Nice job...and it only took you 5 posts to complete it

We have an old barn that has the same foundation as you used. It had been standing close to 80 years.

 

[Mike476]

Nice job...and it only took you 5 posts to complete it

Lol, 21 days compressed into just a few photos. I laugh because my wife and I planned to do a better job taking pics all the way through the project but it's hard to let go of a truss and get off a wall to grab a camera..........

Farmers I spoke to here in the Valley either recommended post and beam or this method. I preferred on block to post and beam, buried poles will last for years and years but I like the idea of trying to keep wood out of / off the ground where possible.

 

[dieselscout80]

Thanks

I like it nice work.

 

[Mike476]

Just spoke with my wife, she spent an enjoyable 45 minutes out of the weather the other day, which was blustery winds and rain, grroming the horses and she said the only thing that was missing was a little music, and while the six 100 watt lights do a good job it sounds like I may need to consider going with fluorescent. Now that Fall is approaching and the days are getting shorter lighting is becoming more important for ferrier visits etc.

Looks like I'll have a few more things to do when I get home again, all good.

 

[WM75Guy]

Good lighting is a blessing if you do anything at night. I used 8' fixtures, each has 4 4' 32W T8 bulbs. Each row is switched independent of the other side. The vet really appreciated it on a late night call.

 

[Mike476]

Very nice. I've been debating concrete or brick for my wakway. Nice stall doors too, I have the material to make mine but again time is something I usually find myself short of.