What ceiling height?

[Delta Dave]

I might build a barn before I buy a new tractor and wanted to make sure the ceiling height was enough. The tractor will most likely either be a 4x4 Kubota M6040 or JD 5303. I know that they need a little over 8' to get in so I was thinking of a 10' ceiling, but is there a need to have a ceiling higher than 10'?

Thanks,
DD

 

[radman1]

Always go higher than what you need. 10' should be ok for those tractors. Be sure you don't want something in the future taller. Motorhome, travel trailer etc. Doesn't cost much more to go to 12 or 14'. I built mine at 12' and wish I had gone 14'. Cement truck could just barely get in my 12' to pour cement. You will lose some height if you pour cement. Consider use of pallet racks for storage in the future. 10' may be a little low for putting stuff on pallet racks.

 

[Delta Dave]

The floor will be poured first, so it would be 10' over the slab. I'm not worried about other items like Motorhomes, this will be at my camp 3 hours away and the only thing I plan on keeping in the barn is the tractor, implements, tools and an aluminum boat. I'm mainly worried about is there any reason to raise the FEL higher than 10' to work on the tractor. Or something else, I might not be thinking of. The pallet racks is a good reason to raise it, but I'm not sure yet.

 

[mjarrels]

Up... Up... and away... Taller is always better... I went with 10' and when floor was finished, ended up being 9' 4"... Also, go with wide doors!

mark

 

[BarryinMN]

Consider the door. An overhead will cost you 12"-18" including the garage door opener.

My barn is 40x60x10 Pallet racking on the sidewalls is 8', 10' on the endwalls. Caveat is the trusses may interfere with the forklift hardware as it rises above the top shelf.

I bought a small gasoline hard tire forklift that extends to 12' so I can put bulky light stuff on top of the rafters. Fishing boat, long lumber I use for concrete forms etc.

 

[ray66v]

Don't count on 12" of head room being enough for the door and opener. It was not enough on my barn. I needed 2" more for the opener. Figure on the safe side, a minimum 15" of head room, If you want an overhead opener.

 

[Delta Dave]

I plan on installing swinging doors, so overhead doors will not be an issue.

 

[Wesdor]

You will need more than 10' walls to get a 10' ceiling. As Barry said, your door will need clearance.

I put in 12' walls on the building with 10' overhead doors and there isn't a lot of extra clearance room for the doors.

If you put in a 10' door then you need to go higher with the walls.

Just be sure and have fun building your barn. Not everyone gets those fun moments.

 

[CurlyDave]

I plan on installing swinging doors, so overhead doors will not be an issue.

You will still need some kind of doorframe. Don't wimp out on height.

There is an as-yet-to-be-invented gadget in your future, and it may be tall.

 

[skipmarcy]

I built my house/garage on a slab (poured concrete first), did 10' (pre-cut studs) on the garage walls. I made 2, 5' wide garage doors which are side-hinged. The 2x12 door header takes clearance down to 8'11". If you're not going to use the loader inside the garage, 10' should be more than enough. Those that say it doesn't cost much more to go 12, 14 or 15' must not be considering all the extra materials - siding, insulation, interior wall covering etc. It adds considerably to the total price, in my opinion.