If it were me, I think I would build a shop building and leave this one as a pole barn. 7 foot head clearance is always going to be an issue even working on lawn & garden stuff. But then, it's not my money......
Pole barn conversion ideas needed!
I have a small 20x36 existing pole barn on my property. The back half of the building is on a 4" existing slab. (20x18) - It used to be open poles with the sides of the backend boarded with original 150+ yr old cypress planks and had some inner walls. I took out the inner walls and built (2) 10' swinging gates on the front with the wood and some PT wood for the frame. I beefed up all of the existing poles (before adding the heavy cypress gates) with new 4x4 PT posts. Attached with lag screws, carriage bolts, etc. Added sides to the building and reinforced the whole building with 2x4 PT collar ties and hurricane straps on the rafters/joists.
I built a back wall onto the building and built a really HD workbench in the middle of the backwall (10 feet wide) - used 2x6 wood, (2) layers of 3/4" PLY and sheet of MFD for top and coated with 4 layers of urethane. Bench is attached to 2 4x4 PT beams into the concrete for the back and (2) 4x4 PT legs on the front ends. (notch cut into the posts with the 2x6 resting and lag bolted into the posts)
My plans:
Originally wanted a really nice --- electrified (well-lit), concrete floored workshop to do general home/farm repair, RC projects, car projects, etc in. No farm animals etc! I think sometimes I would be better off by building a new building for this and leaving this as a general farm storage building, but I just dont know.
The ceiling joists (which could be raised or eliminated with care) are at the 7' level --- kinda low. The peak of the roof is around 16'
My questions:
Originally I wanted to make this a work place for future projects etc but I have some issues to face:
1. Have all of my existing tractor/lawn garden equipment in this area. That easily takes up 1/4 of the building -
2. Tired of the dirt on the ground and equipment. Should I concrete the front 18x20? Cost? Was thinking about extending the concrete out in front of the building to make a nice landing. Ideas? (cost is a factor)
3. The building is not HVAC setup or insulated (mostly against heat down here in LA) --- open rafters, spaces between boards, openings, etc) --- what is the recommendation for this? Insulate and/or how? Or just leave it alone? (guess really dont need AC but would be really nice. How to insulate this beast? or just concrete it in and use workshop fans?) - going to need ventilation in some regard anyhow I guess.
Any comments?
Amdy
I built a back wall onto the building and built a really HD workbench in the middle of the backwall (10 feet wide) - used 2x6 wood, (2) layers of 3/4" PLY and sheet of MFD for top and coated with 4 layers of urethane. Bench is attached to 2 4x4 PT beams into the concrete for the back and (2) 4x4 PT legs on the front ends. (notch cut into the posts with the 2x6 resting and lag bolted into the posts)
My plans:
Originally wanted a really nice --- electrified (well-lit), concrete floored workshop to do general home/farm repair, RC projects, car projects, etc in. No farm animals etc! I think sometimes I would be better off by building a new building for this and leaving this as a general farm storage building, but I just dont know.
The ceiling joists (which could be raised or eliminated with care) are at the 7' level --- kinda low. The peak of the roof is around 16'
My questions:
Originally I wanted to make this a work place for future projects etc but I have some issues to face:
1. Have all of my existing tractor/lawn garden equipment in this area. That easily takes up 1/4 of the building -
2. Tired of the dirt on the ground and equipment. Should I concrete the front 18x20? Cost? Was thinking about extending the concrete out in front of the building to make a nice landing. Ideas? (cost is a factor)
3. The building is not HVAC setup or insulated (mostly against heat down here in LA) --- open rafters, spaces between boards, openings, etc) --- what is the recommendation for this? Insulate and/or how? Or just leave it alone? (guess really dont need AC but would be really nice. How to insulate this beast? or just concrete it in and use workshop fans?) - going to need ventilation in some regard anyhow I guess.
Any comments?
Amdy
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I don't know much about pole barns, I wonder about how long they will last with the wood in the ground to rot or be eaten by the dreaded termites. Around here if you put wood in or on the ground you are asking for rot and bugs. They have some real nice metal buildings advertised in the paper and ads in the mail, they are not real expensive. Depending on what you call expensive!!!!! You could certainly insulate them and add whatever outlets you need. I have a 16 x 32 shop with double doors out one end that will allow my tractor and other items through. It has power and water to the shop, and is insulated. It used to be used for dog kennels and has a bathtub and toilet. No hot water, but a tub. I plan to take out the tub and put in a utility sink in for general clean up. Sorry for the long rant but the features are nice and though it might be something to think about. Good luck and keep us posted!
A few weeks ago concrete was going for between $45.00 & $55.00 a yard. I just average it at about $50.00. 4.4436 yards would be $222.18. It may have gone up by now, but I haven't seen concrete above $55.00. I may need to get in touch with reality though. LOL. I can't drink beer because of my medicine, and I'm down to about 30 cups of coffee a day now, and my laboring days are behind me, but I'd be happy to come watch though. ( I even take my big S.S. coffee bottle everywhere I go ) Come to think of it, looking at it in that perspective, I'm just taking up space.
Brother in-laws barn
Andy this is my brother in-laws pole barn if he ever finshes it itll be nice. Might give you some ideas dont know how big it is but it big.
Jody
Andy this is my brother in-laws pole barn if he ever finshes it itll be nice. Might give you some ideas dont know how big it is but it big.
Jody
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pole barn
This is my building project:
It is farther along ,but lazy about pics
This is my building project:
It is farther along ,but lazy about pics
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