So I have looked through some old posts and found some info but looking for other opinions. I would like to put up a woodworking/Rv storage shop about 60x65x16, was going with a basic steel framed building. Until the wife decided it was too big and ugly, she would rather have a barn type building like a monitor barn style. Well I have found the steel building limited in the designs plus steel prices have gone up 40% in the last month.
So I am looking at pole building which I have always been against, so what are the opinions out there and the experiences with the pole building. Any warping of posts and metal sides opening up or posts rotting? I know the posts are PT and should be packed with 5/8″ minus to drain but still I am leary. Thanks for the input Jeff
Replies
jeff... looking at your dimensions.. what kind of a grid are you planning for the interior posts... 15' one way ? x 16' the long way ?
the posts should be treated to .60 retention... rot is almost not a worry...
really.. pole construction is very flexible and will probably suit your needs.. i really lie it..
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I'm not sure on the spacing I have only looked at steel so far for design and the actual size was width 60' sidewall 61' and eve height 16' the bays were at 20'.
You may not need interior posts. A local truss maker regular advertises that they can make trusses up to 60' span.
Jeff,
Why don't you make both you and the Mrs. happy and just build a pole barn in the monitor style?
I've done one before and of course they have been made out of heavy timber for ages. In fact, I think it would be the best decision for you considering the dimensions you gave. A 60' gable end would be looming, but if you break it up into thirds with a clerestory area you will only be talking a 20 foot gable flanked by two twenty foot sheds.
The one I built was an antique furniture restoration woodshop and had a sweet loft as an office.
Also, why not use wood on the outside. My project had 2x4 perlins every 48" up the walls and was sheathed like a normal build...we then sided with cedar shake for a great looking rustic barn. But you could even use vinyl or whatever.
hope I helped some
gk
Gabe,
Got any pics? I'm confused by the term "Monitor style" not sure how to picture what this type of barn looks like. Anybody got pics of this design? You mentioned "clerestory"...now that design configuration I understand...but the monitor thing is over my head.
Just real curious.
For the record, I'd build the exact same style of barn/workshop that was depicted in FHB's Tools & Shops No. 160 edition as depicted on page 92. Gabe, is this style by chance is what you are referring to? If so, I'm all for it.
Thanks.
Davo
Dave,
Yeah, that's a variation on a monitor (as you have seen) The monitor is also called a Raised Center Aisle barn because of it's extensive use as a horse barn where the horse stables are under the sheds and the center aisle opens on both ends. The clerestory area combined with the end doors make for a very efficient cooling system.
I couldn't find the pictures of the one I did. It was similar to that pg90 barn, except it had three sets of doors and no third roof system. It did have that pointed overhang on the second roof. Here we call that a "thunderbird" but I think it is technically called a bailer's cape.
I wouldn't fear fire in a pole building....what building likes fires (none). If you want you can sheet rock the interior....or better...put the wood on the outside and the metal on the inside. I did a polebarn fire station that had metal inside...looked really good. we used white but I bet galv would look cool too.
but hey, wudda I no.
gk
Re pole barns, one thing to be aware of (something that burned a coworker) is that when they specify height they speak in terms of "wall" height, which is essentially the outside height of the wall. The inside height will be 8-10 inches shorter.
I've built several "pole" barns, garages, etc. Great buildings IMO. Most of them have been sided with steel, but one was sided with 2x8 fir that we had milled to "box car" shape. Owner/architect loved it even though I designed it myself.
You can still get CCA treated if it's an "ag" building, so be sure you call it that!
Something is what it does.
Dang, that's a big building.
If you're doing woodworking *and* RV storage, are you sure you want it all in one building? If you have a fire everything will be gone. Pole barns don't last long in fires.
As someone already mentioned, clear span wood trusses are a piece of cake at 60'. Depending on the spacing and your local loading requirements they might be either one or 2 plies.
Like Davo, I have no idea what "monitor style" means. Any info about that would be appreciated.
Without fools the rest of us could not succeed [Mark Twain]
The "monitor" is the raised section at the peak of the roof with windows. It is to increase air circulation in the barn. Picture:
http://www.metal-steel-buildings.com/monitor-barns.html
Thanks for the link.
If you don't want to actually USE the space in the "tower" part of the building, it can be built into the trusses. That would eliminate the need for interior posts.
But if you want to use the space, I suspect you're stuck with posts.I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity [Alexander the Great]
Your wife is right. 60x65 would be an ugly thing unless you've a lot of land on which to hide it.
I looked at the monitor kit that someone else posted. Proportion doesn't look right to me. Looks awkward. If you think so too, check out http://www.ashlandbarns.com He's got lots of monitor plans with more elegant looks.....leastwise to me.
Nice thing about an old-fashioned monitor is that they're tall enough to get some of your space upstairs if you like.
ShelleyinNM