Pole Barn Recommendations/Advice (floor, how much, ceiling, furniture)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We are looking at building a pole barn to store things in. We have a pop up camper, a minvan and a large old 80's car to store in it as well as misc. garden tools etc.
How big do you think it should be?
Any other advice you would give based on experience.
We are looking at building a pole barn to store things in. We have a pop up camper, a minvan and a large old 80's car to store in it as well as misc. garden tools etc.
How big do you think it should be?
Any other advice you would give based on experience.
It should be large enough to hold all the items mentioned. The old car should be up off the bare ground... moisture will help rust it out.
Minimum garage depth is about 20'. Then figure about 10' width for each vehicle.
So, you got two vehicles then a "1/2" vehicle (the camper) and miscl. tools-
At a minimum you'd be looking at 20'X30'. Be practical, and allow enough space at the ends of vehicles to walk around- 25' deep. Then go a little extra side to allow an area for a workbench a other semi-permanent power tools; etc.- 40'
Also consider a ceiling hgt of at least 12'. Some people will go 14' and build a mezzanine/storage loft on the back wall for additional storage.
And the answer is:
25X40- and you'll be surprised how fast it can fill up.
I did an "L" shaped building with the long side being 48' and the short side 28'. Each section is 16' wide and the entire thing is roofed so that gives me 960 sf of enclosed space plus a roofed over area on the inside of the "L" that is 32 x 12 (384 sf).
I use the space for yard and garden equipment - 4 wheeler, rough cut tow behind mower for the pasture, ride on mower, walk behind mower, garden tools and outdoor furniture storage, potting bench etc. It has an 8' wide ramp on the inside of the long section of the L to access the space as well as a dutch door into the dog run section.
The short section of the L does not have a floor and handles two 10 x 10 dog runs for foster dogs. This area still has just a dirt floor but perhaps this summer will be the one that I finally get a concrete slab with drainage poured and also get electrical power run out to it from the garage so I can have more than just daylight for it.
I concur with the other posters who have said that it will fill up fast and that you should go as big as you can afford.
This is why I refuse to buy even a garden shed. I've seen too many people where it's the start of a vicious cycle. First, you build storage for the stuff you have. Then, because you have extra space, you buy more stuff (or don't getting rid of stuff). Repeat until someday in the future your heirs have a really big estate sale so that people with recently built pole barns can fill them.
That's pretty funny Moby. Quite often true though.
When I built, there were 2 of us in a new house. No way I thought I'd ever use up a 1500 sq/ft building (on top of the 2 gar attached garage).
Then came the utility tractor, ZTR, UTV, ATV (then the kids so add more ATV's), wood cutting equipment, shop area, meat freezers, kids toys you don't want all over the yard... Instead of 2 sedans, it's a sedan, truck, mini-van and now the daughter's car. Everything gets used so it's usable "stuff".
Thanks for the advice--initially I was looking at 30x50 and then in order to save costs went down to 30x36--but I think maybe I really need something in between like 30X40....I'm thinking the camper followed by the big car (the two longest things I have) which I think are around 32 combined...
Also thoughts on insulation? Worth it?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
