help on building a small pole barn / small animal shelter

Posted by coloradotrout on January 19, 2009, 5:28 pm

I need something for a few goats - two or three, and maybe a couple
llmas, etc. I'm thinking 8x8 or maybe 8x16, if I include a place to
keep food dry.

I have no experiene with this type of construction, but I do have some
woodworking experience and tools. I've just never built a shelter/
enclosure.

Is the pole (4x4) barn the way to go? I don't think I"m ready to
spend $s on a concrete footing, and perhaps in time we decide to move
this structure.

Posted by Colbyt on January 19, 2009, 6:26 pm

>I need something for a few goats - two or three, and maybe a couple
> llmas, etc. I'm thinking 8x8 or maybe 8x16, if I include a place to
> keep food dry.
> I have no experiene with this type of construction, but I do have some
> woodworking experience and tools. I've just never built a shelter/
> enclosure.
> Is the pole (4x4) barn the way to go? I don't think I"m ready to
> spend $s on a concrete footing, and perhaps in time we decide to move
> this structure.

In 1991 I built my first structure of this type and it is still standing.

I built an 8x8 to minimize the number of cuts and maximize the space. You
should adjust the stringer size for your spans or add an intermediate post..
I dug 6 holes below the heave level for here (18") in the sloping ground,
one for each corner and 2 extras on the front to reduce the door size. Then
I mixed and poured ready mix into each hole to a depth of about 6" and
allowed it to dry. One bag did 2 holes as I recall it now.

I then placed PT treated 4x4x8 in the hole, plumbed, braced it and poured
ready-mix to grade level. Again about 1/2 bag per hole.

When cured I came back, stuck a level line and sawed all the posts off at
the top. I used 2x6 stringers at the top, middle and 12" off the ground to
complete the frame. Actually I think I used 2x6 at the top and 2x4 for the
middle and the bottom but I don't recall for sure.

OSB for siding and a roof were added. Primed and painted and still in use
today though I don't own it anymore. I built this over a blacktop driveway
as a storage building. I don't think the base of the walls will last as
long over mud.

--
Colbyt
Please come visit www.househomerepair.com

Posted by Eric in North TX on January 19, 2009, 6:46 pm

" I don't think the base of the walls will last as
long over mud. "

That was my thought, I built a 3 sided pole building 13' X 26' for my
cows in '97, it is still standing and in daily use, but the lower
boards are in need of repair. I may use metal, like perlin to replace
them.
otherwise it has stood up well, several times it was hit with 80mph +
winds, & it never swayed or sustained damage. I didn't cement the
posts but went with small phone poles which take a lot more to rot
off.
I skinned it with R panel & roofed with corrugated. How ever big you
make it, you will likely with it was bigger. As to food storage, I
made an L shaped partition & left room for my barrels on the open
side. Consider position carefully, mine needed to face south to shield
the cows from the north wind in the winter & take advantage of the
cooling from the south wind in the summer.

Posted by coloradotrout on January 19, 2009, 11:23 pm

> " I don't think the base of the walls will last as
> long over mud. "
> That was my thought, I built a 3 sided pole building 13' X 26' for my
> cows in '97, it is still standing and in daily use, but the lower
> boards are in need of repair. I may use metal, like perlin to replace
> them.
> otherwise it has stood up well, several times it was hit with 80mph +
> winds, & it never swayed or sustained damage. I didn't cement the
> posts but went with small phone poles which take a lot more to rot
> off.
> I skinned it with R panel & roofed with corrugated. How ever big you
> make it, you will likely with it was bigger. As to food storage, I
> made an L shaped partition & left room for my barrels on the open
> side. Consider position carefully, mine needed to face south to shield
> the cows from the north wind in the winter & take advantage of the
> cooling from the south wind in the summer.

Posted by Colbyt on January 20, 2009, 4:13 pm

How did you do the roof? 8' on front and 7' are rear or similar?
Should I skin it with corrugated metal? That seems the simpliest,
though I don't know about cost compared to osb and a paint job.

On an 8x8 structure I did a hip roof of osb and shingles so that all the
real load was transferred to the corner posts and not bearing on the 2x6 top
stringer. It wound up being a point in the center with zero waste for the
roof decking as the triangle cut off one piece fit the other side.

Had I gone with 8x12 I would have done the same roof style for the same
reasons.

--
Colbyt
Please come visit www.househomerepair.com

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