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.

"coloradotrout" wrote in message
...
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

" 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.

On Jan 19, 5:46*pm, Eric in North TX wrote:
" 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.

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.

Any books or websites to study?

On Jan 19, 5:46*pm, Eric in North TX wrote:
" 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.

the posts. I was thinking 4x4 treated. And I was thinking to
just tamp then in 18"-24" (need to verify frost line in NE KS). But
the small "pad" of concrete may be a better idea. Former neighbor's
builder did that for a large horsebarn. I think he just stat the post
on the pad and then backfilled with soil. In my case, should I decide
to tear down and move, it would not be an impossible task.

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.

Any books or websites to study?

I did a slightly peaked roof with the ridge about 4' from the front, I
used 2X6 rafters, then 2x4s perpendicular on 2' centers to screw the
roofing into.
Id have to measure the height, but the open side is tall enough to let
my backhoe hood slip under including the exhaust. That helps when
cleaning & setting round bales of bedding.
I wish I'd used R panel for the roof, but the corrugated is adequate
and cheaper, however, every time you walk on it you have to go inside
with a broom handle and knock the dents out.
I just don't like or trust OSB, and paint and animals don't mix, if
you paint the inside expect to do it annually. they rub on the walls,
they throw bedding, and unless the are better behaved than mine, they
poop everywhere.

On Jan 19, 4:28*pm, coloradotrout wrote:
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.

8x16 is to small for 5 animals I think

"coloradotrout" wrote in message
...

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

On Jan 20, 2:51*am, wrote:
On Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:28:43 -0800 (PST), coloradotrout

wrote:
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.

I've built many of these. *An 8x8 is really small for even a few
goats, and if you add a couple llmas, you're way too small. *An 8X16
is better, but if you want feed storage space, still too small. *I'd
suggest this. *Put treated posts every 8 feet. *That means you need 6
posts for an 8X16 shed. *Yes, 4x4 posts will work, but 4x6's are
better. *Put them in the ground at least 3 feet deep. * Make the rear
wall 8 foot high, the front 10 ft high. *If you make a door smaller
than 8 ft wide, you will need one more post.

Then put 2x6 boards horizontally around the whole thing at 2 foot
spacing. *Make the bottom ground level 2x6's TREATED. *On the angled
sides, use a 2x6 to follow the roofline. *Now frame in the roof,
putting a 2x8 from front to back on the center posts. *Put 2x4's ON
EDGE every 2 feet for the roof, using the center 2x8 to overlap the
2x4's (get 10 foot 2x4s) *To nail them on edge, buy hurricane straps
(metal fastners made for this). *Then cover the whole shed with steel
siding (pole barn steel). *Use the approved neoprene washer nails or
screws to prevent leaks, especially on the roof. *The supplier of the
steel will provide all the information you need.
This is one manufacturer (sold at Menards). *They can furnish you with
all the details, and what trim to use to finish the job.http://www.midwestmanufacturing.com/...groupTypeID=2&...

The door can be hinged, or sliding, your choice. *A sliding door is a
little tougher to install, the seller of the door tracking can provide
that help too.

OK, so you finished the animal shed. *Now, on the rear of the shed,
build a 6x6 (or larger) leanto. *The roof will go from your 8 ft
height down to around 6.5 feet. *Do everything the same. *You can
probably get by with only 2 foot depth on those posts, and just 4x4s.
This will be your feed room. *NEVER keep the feed in by the animals.
They can AND WILL eat all of it, and get sick or die. *Plus animals
need ventilation (like under the door), and that will attract rodents.
With your feed in a separate feed room, you can put a regular solid
door on that room to keep rodents out (you may also need to concrete
the floor, or get cheap patio blocks, or rodents will dig under the
walls.

Put a window in your feed room if you wish. *I'd put some sort of
window in the animal part too, but be sure it's high enough to avoid
broken glass and thus animal injuries. *Be sure to put in some sort of
ventilation (which could be a combined opening window HIGH on the
walls). *

This should get you started. *There are books and websites for pole
barn building, as well as free brochures from the lumber yards. *

PS. My barn, has 9 foot spacing of the posts. *I built it that way
because the steel siding comes in 3 foot wide (coverage). *That way I
did not have to cut sheets of steel. *I used 6x6 posts because of the
wider spacing. *Of course I built a much larger barn. *I'd recommend
using the 9 foot spacing, and make a 9x18 shed, with a 6x9 feed room,
to match the post spacing. *A 9 ft. roof needs a little overhang on
the roof steel, so that way a 10ft sheet of steel is perfect for the
roof. Always overhang the roof steel or water will run down the walls
on the inside, and rot the wood, ruin your feed, etc.

As a final note, I originally built a 6x6 feed room on my barn. *That
was way too small. *Now it's 6x12 after I moved the end wall and added
on. *I know you want to save $, but dont cut too many corners and
later have to rebuild. *

Dont forget to install a few lights too. *In my case, I built the barn
about 16 feet from my garage so I just used the garage breaker box to
run 3 circuits over to the barn (in underground conduit). *I use my
barn for horses, and I run some heated water tanks in winter, so I
needed 3 - 20A circuits. *Also, dont forget you'll need a nearby water
source for the animals.

Consider all of this before you begin.

Good Luck

LM


LM,

So for your barn, the design would be to drop in 3 rows of posts..
Row 1 at something like 9' high; 2nd row 8' high, and 3rd row 7'
high. They would be spaced 9' apart. The 9' to 8' area would be for
critters, the 8' to 7' would be for feed. It would be one continuous
roof and should be 19' - 6" so the 10' sections overlap by 6" or so.
From what I've seen it's easier to set the posts close to ideal
height, and then later trim them to fit.

Can I use a 4x4? Or must I use 4x6 or 6x6? It seems that is a load
bearing question.