zannej
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My old very large wooden barn got destroyed by a falling tree. Parts of it are still standing but the cows are afraid to go into it most of the time, it no longer offers them sufficient shelter, and I'm afraid it will collapse completely any day.
I initially just wanted a small 12'x16' building with double doors that could be left open. Since I'm terrible about procrastinating and it's too large of a project for me to take on myself, I decided to look at prefab or professionally installed ones. I went to a lot with different examples. The pre-made OSB ones were absolute garbage and require a subfloor to be put in. They were also more expensive. But mostly, they were poorly built with crappy materials. On the way up, I saw some of the metal buildings and there was one with a lean to on the side that had rolls of hay under it. There were some of the metal buildings that had a lean to. I also saw ones with sort of a porch area (mostly ones that were like carport with storage at the end). I saw one brand called American Steel Carports and liked what they had. The seller didn't have much info for me. No catalogs. Told me to text him what I wanted and he'd find the price. I decided to go to the ASC website to check out the options and found they had an app to design stuff. I was limited by their options, but was able to design Something I liked.
12'x16' storage area with 4' x 16' porch (with closed in gable for extra wind protection). 6'w x 7' tall pull down door (it was the only door style option for the large entry). 8'w x 20'L lean to on the right w/ closed in right walls and back right side closed in. 36"x80" walk-in door on right side (they only showed outswing but I want inswing). They apparently do insulation and I'm debating whether it would be better to have them do it or to buy some reflectix myself to put it up. The former would probably be easier but latter would be cheaper. Side posts for storage would be 10' tall and lean to would be 8' (so it could meet up with same roof line as the storage with a 3/12 pitch).
I would like a couple of wooden cross braces spanning the inside of the storage building so I could hang shop lights.
Inside the floor will be dirt but I will put down stall mats. I will put up some sort of divider near the side door to keep cows away-- even if it's just some sort of railing like on a porch. I can store feed in that area. In the lean-to, I want to run a waterline over and set up a hose bib and move the automatic waterer in there so it won't have leaves dropping in it constantly. I can set up paving stones underneath it to level it. I'll have room for rolls of hay to go in (they are 5' x 6' from what I understand).
The most complicated part, IMO, will be the gable fan. I want a solar powered one so it will function if the main power goes out (also, I don't want to screw around with trying to run power out to it from my meter (not sure if they could tap in to one of the lines that heads down to the workshop). I'll have to get pics and check the ground for level and figure out the right spot. Back side of it will be facing south.
Trying to pick the fan and the gable vent is giving me a little trouble as I don't know enough about them. There's a 12" diameter option that comes with a 100w solar panel and batteries (but I'm not sure how to hook an inverter up to run shop lights and maybe an outlet-- not sure how much a ceramic heater would need to draw or what sort of outlet- 15amp? less?) Maybe I should look for solar powered heaters. LOL. Worst case, I can have more than one solar panel. HomeDepot & Lowes have this QuetCool kit w/ 40w solar panel (but I'm not sure what size gable vent I'd need for it). Could I get a larger gable vent and block add extensions from framing around it to attach the fan and cover up gaps? I want a round gable vent if possible.
There's also this 100w solar panel kit w/ 12" fan that comes with a battery and built in charge controller.
I saw a small kit with a separate controller and alligator clips to go on a 20AH battery. Or I could get a better controller... I'm not sure what to get. LOL. I made a collage of ideas.
Anyone know much about solar power? or gable fans?
As for the barn, this is the design:
My crappy concept sketch:
The professional one from American Steel (I modified it for door swing)
Specs:
I need to move the door backward more on the wall and include info for light placement.
This is something that will only go forward if the price point is low enough. I only heard back from the installer once and he told me to send him a sketch (I'd already sent him a link). I don't think he checks his texts often. I'm also going to request a price quote from American Steel Carports.
I initially just wanted a small 12'x16' building with double doors that could be left open. Since I'm terrible about procrastinating and it's too large of a project for me to take on myself, I decided to look at prefab or professionally installed ones. I went to a lot with different examples. The pre-made OSB ones were absolute garbage and require a subfloor to be put in. They were also more expensive. But mostly, they were poorly built with crappy materials. On the way up, I saw some of the metal buildings and there was one with a lean to on the side that had rolls of hay under it. There were some of the metal buildings that had a lean to. I also saw ones with sort of a porch area (mostly ones that were like carport with storage at the end). I saw one brand called American Steel Carports and liked what they had. The seller didn't have much info for me. No catalogs. Told me to text him what I wanted and he'd find the price. I decided to go to the ASC website to check out the options and found they had an app to design stuff. I was limited by their options, but was able to design Something I liked.
12'x16' storage area with 4' x 16' porch (with closed in gable for extra wind protection). 6'w x 7' tall pull down door (it was the only door style option for the large entry). 8'w x 20'L lean to on the right w/ closed in right walls and back right side closed in. 36"x80" walk-in door on right side (they only showed outswing but I want inswing). They apparently do insulation and I'm debating whether it would be better to have them do it or to buy some reflectix myself to put it up. The former would probably be easier but latter would be cheaper. Side posts for storage would be 10' tall and lean to would be 8' (so it could meet up with same roof line as the storage with a 3/12 pitch).
I would like a couple of wooden cross braces spanning the inside of the storage building so I could hang shop lights.
Inside the floor will be dirt but I will put down stall mats. I will put up some sort of divider near the side door to keep cows away-- even if it's just some sort of railing like on a porch. I can store feed in that area. In the lean-to, I want to run a waterline over and set up a hose bib and move the automatic waterer in there so it won't have leaves dropping in it constantly. I can set up paving stones underneath it to level it. I'll have room for rolls of hay to go in (they are 5' x 6' from what I understand).
The most complicated part, IMO, will be the gable fan. I want a solar powered one so it will function if the main power goes out (also, I don't want to screw around with trying to run power out to it from my meter (not sure if they could tap in to one of the lines that heads down to the workshop). I'll have to get pics and check the ground for level and figure out the right spot. Back side of it will be facing south.
Trying to pick the fan and the gable vent is giving me a little trouble as I don't know enough about them. There's a 12" diameter option that comes with a 100w solar panel and batteries (but I'm not sure how to hook an inverter up to run shop lights and maybe an outlet-- not sure how much a ceramic heater would need to draw or what sort of outlet- 15amp? less?) Maybe I should look for solar powered heaters. LOL. Worst case, I can have more than one solar panel. HomeDepot & Lowes have this QuetCool kit w/ 40w solar panel (but I'm not sure what size gable vent I'd need for it). Could I get a larger gable vent and block add extensions from framing around it to attach the fan and cover up gaps? I want a round gable vent if possible.
There's also this 100w solar panel kit w/ 12" fan that comes with a battery and built in charge controller.
I saw a small kit with a separate controller and alligator clips to go on a 20AH battery. Or I could get a better controller... I'm not sure what to get. LOL. I made a collage of ideas.
Anyone know much about solar power? or gable fans?
As for the barn, this is the design:
My crappy concept sketch:
The professional one from American Steel (I modified it for door swing)
Specs:
Structure Details | |
Style: Utility | |
Installation Surface: Dirt | |
Roof: Slate Blue | |
Trim: Pewter Gray | |
Gable End Wall: Slate Blue | |
Side Wall: Slate Blue | |
Base Price: 12‘x20' | |
Back Storage Depth: 16' | |
Roof Style: A-Frame Vertical | |
Roof Pitch: 3 / 12 | |
Roof Overhang: 6" | |
Gauge: 12-Gauge Framing | |
Brace: Standard Brace | |
Leg Height: 10' | |
Left Side: Fully Enclosed | |
Left Side Siding: Horizontal | |
Front End: Gable End | |
Front End Siding: Horizontal | |
Storage Right Side: Fully Enclosed | |
Storage Right Side Siding: Horizontal | |
Storage Front End: Fully Enclosed | |
Storage Front End Siding: Horizontal | |
Storage Back End: Fully Enclosed | |
Storage Back End Siding: Horizontal | |
Trusses: Standard | |
Right Lean Base Price: 8‘x20' | |
Right Lean Type: Lean only | |
Right Lean Roof Pitch: 3 / 12 | |
Right Lean Gauge: 12-Gauge Framing | |
Right Lean Brace: Standard Brace | |
Right Lean Leg Height: 8' | |
Right Lean Right Side: Fully Enclosed | |
Right Lean Right Side Siding: Horizontal | |
Right Lean Back End: Left Side With Gable End | |
Right Lean Back End Siding: Horizontal | |
Right Lean Connection Fee Side to Side (12-24 wide) 20'L | |
Doors & Ramps | |
Storage 6' x 7' Roll-Up Door | |
Walk-In Door (36 x 80) |
I need to move the door backward more on the wall and include info for light placement.
This is something that will only go forward if the price point is low enough. I only heard back from the installer once and he told me to send him a sketch (I'd already sent him a link). I don't think he checks his texts often. I'm also going to request a price quote from American Steel Carports.