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| Hoping to finally put up a barn this year. I have/had an amish guy who is interested, but he's about 45 mins mins away and calls once in a while. I've also been looking at kits. Barn will be 40 x 60 or 40 x 80...14' to the trusses. I can wrench well, decent with carpentry. I have some machines around..Bigger bobcat, backhoe, tractor and 60' manlift. I'm just curious if push came to shove and I get stuck with no help or very little, how feasible it is to do this alone? |
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| Not with one person one a building that size. Need 2 guys at least .really 3 minimum |
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| Building a 40 x 56 by my self now with a loader tractor. I have built several by my self. It's doable, just takes time and you need to be careful. I will probably get a couple guys to help set the trusses but, I have done 24' by my self. |
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West Chazy, New York | You really need help for the trusses but can probably do the rest yourself. There are enough things where two can work more efficiently than one that your total hours will probably be higher. |
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East Central wisconsin | Its doable. But remember the building is most vulnerable to wind and storms, while under construction. As each layer of structure goes on, it all adds to its over all strength. So the longer it takes to finish, the more likely to encounter a storm. That could bring it all down. Good luck.
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NE Nebraska | The guy that built dads 40x60x14 pole barn shed did everything except set the poles and trusses by himself, even carried roof sheets up the ladder by himself. I couldn't but he was very good and knew what he was doing. He was also in his 50's at the time. |
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central mich | About 15 years ago I had a big guy build a 60 x60 x16 and he did it by himself except for setting trusts. I am not sure about the posts. But I know he did all the nailer and steel by himself with ladders. He was a beast and built all his buildings by himself. |
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| Built my 40 x 60 several years ago. Had two buddies help set poles, do trusses and roof steel. I saved a whole $3000. Will NEVER do that again. Could have had it up in 4 days verses 2 months! |
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NC Iowa | I knew a guy that did it. Took a lot of time a wind came up and twisted his trusses as he didn't have them tied together with all the pirlins yet.
My advise would be to hire it done and save money some easier way.
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Extreme SW Minnesota Iowa border | I will be the odd man, and say, if you do it yourself, you can control the quality better. I just did a 48x52, mostly by myself, had some help with the tin. it was a monoslope, and could do it one piece at a time. Would do it again. |
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KY | It can be done, but you really should get some help with the trusses. If you're the least bit creative, poles are no problem with a loader to set them. Just need the help with the trusses for safety sake. |
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East-Central Ontario | Depends how you want to go about it. Even the Amish crews here will often assemble the trusses, webbing/sheating on the ground and have a crane set the whole thing up |
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SW Ohio | I did, almost. 40x48x12, started out as a freestall barn for heifers, used chicken house trusses and everything else new, 4x6 poles, dug with a 9" post hole auger and finished with a hand held. hung the trusses myself but had help with the roof tin, the rest was all me, in between milkings to boot, took a long time and really messed up my back. Currently needing another barn and have enough stuff to build it with but no labor, and think I could do it again but then common sense kicks in and says no way old man.
If you do decide to go it alone, #1 be safe, if you fall off the ladder it will take even longer to finish. #2 use lots of bracing even temporary. #3 get creative holding the other end of the board while you climb the ladder to work on the near end. #4 take any extra help you can get and use it for the two man parts. |
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juniata co. Pennsylvania | Have a 50x80 here thought about building myself along with help did not do it . The guys that did it All in 3 days would've took me probably 2 weeks . It can be done if you have time . For me it was a no brainer I had to many other things to do that paid . Let it to the pros |
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Elmwood, Ne. Just East of Lincoln | I have done a few pretty much alone. Myself and my 77 year old dad pretty much did this one. 60x96x20. It was only doable because I bought a Skyjack scissor lift so I could stand right there and work safely. Had a couple extras on rafter day. Other than that we handled it alone. I did the entire roof by myself so I wouldn't have to worry about liability if someone fell. Took me about 3 months to get completely done but it was during the winter and I'm a fair weather carpenter.
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NC Indiana | We set the poles on ours, mom's cousin put up all the stringers and headers, then we set the rafters and he put most of the roof and lower sides on himself and built the doors which we helped hang along with metal for the peak. He made a jig and pre drilled all the full sheets of metal to help with setting it. |
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N Dakota, S Dakota | It can be done alone but it's not safe.
There are several stages (such as setting trusses, tying roof purlins and setting lowers) that can't be done safely alone.
No timely help either if an accident happens and you're by yourself.
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| I priced a 60x120x16 and buying the kit versus bring it done was about 6k. I can't build it that fast or cheap. Plus all my friends are lazy so no help there. Plus being the only bread winner, I can't afford to be hurt. Lumber companies supply the materials and bring Amish crews out. Write one big check. Done in 2.5 days. Make sure to go over plans with builder and watch them as they work. No problems |
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Southeast South Dakota | doing my 48'x96' myself now -
doable - have a genie s40 boomlift - wouldn't even attempt without that -
i made the poles as I went up - made it easier -
we (had a guy stand in bucket) and used manlift to lift the trusses in place - I would climb ladder up sidewall to bolt each end of the truss - throw him a couple purlins and he would put them on then unhook and go on - all the rest could be done by myself - roof tin was 25' long sheets - putthose up by myself - wall sheets are going up by myself - sister comes once in a while to help hold one or get one in place around a window - haven't found an easy way to go around windows yet
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Southeast South Dakota | If you want to, it can be done.
Building my 48' x 96' now...
Have a genie s40 boomlift - wouldn't attempt without that.
Used the genie to put up the trusses - Neighbor came, stood in bucket, got truss in proper place, I climbed ladder on each sidewall and bolted it in place, threw him a couple purlins that he would put on, then unhook chain and onto the next....
I did roof sheets all by myself, can do wall sheets, but it is tougher around the windows, sometimes my sister comes to get one in place.
Mine is not ordinary. Custom the way I wanted it. 2X8 3 ply posts, functioning cupolas with windows, it is a big job.
But had to see if I could do it.
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Northeast Pennsylvania | Had a partially clad 80x120 get taken out locally. The roof and one side acted like a giant sail and took off into a cornfield. No idea how insurance handled that one... |
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Anyone ever build a pole barn alone or close to it?
