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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Pole Barn Cabin
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UpNorth
Member
# Posted: 1 Apr 2010 22:12 - Edited by: UpNorth
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Been checking out this website for about 3 months now looking for ideas. Great resource!

Has anyone ever built a cabin like a pole barn, instead of a standard stick built? I'm trying to find pictures online but haven't had much luck.

Zoning and building codes won't allow us to build anything less then 720 sq feet but we are on a budget so we are thinking about building a 24x32 pole barn for a cabin.

Anything over 200 sq feet needs a standard foundation and getting a cement truck on location would be very difficult. I thought I could build on poles because it's allowed and I don't have a size requirement.

We have 20 acres in northern MI. We are wanting to build something this summer. We have a small budget which is another reason we have been kicking around a pole barn.
Field on property
Field on property
Trail Picture
Trail Picture
Another Field
Another Field


MikeOnBike
Member
# Posted: 2 Apr 2010 00:36
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Some pole barn designs here.

http://sheldondesigns.com/

http://www.sheldondesigns.com/SheldonDesignsCatalog.pdf

larry
Member
# Posted: 2 Apr 2010 07:27
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i also built in mi. but after pricing matierials an getting an idea of what the cabin would look like i oppted to build a kit from panelconcepts.com, they're in Mio. sorry i don't have any ideas about pole barns. and welcome to the addiction..there is no cure. where in Mi. are you?

idahocabinrat
Member
# Posted: 2 Apr 2010 11:32
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This is exactly what we did in northern Idaho. We had the poles and roof installed for a 24x30 foot structure, and we enclosed 24x24 so we have a 6x24 covered porch. Roof was 10 foot high so we ended up w/8 foot walls with a 2 foot crawlspace underneath. We installed sona tubes using quickrete (we are off grid, generator and no water) in the middle of the structure and manufactured beams using two 2x12 and 3/4 in plywwod for the span. Then we finished the floor just like a deck,using 2x10 for the joists. Finished the floor with 3/4 inch tongue and groove plywood, then built the walls to fit inside the posts for the roof. This is our 4th year working on it and we are all insulated, put log cabin siding on the outside, and are working on finishing the inside this summer. This was a great way for us to go since we could go in stages as money allowed. I will try to post pictures soon so this may make more sense.

hbarker
# Posted: 2 Apr 2010 18:22
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that is about what we have decided to do , pole barn type construction , and inclose part for a cabin.
Best part is then your project is undercover . and can work even when it rains .
We start construction in 2 months,,
I CANT WAIT !!!!

UpNorth
Member
# Posted: 3 Apr 2010 20:02
Reply 


MikeOnBike thank you for the links. Seldondesigns has great designs.

Larry, the property is in Montmorency. I did see your pictures on another post. I love what you have. I think you and I talked a bit before but I was anonymous, wasn't a member.

idahocabinrat, I would love to see some pictures of what you have. Please post some soon.

hbarker, I'm planning to start in a few months too.

I'm heading up there next Tuesday to select a spot for the cabin and to stake it off.

daverd4
Member
# Posted: 9 Sep 2010 15:05
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This is the pole barn cabin we are working on that we started 10 years ago
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Timbuilder
# Posted: 16 Jan 2013 13:17
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I think pole building is the way to go. I built a pole cabin for a friend a few years ago and some advantages to this method are:
Minimal cost, minimal environmental damage, more resistant to high winds. Be sure the poles are properly treated to prevent rot. It is a very asthetically pleasing style and I used a board on board method (similare to batten on board) using rough cut lumber. A friend found some nice windows for free just to haul them off. Good books are available for pole building and I wish you the best of luck.

justincasei812
Member
# Posted: 16 Jan 2013 20:19
Reply 


My girlfriends sister and brother in law have a pole barn cabin near Beaver lake (near Spratt, MI south west of Alpena, MI). It is vary nicely done on the inside. I think they have about one third of the barn as living space and the rest as a pole barn. There is upstairs with two large bedrooms (two and three beds each) and a bathroom. The downstairs is done in stained bead board with drywall on the upper half. With being in northern Michigan they did put insulation under the cement to help with keeping it warmer in the winter and still cool in the summer. It takes a day or so to get the cement floor "warm" but if they didn't it would always be cold. If I built a cabin I would go with the pole barn idea. I like the fact that in one building you have a cabin and storage for anything you want/ need.

bldginsp
# Posted: 16 Jan 2013 23:26
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I think pole is a great way to go, but I would reemphasize the point made above- use the best quality treated poles you can get. Don't use site cut poles. I am really scared of the ugly chemicals they use in treated poles, but if I built pole I'd get the nastiest. Wood on or in dirt is a bad combination and MUST rot eventually. Research what's available and get the ones that are supposed to last the longest.

Aside from that they are easier to build, very structurally sound, and you don't need a concrete truck. But, a pole building is not a permanent building. It might outlast you, but not your kids.

Good luck!

rayyy
Member
# Posted: 17 Jan 2013 07:24
Reply 


That's what I did,too.
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socceronly
Member
# Posted: 7 Oct 2018 12:33 - Edited by: socceronly
Reply 


Sorry for bumping old threads I find in searches, but it's not like the stuff is irrelevant these days.....

What am I looking at here in say the second & third picture in the post above. Is the roof resting on something added on top of the poles? Or is the roof resting on what has been attached to the side of the poles?

If building a deck in that manner is considered bad news, it can't be good for a roof.

Or am I missing something, it's hard to tell.

95XL883
Member
# Posted: 7 Oct 2018 15:16
Reply 


Just from looking at the picture, to me it does look like boards were attached to the sides of the poles at the top. It looks like it was done on both sides of the pole and then the space in between filled to look like a beam. I’m no expert or even an experienced builder but I agree that would be iffy for a live load floor. But it might be okay as it isn’t a live load.

It will be interesting to hear what the experienced members say.

Borrego
Member
# Posted: 7 Oct 2018 15:56
Reply 


Quoting: socceronly
Or is the roof resting on what has been attached to the side of the poles?


Yes, it's resting on the 'girders' that are bolted to the poles. There is one girder inside and one outside. He will do the same for the floor (if he's using a floor, most pole barns did not)

Quoting: 95XL883
It looks like it was done on both sides of the pole and then the space in between filled to look like a beam.


No, it wouldn't have been filled in typically.

Quoting: 95XL883
I’m no expert or even an experienced builder but I agree that would be iffy for a live load floor.


Actually it's fine, these structures are unusually strong and what's more...flexible.

Rayyy did not use poles, but he is building this the way it is done. Here're some pics of the cabin I built with poles, it is really a great method of building; faster, cheaper and structurally sound.
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