Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:36 pm
George Willer wrote:When I bought this property (1976) the previous owner did not set the treated wood poles of my horse barn (this is where I am keeping my tractors at present) in concrete. I sure wish he had. A lot easier to do it when the barn was built than now.
The poles will last longer if they're backfilled with clean washed stone so they can drain. Setting them in concrete will shorten their life.
Richard:
George is correct on that one. Clean pea gravel, 1/4 to 3/4 crushed stone with no fines.. etc., is excellent, and when tamped provide a good drained/dry spot for your posts.
I am using telephone poles.. these have been treated. A couple are old, but still in beautiful shape. Ray is going to drill 5 feet down and plant em.. ifn it is good enough for Aliant and NB Power, good enough for me. The creosote treated telephone poles are all Douglas Fir or Western Cedar I think.. and they will far outlast me.. and probably my kids as well..
So.. at 40 bucks a pop.. I would say $200.00Cdn is a good deal for most of the structure for my shop. They are all 32 feet long or better, so plant 5 cut em off at around 13 or 14 feet.. plant the off cuts.. and they should be fine as well.. The off cuts we may brush with mastic.. but haven't made up my mind yet.
Also, floating slabs.. will crack, I don't care how much rebar is in em.. really needs a frost wall. Frost walls are pretty pricey. Probably cost me in excess of $2,000.00 to fix the old shop and put new frost walls in on the extension. Then there is the pad itself.. nope.. not going down that road.. Can't afford it, certainly not on my VA pension..