Field Stone Fireplaces and Outdoor Stone Grills

on March 12, 2012

Outdoor Field Stone Fireplace

Field stone is probably one of my favorite masonry elements to work with because it offers a truly unique one of a kind look and it lasts forever, literally. I wanted to share some of the ways you can use real natural stone on your property and outdoor stone fireplaces is on of the best places to use it. It’s both beautiful and functional and I think it focuses attention on the quality of the time you spend outdoors. Cooking dinner on an outdoor field stone fireplace just adds to the already wonderful idea of preparing a good meal over a real fire. There are many different ways to make the area around the natural stone fireplace or bonfire pit but I recommend starting with the stone structure and making it the focal point of that area of your yard.

We also do real natural stone outdoor fire rings that extend above the ground a couple feet so they offer some safety if you have children. I’m currently working on a way to build these here at our farm and then simply install them on site, but for now we custom build them right at your site. If you are interested in getting an outdoor field stone fireplace built you can get a quote right now by visiting our “Get a Quote” page.

You may have seen a natural stone fireplaceincorporated into a stone grotto looking wall that typically follows a slow arch that forms a semi circle, this design is a great way to produce a warm area for socializing in the seasons that are not quite warm enough. These projects are also my favorite because they are fun and the design of structure is a blast. Many time we can use some stone you may have right on your property in use it in significant locations. Incorporating an outdoor grill into your stone structure is an option and some folks like to simply have a nook designated for a more modern propane grill, but you can do both. You can even

Natural Stone Outdoor Fireplace

make an outdoor stone oven and build that into the mix.

Outdoor Natural Stone Fireplaces and Landscaping Ideas

Outdoor stone structures, as I call them, aren’t buildings and they aren’t really landscape elements either. In some ways they are both. You can put a small roof over and area that is defined by natural stone and offers an outdoor stone fireplace but you don’t have too. Real field stone offers a unique setting in a variety of areas and I like them best when they are near water or built into a slope. A natural stone wall can easily be incorporated into any landscape ideas and you don’t need a large wall or a big area of stone to really set an area off.

Affordable Pole Barns|How Much Do Pole Buildings Cost?

on March 5, 2012

Pole Barns are Affordable in Michigan

Pole barns in Michigan are an affordable option mostly due to the need for a frost free foundation in our Building Code requirements. In warmers climates you can build a garage or out building using a slab on grade technique, but that isn’t so in Michigan. People ask me how much pole buildings cost in Michigan and many of them are looking to find the best value in constructing a building. Pole barns can be used for more than a garage or workshop. While most pole barn floors are concrete, they don’t have to be. I’ve seen many michigan pole buildings used for hunting cabins or even houses, but if you’re going to use a pole structure for those uses I’d recommend installing a wood floor in your pole barn or furring over your concrete floor and installing a wood floor that way.

How Much Do Pole Barns Cost in Michigan?

When you’re doing research into the price of building a pole building it’s important to remember you get what you pay for. Typically pole-barns have a steel roof and steel sides. Steel comes in a wide array of quality variations in both thickness and painting process. Well built pole barns will last for years (50 or more) if they are done right. The steel won’t come with a 50 year warranty usually but none the less I can show you steel pole building that are older, they were built with high quality steel and done right. I can also show you buildings that aren’t even 10 years old that look like crap (technical term) and you wouldn’t want one in your back yard.

The cost of pole barns goes down as the barn gets larger. For instance it’s cheaper by the square foot to build a 5,000 sq’ polebarn than a 30′ x 40′ pole barn. Most of the pole barns constructed in Michigan for use at a resident range between 576 sq’ (24’x24′) to somewhere around 1280 sq’ (32’x40′) and cost around $10.00 to $12.00 per square foot for the building which would include materials and labor. This price for a pole barn construction doesn’t include concrete or extra items. The cost for the pole building materials and labor to build it should be in the $10 to $12 dollar per square foot range. Pole barns are one of the most affordable ways to build a garage or workshop because they don’t require a frost free foundation. Because pole barns use post that extend below the frost line the save around $40 per lineal foot of your building perimeter.

Affordable Concrete Pole Barn Floors

Most folks will want a concrete floor in their pole barn. Concrete floors are affordable and last more than a lifetime when installed properly. I recommend a 4″ thick reinforced concrete floor on a 6″ min. layer of sand or gravel that is well compacted. I also recommend a smooth troweled concrete floor that is easy to clean with a broom but not so smooth it becomes slippery when it’s wet. Concrete floors can be poured in the pole building when it is completely build but many times they are poured when the poles, purlins, and roof is constructed but not the sides. This allows for greater accessibility and makes pouring the concrete easier.

Cost of a Complete Pole Barn/Building with a Concrete Floor

The cost of a complete pole barn with a concrete floor, roll up door, access door and a few windows should run around $10 to $16 dollars per square foot provided there isn’t a lot of site work to be done. Excavating can get quite expensive so try to pick a relatively level location to build your pole building, it will save money, sometimes thousands. Most people want to park cars or ATVs or other vehicle in the pole building and also install an approach or apron on the front of the building. An apron is also a good idea if you are using your pole barn for a garage.

If you have any questions about affordable pole barns, concrete floors in pole barns, Michigan stone masonry or general building questions for your Michigan concrete or construction project just ask in the comments or contact me via the contact page.

Mid-Michigan Concrete Floors For Pole barns-Concrete

on February 9, 2012

We have poured and finished a lot of pole barn floors around central Michigan and they are one of my favorite projects. While I would want to pour a pole barn floor everyday they are a fun project that usually only last one or two days. It’s nice to actually see what you’ve accomplished at the end of the day. Sometimes stone projects seem to go a lot slower.

Get a Quote Right Now for you Concrete Pole Barn Floor. Give us a quick call. We will ask a couple questions and get you a quote within a couple minutes. We do great concrete floors in pole buildings, we are fast, and offer fair pricing.

Call us at: 989-284-8251

We can also offer almost immediate pricing on Metal building concrete if you have the dimension’s. Metal building concrete floor projects typically take 2.5 days when you factor in saw cutting control joints and cleaning up. Concrete pole building floors require final grading and compaction along with placing reinforcement if that is recommended, this usually takes a day and then we pour and finish, and sawcut the next morning. Often in the summer we can saw cut the control joints the same day, which makes some pole barn floor projects a two day affair. We do a lot of concrete for pole barns

Mid Michigan Pole Barn Floors

How Thick Should a Concrete Pole Barn Floor Be?

A lot of people ask me how thick a pole barn floor should be because they want a floor that will last for years to come. For the way most homeowners use a pole barn a 4″ floor is plenty and that is by far the most popular thickness of pole barn floors in Michigan. If you have heavy vehicles or are going to have heavy equipment in your pole barn you should probably go thicker. If you are looking for a pole barn floor contractor to pour your concrete floor get in touch, we would love to help.

My dad is an old farmer and his floors are always 5″ thick. He calls it insurance. For most situations the quality of the subgrade is more critical to the strength of the floor than the thickness of the concrete. If you have spots of settling under your floor eventually the concrete will give out.

Can You Pour Concrete Pole Barn Floors During the Winter in Michigan?

I’ve poured a lot of concrete floors during the cold winter months in Michigan. Pole barn floors are good candidates for winter pouring because they can be heated quite easily. It’s important to NOT pour on frost so that has to be addressed before the pole barn floor is poured. I prefer to pour the floor when the temperature is above freezing but concrete can be poured at below freezing as well. Extra care needs to be taken to allow the concrete floor time to cure without freezing. If you need to pour a concrete floor in your pole barn during the winter, I can do it for you. Get in touch.

Why Do You Cut Concrete Floors in Pole barns?

A lot of people who have a concrete floor installed in their pole barn have never actually seen a concrete floor installed before. They are shocked when I show up the next morning to sawcut control joints into their new floor. Control cuts are only 25% of the thickness of the floor (usually 1/2 to 3/4″) and this helps to prevent the floor from cracking across the surface. It will crack down in the sawcut instead.

Concrete cracks because it contracts as it cures fully. You don’t have to have your floor saw cut if you don’t like the lines. Most of the concrete floors in Mid Michigan have sawcut. Some use another product called zip strips which effectively do the same thing as cutting.

Should I use Fiber in My Pole Barn Floor?

Fiber is a type of reinforcement used in concrete nowadays. It consist of small fibers about 1 inch long and it helps to create a strong floor. Fiber is a good idea, I think it goes back to that insurance thing. It doesn’t cost much and it’s easy to use. If you plan on driving heavy vehicle’s or equipment on your floor you should consider using a rebar mat to reinforce your floor. Many of the concrete floors I’ve poured in Central Michigan have rebar mats installed. If you need a stronger concrete floor due to heavy equipment, get in touch I can install one for you.

Need a Concrete Floor Contractor For Your Pole Barn?

If you need a concrete floor installed for your Michigan pole barn I can handle that for you. Just get in touch, I’ll give you a set price and we can schedule the project. I’ve been a Pole barn concrete floor contractor here in Michigan for over 15 years. If you’d like to read more information about Pole barn floors, here is another article we wrote on Michigan concrete pole barn floors.

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