Hey V-
How’s your grass now in the fields you had the farmer work? Any better?
I have no grass. Not one blade. I wasted $1,600. Spending money is becoming a familiar feeling these days as I just bought dirt 
Later this month Rutgers will come out, I’ll do a soil test, and I’ll take whatever steps Rutgers recommends. I have literally not one blade of grass. Complete and total waste of time.
Farmer refuses to return my calls/texts. Regardless of whether it was just poor timing or what, I won’t be dealing with him any more because trusting his advice did not turn out well but then even worse-- he refused to talk to me again once he was paid 
Who are you using to build the barn (saw the barn materials)?
The elevation in the barn is totally normal, if you had a slope, that higher end is leveling the barn; you wouldnt want them to dig DOWN to level, so up it is. After the barn is completed, your excavator should (make sure he will ) come out and ‘finish’ it all out-sloping the edges, etc. Ask him to have a very long, shallow slope off the barn to ease any issues your older guy would have. 
Pioneer is doing the barn. They’re out there right now.
Bummer. I’m really sorry to hear about your lack of grass. I was really hoping that you would say that it was really coming around because of the relatively cool summer we’ve had.
The excavator was sort of dubious that it actually got seeded at all
Vfx111,
That pad looks fantastic. Thank your excavator for knowing what he’s doing. When your barn is done, you can grade the ground around your barn (as some mentioned above), which will create a gentle slope for your old guy (& you) to enter/exit.
That $$ you spent on having that pad put in is truly the best $$ you’ll spend on your whole construction project for your barn.
I built my barn in the last few years, & at my wise husbands insistence, I had a pad put in, laser leveled just like yours, & the pad is 2 feet high in the back & 1 side. My horses come & go through dutch doors, just like your guy will. I had the exterior perimeter of the barn graded & covered in screenings by the stall doors & aisle doors. It is wonderful! During the heavy, damaging, “10 year stormwater” we received this year, my barn stayed perfectly dry. MANY barns (& houses) in my area (including my neighbors barn that was built 15 years ago) sustained a lot of flooding, heavy damage, & washouts. My barn was perfectly dry, no problems. Thank your excavator.
Now that the barn is on it… it looks SO MUCH BETTER. Also the excavator has been stopping by every day to “supervise” (he’s my neighbor) and he also mentioned that he’ll grade the slope away one the barn is done. He has to come back to the base layer for stalls and he says he’ll do it then.
But now I think the barn looks WAY TALLER than I paid for (I am not complaining!) I bought 12 foot high-- I swear it’s 13 of 14?!
I guess my eyes deceive me :) Maybe my eyes are just CRAZY. If they oppsied and gave me a taller barn, I won’t be sad
These guys put the barn up SO FAST! They started at 7am.
10am
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/photo3-2.jpg.html
3pm
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/photo4-1.jpg.html
5pm
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/photo3-3.jpg.html
They are going to finish the shell tomorrow!!
Fantastic! You will be amazed at how the elevated ground of the pad blends gently into the ground that surrounds your barn after your excavator grades the slope around your barn. Congratulations!
So friggin FAST!
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/IMG_20140822_134809_592.jpg.html
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/IMG_20140822_134755_652.jpg.html
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/IMG_20140822_125243_986.jpg.html <–sorry for the butt view in there
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/IMG_20140822_125117_779.jpg.html
I’m sulking now. I have more useable run-in than I used to, but as a DH project it gets done now and then. Really glad you got a good crew and you’ll have a lovely barn!
With that perfect slope you will have dry, non-flooding stalls. Enjoy!
FWIW, once construction was done and before I used the barn I would cover the slope with 6" of limestone screening to hold it in place.
Very nice! You know, we are going to need pics once it’s done and a tour through your new fancy barn!
The shell of the barn is done!
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/photo22.jpg.html
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/photo42.jpg.html
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/photo4-2.jpg.html
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/photo5-1.jpg.html
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/photo1-2.jpg.html
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/photo3-4.jpg.html
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/photo2-2.jpg.html
Listen to everyone. Built up is better. I regret that I did not do that. When we get a lot of snow and it melts quickly I get water in the aisle. I freaked out the first time and built the stalls up so it never goes in those. It drains out in a day or so, but it is gross.
Butt view? What butt view? All I can see is a fabulous barn. That guy could have been an underwear model and your beautiful barn would still have eclipsed his image.
Me too. Sulking. Envious. Yet really happy for you, V.
Thanks y’all. My “anal by nature” personality isn’t lending itself to a smooth process here. You guys are keeping me SANE!
I have a question about pole barns. How do you handle the gap between the walls and the ground? Can you pour concrete so that it touches the bottom of the walls?
[QUOTE=PeteyPie;7730037]
I have a question about pole barns. How do you handle the gap between the walls and the ground? Can you pour concrete so that it touches the bottom of the walls?[/QUOTE]
We’re not done inside. The excavator has to come in and add additional fill material where all the stalls will be. And concrete in the aisle.
[QUOTE=vxf111;7730076]
We’re not done inside. The excavator has to come in and add additional fill material where all the stalls will be. And concrete in the aisle.[/QUOTE]
So will the fill in the stalls come up over the bottom edge of the wall?
I see there is a bottom horizontal base (2"x4" or 2"x6"?) to which the metal siding is probably attached. I am supposing that bottom board is not supposed to come in contact with dirt, even NSF (Non Frost Susceptible) -type sandy gravel. It doesn’t seem like a good idea to have the metal touching the dirt either because of eventual rust. Is that an issue? Maybe those materials are designed to be slightly covered?
If I were to build such a barn and wanted the walls sealed all the way to the ground, what would be my options? I know some people have complete floors done in concrete. Is a slight gap supposed to stay? Do they maybe use a felt material or some kind of rubber seal? Will your excavator put the final coat of top fill material in to cover the bottom inch or so of the wall in the stalls or leave a gap?
Sorry to bombard you with all these questions. Since this barn is new for you, maybe I should be addressing it to others who have had pole barns for a while.
I am totally impressed with the sturdy structure.
