[Josh in WNY]

When they built the addition on my barn they used the 3 2x6 posts. They are laminated (glued) together and the bottom section of the post that goes in the ground is made with treated lumber while the rest is untreated.

After having helped move a greenhouse that my family bought, I would be reluctant to take down and move the building. It was a lot of work... and the greenhouse was designed to be bolted together, not nailed and screwed. We never did get it completely reassembled, the electronic control board still isn't completely hooked up, but we only use it for storage now, so it doesn't matter. Trying to get everything to line up again will be a pain.

 

[mlappin]

Have seen builders using the 3 bonded 2x6 instead of posts. They claim it is stronger/better.

Supposedly they will last longer in the ground as more treatment makes it to the center of a 2x6 than a 4 or 6x6.

 

[mlappin]

My neighbor downriver from me raved about what a deal he got on a trussed building about that size.....his wife told my wife when they got done with tear down, moving, and erection that they could have had a new one built.

Regards, Mike

Pretty much our opinion on used grain bins anymore, unless your practically getting it free, by time you tear it down, buy all new bolts to erect it again and the labor, just buy new and be done with it.

 

[PaMike]

No, the price I stated was erected..that being said they can throw those barns up in a couple days...

I would go and bid on it and see if you can get it for dirt...or just leave a bid with the auctioneer if you don't want to wait all day..

 

[endrow]

It's not exact, but I'm pricing a 36x112x14 tin on 3 side and one long side open with 14' bays. No overhang, set on concrete pillars, and little/no other add-ons. Price is ranging from $25,8xx-$26,2xx put up. One of the prices is from the Graber clan that was mentioned by PaMike...maybe it's just a common Amish name?
Mark

my building 50 by 100 was put up the inch by the insurance company to replace an old Bank bar Lost in fire that I really didn't have a lot of insurance on. The building they put up had something in common you just mentioned it had no overhang. I would never build a building again that had no overhang

 

[JD3430]

Supposedly they will last longer in the ground as more treatment makes it to the center of a 2x6 than a 4 or 6x6.

I would not use 4x6's as primary barn posts. They'll work, but I find them to be barely up to the task.
While 3 2x6's also present more grain angles than a single piece of lumber and therefore stronger, but remember, 3 2x6's are only 4&1/2" thick, where a 6x6 is 5&1/2 inches thick.

I have used .80 CCA treated posts (used in brackish water) if conditions are demanding below ground or for piers.
The downside of 3 2x6 is the labor needed to spike or bolt them together. That's pretty time consuming in a business where just having a crew on a job for 4-6 extra hours is a lot of money.

I have a huge treated lumber plant just 20 miles from me. They have a lot of not commonly available sizes and lengths you can't easily find in most places.

 

[SVFHAY]

I would not use 4x6's as primary barn posts. They'll work, but I find them to be barely up to the task.
While 3 2x6's also present more grain angles than a single piece of lumber and therefore stronger, but remember, 3 2x6's are only 4&1/2" thick, where a 6x6 is 5&1/2 inches thick.

I have used .80 CCA treated posts (used in brackish water) if conditions are demanding below ground or for piers.
The downside of 3 2x6 is the labor needed to spike or bolt them together. That's pretty time consuming in a business where just having a crew on a job for 4-6 extra hours is a lot of money.

I have a huge treated lumber plant just 20 miles from me. They have a lot of not commonly available sizes and lengths you can't easily find in most places.

I always thought the laminated 2x6 method using treated below grade and regular above would yield cost savings and add strength. You've talked me out of it,

 

[8350HiTech]

I would not use 4x6's as primary barn posts. They'll work, but I find them to be barely up to the task.
While 3 2x6's also present more grain angles than a single piece of lumber and therefore stronger, but remember, 3 2x6's are only 4&1/2" thick, where a 6x6 is 5&1/2 inches thick.

I have used .80 CCA treated posts (used in brackish water) if conditions are demanding below ground or for piers.
The downside of 3 2x6 is the labor needed to spike or bolt them together. That's pretty time consuming in a business where just having a crew on a job for 4-6 extra hours is a lot of money.

I have a huge treated lumber plant just 20 miles from me. They have a lot of not commonly available sizes and lengths you can't easily find in most places.

Extra labor to spike them together? They should be bought already assembled unless someone gets the crazy idea that they want to make them themselves. A factory setting will laminate them better than someone ever would on site.

I also gladly chose a laminated product over a single board even if the laminated is only 80% of the material. The grain angle and lack of future twisting is going to be way stronger than a single grain post even if it's an inch thicker.

 

[JD3430]

Extra labor to spike them together? They should be bought already assembled unless someone gets the crazy idea that they want to make them themselves. A factory setting will laminate them better than someone ever would on site.
I also gladly chose a laminated product over a single board even if the laminated is only 80% of the material. The grain angle and lack of future twisting is going to be way stronger than a single grain post even if it's an inch thicker.

If you go back and actually read my post, which it doesn't appear you did, because you'd see I am in agreement on the strength issue I only assumed the OP (or whoever) was spiking them together on site. It was the 4x6 I said was barely up to the task.
I didn't know anyone was buying anything PRE laminated.

All that being said, yes, I'd still rather have a cca .60 6x6 than 3 2x6's laminated. Not sure I fully trust the laminating process once it's exposed to ground water. I've already heard they have failed underground. I like a full 6x6 even more if I can get a good deal on some #1's at my supplier.

 

[paoutdoorsman]

Are the posts typically concreted in the ground, or just buried 4-5 feet?

 

[PaMike]

Just buried from all the ones I have seen. A lot do set on a concrete wafer in the bottom of the hole to keep the post from sinking.

 

[somedevildawg]

I never knew that the 2x can be pre assembled....I had to assemble and bolt mine together, was somewhat a PITA, just took time. I'll have to check if my lumber yards offer pre fab 2x's

 

[Josh in WNY]

The laminated posts for my addition were factory made and it appears they were glued and then pressed together. The ends joints of the 2x6s were staggered so they didn't have two of them in one spot and also cut with a triangle pattern to lock them together. I don't know if a lumber yard would carry them, but I would expect that any building company or contractor would be able to get them or know who to call.

 

[carcajou]

Those are the first finger jointed posts i have seen, they look very well made. If you come across the manufacturer sometime could you let us know?

 

[Josh in WNY]

I think the Amish guy the built the addition got all of the materials from Eastern States Metal Roofing (?) in Clymer, NY. I'd have to dig out the paperwork at home to be sure. I'm not sure where they get the laminate beams, but I doubt they make them.

 

[paoutdoorsman]

I believe they were pre-fabed on the building I looked at. They are finger jointed like pictured above, and no visible bolts or nails holding them together.

 

[swmnhay]

Those are the first finger jointed posts i have seen, they look very well made. If you come across the manufacturer sometime could you let us know?

http://www.littfintruss.com/laminated_columns.php

This is what is in my shed built by Ram Buildings.

 

[Farmineer95]

I saw permacolumn has been around to help with post rot in the ground. Definately use a cookie in the bottom.
Thinking about the 6x6, if you have a 16ft wall and we need 4ft in ground for frost, a 20ft post is likely to have defects that will drop its strength rating. Can look at a old college course manual but I'm thinking the laminated is the way to go.

 

[8350HiTech]

If you go back and actually read my post, which it doesn't appear you did, because you'd see I am in agreement on the strength issue I only assumed the OP (or whoever) was spiking them together on site. It was the 4x6 I said was barely up to the task.
I didn't know anyone was buying anything PRE laminated.

All that being said, yes, I'd still rather have a cca .60 6x6 than 3 2x6's laminated. Not sure I fully trust the laminating process once it's exposed to ground water. I've already heard they have failed underground. I like a full 6x6 even more if I can get a good deal on some #1's at my supplier.

The OP is talking about buying a standing building so I'm pretty sure I'm the one that read everything.

 

[somedevildawg]

Those laminated posts look nice Cy....I bet they are pricey. I glued, clamped and screwed mine together with decking screws. After that was set for a couple of days we staggered 3/8" galvanized bolts with washers and nuts. Both outside sides of the "6x6" had the bolt holes slightly countersunk to flush the hardware. The 2x6 were staggered by about 4' on one and 6' on the other with the center one being the longest. Each "post" has about 20-25 nuts and bolts. I built mine 15' high to park a camper under....did seem like it needed more gussets, especially in one direction, but I suppose I could have mitigated that by turning every other one 180*....idk. It's been up for about 8 years now and solid as a rock. It's very hard to find straight 6x6 pt in sizable lengths...