Going Up: Building Our New Grain Bin, Part 2

This fall, we’ve been in the process of putting a new grain bin on our farm to expand our on-farm storage options. Because it can be a fun project to watch, I’m chronicling it here. In Part 1, I shows how we selected and prepared the site, and installed the cement foundation. In Part 2, below, I show how the main structure was built.

Part 2: Walls & Ceiling

The walls of the structure are actually steel rings comprised of panels. The crew starts by putting together the panels to form the first two rings.

A worker bolts the panels of the rings together.

Once the first two rings are completed, the crew switches to connecting the panels of the roof. The ladder kept on the inside of the structure allows them to reach the enter of the roof for installation.

The panels of the roof come together.

The crew works on the side of the roof while it is being installed.

Once the roof is installed, the crew continues to build the rings that make up the walls. The roof and the assembled rings are actually raised up each time so that another ring can be added to the bottom.

In this photo, you can see that the roof has been raised as additional rings are installed below. The crew also put the staircase together as the entire structure was being raised.

Once it is all completed, the walls are bolted into the cement foundation. The door is installed. The entire process took about 5 to 6 days. As you can see, I was even brave enough to go up the stairs to the platform at the top. It was a great view, but also a bit terrifying!

Next up is Part 3, which includes installation of the floor, hooking up the electric, and connecting to the dryer! If you missed Part 1, you can see it here.