Grain Bin Footings

We have been given a used 18" diameter 5000 bushel grain bin that we will relocate and use as a wet bin.

Can someone tell me what the concrete footings and floor should look like? The bin will be in NE Iowa.

Thanks,

Always use a spade wide and a spade deep for the footers around here.

I would check with bin mgr/dealer for specs on the foundations- conc depth, reinforcement wire/rods. Also need to consider the unloading auger if that is in the floor.

thats THE best advice , ask the bin Man !,... But IMHO .make sure you are beklow frost line for sure ,,, no less than 4 slab in center over tamped lime dust... outer footer 18 inches wide at minimum , plenty of rebar steel ansd fiber ed cement is a plus ,, pour all at one time ,, if it were mine , i would saw cut concrete 4 ways pie pcs . when set...

Is the bin going on a level site? Your bin has a name, call the company for specks, they are free. Either way, drying floor or not, make sure you power trowel it very good. A smooth floor is far better for blowing out the fines in a bin.

Does it have a center drop auger that needs to be in the concrete?

Not only is a compacted fill needed, it should be uniform fill. Look at your neighbors bins, they are cracked where the fill meets the natural soil. Probably clay soil? Rebar is your friend.

Leave our center pivot stake in to make your bin circle perfect, drill the bolts in later.

Lime chips or gravel probably is the easy to come by fill. I do not like sand because the rats can dig under it. Also gravel will help slow them down.

Are you going to move it in one chunk or two? If you must remove bolts, go out tomorrow and give each bolt a shot of ATF ? accitone mix.

The power company will be unreal with expences if there is a transmission line ---- you can't aford to drop one, and there is maybe three different owners of the lines depending on your location. Actualy the transmision lines will not be droped is the best way to say it, even if you own half of Iowa. They will not tell you that up front sometimes. If they can reroute power, then maybe you can afford it.

Teglers in Dyersville treated us real good last fall, and were carefull. The bin wasn't so cheap once we got it moved two miles of gravel road.

I could get you all the numbers. Those bolts are sure very expensive to replace also.

Yep 6"wide by 12" deep trench around the outside with 6" thick floor here in east central Iowa. Did 3 bins bigger than yours 35 years ago and they haven"t moved yet. Also put 2 runs of rebar in the concrete around the outside.

No need to go below frost. Let it float.