A pole barn home is a residential or business structure that lacks foundation and is built with the use of aluminum or steel panels driven into the ground and supported with a precast concrete pad and in place of interior stud walls, columns are used to support the roofing.
Pole Barn with Living Quarters
Features of pole barns with living quarters include:
- Exterior wall framing
- Massive Ceiling heights
- Extended porches
- Exposed supporting beams
- Gambrel roof
- Recognizable exteriors
- Lofts
- Open floor concept
- Absence of basements
Types of Pole Barn Homes
Three prominent types of pole barn homes include;
- Rustic pole barn home
- Modern pole barn home
- Ranch pole barn home
Rustic Pole Barn Homes
This type features exposed metalwork, sturdy interior walls, and unfinished textures. This pole barn home is the most industrial.
Ranch Pole Barn Homes
This is the most traditional type of pole barn building. It features large living areas and personalized spaces that are connected to patios.
Modern Pole Barn Homes
Just like the name implies, this pole barn home has features that are updated especially according to trends and technology.
Advantages of Pole Barn Homes
- Suitable for multiple terrains: compared to traditional homes, a pole barn home can be constructed on various land areas and terrains. All the ground-leveling a traditional house requires is not needed with this structure.
- Energy Efficiency: this is determined by exactly the area you live in. Nevertheless, the few thermal breaks of a pole barn home make you worry less about insulation.
- Foundation cost-saving: although pole barn homes do not require a foundation, the use of poles dug into the ground for support is needed. However, this groundwork is unlike the excavation and filling with concrete for traditional homes. This saves you all the money and time laying a foundation for a traditional home would cost you.
- Multi-functional: a pole home can be a workshop, a store or a supermarket, an airplane hangar, a residential building, a barn, a gym, and a lot of other things you might want to use it for.
Disadvantages of Pole Barn Homes
- One significant draw-back of pole barn buildings is not directly with the building but rather, the area or site of construction. Some localities have rules and zoning restrictions concerning the width, height, type of structure, building materials, and even colors.
- A pole barn home does not include space for basements. This is because it lacks a foundation and is supported by poles which only permit you to have just the space above the ground.
- Most banks refuse construction loans on pole barn buildings and lenders do not offer traditional mortgages for this structure.
Pole Barn Home Kit
With the availability of prefabricated pole barn home kits, you don’t have to start building a barn from scratch. Pole Barn home kits come with various designs, materials, sizes and for different purposes depending on exactly what you decide to use your pole barn home for.
Common pole Barn home kits materials include;
- Wood pole barn kit
- Custom DIY pole barn kit
- Pole barn garage kit
- Metal pole barn kit
Custom DIY Pole Barn Kit
This pole barn kit is easily customizable. It is perfect for clients or buyers who have a particular interior and exterior design for their pole barn home. This kit promotes the flexibility of the home. Partition walls, extra coat layers, are examples of extras that could be included with this kit.
Wood Pole Barn Kit
If you want a pole barn home that looks just like a traditional barn, this is the kit to opt for. This modern wooden kit is made with lumbers of high quality and steel frames. This pole barn kit is one of the most popular ones.
Pole Barn Garage Kit
This kit is gradually gaining popularity as it comes with provision for extra space, more strength and durability, and easy customization. This kit is the right option if you want a garage that can fit in all sizes and types of vehicles. This plan is cheaper to construct with a kit than build from scratch.
Metal Pole Barn Kit
This kit is on the high side when it comes to durability. A metal pole barn home is resistant to combustions, flakes, splits, and cracks.
Pole Barn Kit Cost
The price of pole barn kits are determined by the following;
- Specifications
- Wall openings
- Size of pole barn building
- Moldings
- Roofing
- Gutters
- Quality
- Downspouts
- Purpose of pole barn building
Regardless of the determinants listed above, the price of a pole barn kit ranges from $4,000 to $50,00. Sometimes prices could rise to $100,000.
Pole Barn Home Floor Plans
To make the right choice on the floor plan of your pole barn home, you need to decide on how much space you need, what you need it for and of course, the budget you’re willing to work with.
Floor plans for pole barn homes include;
- 40 × 60 pole barn floor plan
- 30 × 40 pole barn floor plan
- 24 × 24 pole barn floor plan
- 30 × 30 pole barn floor plan
- 30 × 60 pole barn floor plan
- 40 × 80 pole barn floor plan
- 30 × 50 pole barn floor plan
- Two-story pole barn floor plan
40 × 60 Pole Barn Floor Plan
This plan is popular for stores with storage space and houses with large spaces. With this plan, you can build a two-story with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a spacious kitchen, a separate dining room, and even a garage, depending on the layout.
30 × 40 Pole Barn Floor Plan
This is just the right pole barn home for small families or homeowners who wished to have a separate holiday home. This plan can be a one-story or two-story building fitting two bedrooms and a bathroom. The space in this plan is very limited for including a garage. So if you intend on having one, you might need to extend the space to construct a big-enough garage.
30 × 30 Pole Barn Floor Plan
This floor plan is closely packed and is not exactly suitable for use as a permanent residence especially for a large or medium-sized family but it is sufficient for single occupants. This plan is just right for use as a holiday home or cabin, backyard cottage, or as a building for a small office. There is enough space for a storage room, a full bathroom, and a living room or sitting area. It also requires an extension if you would like to add a garage.
This plan may be small but if you’re going to build your pole barn house similarly, it is cheaper to buy the kit than build from scratch.
30 × 60 Pole Barn Floor Plan
This pole barn floor plan would fit right on a small portion of land. With this plan, you can afford to have a two-story building constructed with three bedrooms, two sizable bathrooms, a dining room, a mudroom, and a byland bar. An extension is also needed if you want a garage.
40 × 80 Pole Barn Floor Plan
This plan includes a very large space that can be sufficient for constructing a medium-sized office, a coffee shop, a grocery store, or a bookshop. As a permanent or temporary residence, it can be put up as a one-story or two-story building with four bedrooms, each having its private bathroom, and space for a garage.
24 × 24 Pole Barn Floor Plan
You can build a two-story building with this floor plan. This would consist of a bedroom, a bathroom, and a sizable garage. However, the kitchen, living room, and storage space are small. This plan is just right for small families on a budget and small business offices as well.
30 × 50 Pole Barn Floor Plan
This plan serves you multiple offers. You can either make it a building with two bedrooms and two bathrooms or three bedrooms and one full bathroom. The extra space is for the living room, a small dining room, and kitchen.
Medium-sized families can utilize this plan for building their permanent residence. Other options include holiday homes and business offices.
Two-story Pole Barn Floor Plan
Two-story plans for pole barn homes are easy to build and utilize because of the extra space. Smaller plans to choose from include the 24 × 24 pole barn floor plan, and the 30 × 30 pole barn floor plan.
Two-story Pole Barn structures are mostly ideal for narrow land areas because more space is made available vertically.
Building a Pole Barn Home
As implied earlier, this structure is a lot easier to put up than a traditional building. However, certain principles are available as guides for this process to ensure a well-constructed and firm structure. They include;
- Pole Barn Construction and preparation
- Pole Barn Building Cost
- Pole Barn insulation
- Pole Barn Trusses
- Pole Barn Siding
- Porn Barn with loft
- Pole Barn Colors
- Pole Barn Garage
- Accessible Pole Barn Building service
Pole Barn Construction and Preparation
- Terrains: one advantage pole barn homes have over traditional homes is that they can be constructed on flat, steep, or hilly terrains.
- Soil: Even so, the soil of the land where you intend on building your pole barn house should be put into consideration. Generally, gravelly and sandy soils are more ideal than clay. This is because construction requires the embedding of poles into the ground.
- Pole type: the pole of this structure is the most important part and material. Regular maintenance is required to keep the pole straight and durable, therefore, it is important to choose poles with materials that accept treatment and are easy to care for. When it comes to deciding the perfect lumber to use as a pole, sapwood is a better option than heartwood. This is because sapwood is more easily treated.
Pole Barn Home Building Cost
It is important to consider every factor that would affect how much or how little it will cost you to build your pole barn home. These factors include;
- Price of kit or materials
- Building Insurance
- Workers Insurance
- Equipment
- Manpower
- License and Permit
- Size of the building
- Shipping costs
- System Installation: electricity, gas, telephone, plumbing, etc
- Contractor service
Roughly, a pole barn building usually costs about $3 to $5 per square foot. Nonetheless, it could be more if you are making use of a customized pole barn kit or if your preferred structure is a metal pole barn building.
Furthermore, many pole barn websites have online calculators which would request precise pole barn floor plans, specific features, extensions, materials, and other specifications. The sum would most likely be the amount you would need to spend. Better still, inquire about quoted prices from your kit manufacturer or contractor.
Pole Barn Insulation
Pole barn buildings require a constant temperature balance, to reduce the cost of utility bills, you should consider insulating your home.
The best pole barn Insulation is mostly determined by your specific pole barn building. To decide which option is more suitable for your pole barn, you should consult your contractor.
Pole barn home Insulation types include;
- Blown foam filling: this is a high-quality type of filling that reduces energy costs. It is capable of expansion and closes small gaps. The price of this filling type is on the high side.
- Loose filling: this is a much cheaper option that fills gaps between the pole barn structure. It is not ideal and sufficient to seal gaps properly, especially in areas with high temperature and climate conditions.
- Condensation blanket: this roll of vinyl sheet prevents your pole barn structure from losing molecules and decreasing in size and volume. It has a high moisture level and is, therefore, an ideal option for the prevention of wood damage.
- Fiberglass battling: this type of insulation does not have a sealing effect but is still capable of filling up air gaps. It is the right kind of insulation for flat surfaces. It is easy to fold, roll, and cut. For irregularly shaped and small gaps, it is best to consider other options.
Pole Barn Trusses
A Truss is a metallic or wooden structure made of one or multiple triangular units. Its importance is the support it provides as a bridge or a roof. An ideal truss can withstand snow, rainstorm, and dust.
Trusses are necessary for your pole barn building because they support the entire load on top of the building. Before or during your pole barn construction, put all the loads into consideration. Loads include the roof, the attic, ceiling, and windows.
Even with a prefabricated kit, installation of trusses should be done by experienced builders or professionals.
Pole Barn Siding
Choosing the right siding material can be tricky. This is because the best option is dependent on several factors and elements. Common siding materials include brick, metal, vinyl, stucco, wood, and fiber cement.
To choose the right siding material, here are a few things to consider;
- The salt content in the air: salt can be easily carried by rain and air. If your pole barn home is going to be situated close to sea areas, using metal siding would be inappropriate. Wood and vinyl sidings are best for areas with a high concentration of salt in the air.
- Level of humidity: when it comes to the durability of siding materials, humidity can be a determinant factor. If the humidity level of the area is high, using wood or vinyl siding is not ideal. Metal and brick sidings are the best options for such areas.
- Cost and maintenance: metal and brick or stone sidings require less treatment and are easy to maintain and care for. Hence they are more durable and would help you save maintenance costs.
- Local laws and regulations: the rules and legal requirements differ in different areas. Some localities do not permit certain types of pole barn homes or the use of particular materials for them.
- Temperature and climate: siding materials like vinyl that are susceptible to flaking and bends are not suitable for areas with extreme cold and heat. On the other hand, vinyl and metal sidings are ideal for areas with a lot of rain.
After taking notes of the factors above, you can discuss and compare the advantages and disadvantages of each siding material for certainty and more clarity.
Pole Barn with Loft
There is a misconception amongst most pole barn homeowners when trying to decide on either including lofts or leaving them out. These owners believe that lofts will contribute an unnecessary additional weight. This is false. Many prefabricated pole barn kits come with lofts and a loft can be installed by professionals without any additional support.
A loft could serve a good number of advantages in your pole barn home. These advantages are;
- A loft utilizes vertical space.
- It provides an extra living or storage space.
- It increases the value of your property.
Pole Barn Colors
The right color for your pole barn building is your preferred color although generally, colors that blend with the surrounding environment and natural colors are most commonly used. However, the right choice of color may be dependent on the purpose of the building.
White, blue, green, beige, taupe are all earthy colors that are suitable if the structure is a commercial building. Fire stations and workshops can be painted red.
Aside from your preferences and the purpose of the structure, local ordinances can be a determinant factor as well because building laws and regulations in some local areas demand compliance with certain colors and do not permit others.
Pole Barn with Garage
Some pole barn floor plans require an extension if you intend to create a garage space. It will cost more to construct or extend than having it in the original plan. Aside from this, there are other factors like safety and ventilation that you would need to consider before going ahead to achieve this.
- Future purchase of vehicles: before deciding the size of your new garage, you should consider the kind of vehicles you might be purchasing and their sizes. Would they fit into the new space?
- Insulation and ventilation: this is important to consider especially if you also would use your garage as a storage unit especially for chemicals. Proper insulation and ventilation are necessary to prevent poisoning.
- Roofing: matching the roof of your pole barn building with the roof of your new garage is an ideal thing to do. Nevertheless, the use of shingles is also a good alternative.
Accessible Pole Barn Service
Even with the availability of prefabricated kits, seeking the services of pole barn builders is recommended. Local service providers are best to consult because they are familiar with conditions and factors that could be hindrances to your desired structure.
The utilization of local services saves you time and energy even if you can build your pole barn home yourself.
Simple Ideas for Building a Pole Barn
Whatever reason you may have for building or deciding to own a pole barn home, the tips below would help you achieve a perfect structure.
- Choose a site: the soil type, ground level, are important things to look out for at the site where you will have your structure put up.
- Location: get familiar with the laws and regulations of your local area concerning pole barn buildings.
- Make building plans: make strategies when deciding your building plan. Where the door faces, the direction of the sun, in-flow of natural light, etc are all important things to consider.
- Make a list: write down all the tools and materials required for your project, this would help you determine the cost.
- Determine the perfect layout: an excellent layout suits your preferred pole barn building and while deciding this it is necessary to choose the right roofing materials, the kind of post you would use, and flooring.
- The right roofing material is the kind that suits the weather condition of your area.
- Be sure to choose a durable pole type that is strong enough to withstand harsh weather.
- Decide if on a suitable flooring type. Gravel, plain soil, or concrete.
Installation Materials for Pole Barn Buildings
- Hammer
- Hand saw
- Digging equipment; tractor-powered auger, post-hole digger, or clamshell hand digger.
- String level
- Carpenter’s level
- Line
- Electric drill
- Roofing screws
Pole barn homes were originally used in the ’30s as agricultural buildings and horse barns. In more recent years, they have been incorporated into the trend alongside other multi-functional building structures like metal building homes, shop houses (house or home), and barndominiums which have particular fascinating features that would suit whatever purposes they are constructed for.