Unlike conventional buildings where the walls support the roof, pole barn houses lack load-bearing walls and basement foundations, instead, it uses a frame construction to stand above the ground level. The poles used are driven into the ground or just secured above to play the role of supporting the roof and the trusses.
The design of a pole barn house offers great flexibility in the arrangement of space internally. This is because it has an open floor plan that is adaptive to the numerous requirements and preferences of homeowners. In other words, it provides an open space wide enough for design freedom.
Generally, this structure employs the use of metal and wood sidings. Other options, like panels of cement and stone, can also be considered but their structural modifications usually require additional finishing.
Despite the clear difference between pole barns and conventional homes, pole barn homes can be constructed in a way that they share similarities with regular homes and this involves forfeiting the use of steel for exterior walls and roof for the use of ordinary roofing and siding.
Pole Barn House Features
Pros of Pole Barn House
- Compared to traditional homes, pole barn houses have greater energy efficiency. The availability of sixteen inches studs to twenty-four inches on the center does not support insulation and therefore the transfer of heat and cold is improved.
- Pole barn homes have lower foundation costs. This is because, unlike conventional homes that require a basement foundation, this structure is built on a concrete slab instead.
- Material cost and lower labor are affordable. The short building time requires less framing which allows labor savings to be passed as the total cost of the project.
- The project is DIY-friendly and does not necessarily require an expert or professional. Anyone with fair knowledge and experience with building and construction can easily have it all handled.
- Cheaper to build
- Less exterior maintenance due to the use of steel panels.
- Site preparation is easy to achieve since no basement foundation is required and the project supports do-it-yourself customers.
- Design options and opportunities are extensive
- Building time is faster by far compared to regular homes
- Has good enough durability in snow and high wind
- Has an open concept floor plan since walls have no requirement for interior support walls. The post and trusses create a structural unit leaving a large open space in the house with wide openings for the windows and doors.
Cons
- Appraisers and lenders contend with resale value.
- Obtainment of loans and permits is a difficulty.
- Custom building features can be costly.
- Utilities like plumbing, electricity, etc cost the same as regular homes.
Pole Barn House Kit
Pole barn kits are prefabricated materials and design packages that come with everything needed to properly assemble the frame of the structure. Kits include exterior wall packages, hardware, fire posts and beams, doors, blueprints, windows, etc. These builder-ready packages have well-detailed materials and take the project steps ahead. They determine the strength, durability, and timeless appeal of a pole barn home.
Types of Pole Barn Kit
Different kits are available according to preferences and size. The pole Barn industry makes available numerous and different types of pole barn kits, all to serve specific purposes. Some major pole barn kits or pole barn building kits include;
- Farm building kits
- Garage with porch
- Pole sheds and RV garage
- Laminated posts or UC4B treated sawn posts
- Pole barn garage
- Concrete footings
- Pole barn homes
- Commercial storage kit
- Hay barns
All porn Barn kits have a line of sizes they are built in. The kits are built and priced according to the following sizes;
- 60′ × 120′ × 16′
- 40′ × 64′ × 12′
- 30′ × 40′ × 10′
- 24′ × 40′ × 10′
- 24′ × 24′ × 8′
- 28′ × 30′ × 10′
There are four major extended categories of pole barn kits offered by many Pole Barn Building companies. These categories are;
- Pole Barn Kit for Horse Barns
- Chicken Coops
- Pole Barn Kit for garages
- Storage sheds
Pole Barn Kit for Horse Barns
- Low Profile Horse Barns: the practical benefit and gorgeous style have brought popularity to this plan. It is especially budget-friendly and convenient. This structure is a one-story that is being built smaller than other designs. The interior space features a room and a center aisle that stands between two rolls of horse stalls which provides convenient access. This plan is right for customers who seek an affordable horse barn to start growing their farm. Kit assembly is super quick and can be easily done on-site. Distinct rustic charm is available with custom touch in a wide range.
- High Profile Horse Barns: this plan is available for consumers who are looking forward to the expansion of their boarding operation or simply just what a big start with their first horse property. This plan comes with overwhelming barn designs and styles. Horse owners are offered a fast building option with great efficiency and guarantee for build and the possibility of incorporating certain customizations at the outlet. The kits are prepared for traditional monitor barn style. The monitor roof provides needed extra ventilation which would aid in the negation of the effect of bacteria on crops and grain and also aid in the improvement of livestock health.
- Living Quarters: this kit has essential materials that can be assembled to transform a pole barn into a suitable living area. The kits are mostly customized to suit customer preferences and lifestyles.
- Portable Horse Stalls: this pole barn building requires heavy-duty steel components, a design that promotes safety, and fine craftsmanship. Each stall panel weighs less than 165 lbs. Quick and easy mobility, Installation, assembly, and disassembling are assured. This kit is suitable to build a good structure for commercial horn barns which include ranches, expo centers, resorts, fairgrounds, horse shows, polo clubs, and boarding facilities.
- Backyard Horse Barns: just the right option for customers who seek to take the barn to their homes. This kit builds a quality barn style or stable. This could be for a hobby farm or ranch.
- Steel Frame Horse Barns: metal or steel barns are arguably the safest places to keep horses. These barns are easy to clean and maintain. It has a large open space with riding arenas and roof spans. Metal barns are delivered pre-drilled and most companies offer materials that do not require cutting or welding. Pre-engineered steel frame buildings span up to three hundred feet with heights of about forty feet or more. Little maintenance is required, and considering zoning restrictions, companies ensure that their kits are engineered-certified to exceed codes currently made for local buildings.
- Run-in Sheds: this kit has materials like 6×6 pressure-treated timber, architectural shingles, framed openings, high oak kickboards, pine siding, and any choice of paint color.
- Modular Horse Barns: this is designed for customers who do not need a 4/12 pitch roof and a loft. The ground-level storage rids owners of the struggle of running up and down the stairs for hay. With this prefabricated horse barn, everything is stored at the same level.
- Monitor Horse Barns: this is otherwise known as RCA barn. RCA means raised center aisle. This traditional barn has a design that features a raised center section. Dimensions are determined by customers. The raised roof permits great entry of natural light and ventilation with outer wings that serve as an extra feature lending naturally to the horse stalls.
- Shed-Row Horse Barns: this structure is put up with the standard features like oak stall kickboards, 6 ×6 pressure treated timber base, dutch doors, slider windows, shingles, and choice of paint.
- L-shaped Horse Barns: this is a much more decorative option and just right for customers who do not need the extra space offered by the raised center aisle barn but also find the shedrow insufficient for their respective needs. This serves as the bridge between too large and too small. Features include roof sheathing, steel-reinforced corners with tow-hooks built in them, oak post, beam frame, rafters, painted duratemp siding or unfinished exterior, high oak kickboards, latches, hinges, architectural shingles, etc.
- Arenas: this kit adheres to the needs of customers who desire a covered riding arena. An arena kit is a pre-engineered or prefabricated building material package made from high-quality framing timber and angle-iron steel trusses. Features include builder-ready blueprints, connection hardware, framing components or materials, doors, etc
Chicken Coop
- Mini Chicken Coop: This cozy enclosure allows a variety of small Animals to move seamlessly. Rabbits, chickens, birds, and roosters can be kept in it. It is easy to clean, has a lockable door, and an access ramp, and most have a waterproof roof.
- 4×8 Dutch Coop: This provides ample space for about eight chickens or birds.
- 5×8 Chicken Coop: This can house about twenty-four chickens. It comes with two windows and provides great ventilation. It is eight inches high, eight inches long, and about two to six inches deep. Coop access is five inches and five feet high.
- 8×8 Chicken Coop: The most abundant material for this construction is wood, especially heat-treated wood. Features include a draft shield, wire mesh or other bendable material, adjustable sliding pegboard vent, heat lamps, studs, etc.
- 8×10 Super Coop: with two to three square feet per chicken inside the coop and eight to ten feet square feet per chicken outside, this coop can serve as a home for about forty to forty-five chickens.
- 8×10 Chicken Mansion: This pre-built chicken coop is capable of accommodating about thirty to forty chickens. Features include face board, architectural shingle roof, wooden gable vents, screened windows, plywood sheathing, extended roof edge, etc.
- Large Chicken Coop: This has a dimension of 9.8′ in length, 13.1′ in width, and 6.56′ in height.
- Pull It Coop: structure makes moving the coop very easy. With this kit, you can afford to change the coop spot as often as possible, relocating it to fresh areas around the yard. It has a chain at the front and a wheel enabling a friction-free pull. The chain can be hooked to an ATV or a lawn tractor. It is perfect for areas where chickens are not in the backyard or where the owner does not wish to keep them there. Features include wheel lift lever, wheelbarrow handles, nest boxes, vinyl-coated mesh, roost bar, detachable wooden chicken ramp, etc.
- Push It Coop: This coop, just like the pull-it, is very portable. Instead of rollers for pulling, it has a raised roof that easily encloses about four hens.
Pole Barn Kit for Garages
- Mega Garages: has two floors and provides an expansive storage facility. Features include 9×7 steel garage door, steel corner reinforcement, 2×6 wall studs, cedar creek vinyl, house wrap, insulated house door of about thirty-six inches, sidewalls of about ten inches, eight inches ceiling height, 30×36 two insulated windows with shutters, vinyl railing and posts, 6×16 porch with decking, full lengths of ridge vents and vented soffits, tar paper weighing about 15 lb, arched gable vents, ½” wood roof sheathing, etc.
- Board and Batten: this type of siding for pole barns is typically made of wood. It is created with narrow strips or battens and connected with wider boards. The paneling style created on the exterior of the barn is geometric. Recently, metal panels are also included to avoid the constant maintenance wood requires and also for the enhancement of durability.
- Dormer Roof: dormers are roof structures projected vertically further away from or after the plane of a pitched roof. These structures use the space in the loft and create openings in the window.
- Build-on-Site: this is an option for customers with sheds that do not permit prebuilt delivery. The materials are transported to the site.
- Raised Roof Garage: for customers who need extra overhead space or simply for space for larger vehicles.
- One Car Garage: typically, this structure has a size between twelve and sixteen feet in width.
- Two Car Garage: measures about twenty to twenty-four feet in width.
Storage Sheds
- Hip Roof Sheds: these sheds have a roof with four sloping sides, and lack a flat face, that is, all sides face downward from the peak of the roof. It is used for both classic and contemporary architectural styles. Construction is simple because the walls below the roof have the same height. Types include pyramid hip roof, combination hip roof, mansard hip roof, and hip and valley.
- Garden Sheds: this single-story building is a roofed structure found in the garden and could be utilized as a workshop, hobby farm, and storage. It is the most practical garden structure, it fits regardless of the outdoor space.
- Pool House Sheds: utilized as storage for swimming or pool equipment and a space to relax away from the sun after swimming or even to host swimming pool parties. Features include sliding windows with screens, a set of double doors with an aluminum floor guard, outdoor wooden structures for the pool, etc.
- A-frame Sheds: this storage shed fits practically any backyard setting with a rustic roofline. They can also be used for garden settings.
- Quaker Sheds; features include high walls, gable vents, pressure-treated floor joists, front overhang, wide double doors, and aluminum steel plates.
- Dormer Sheds: Shedd dormers or dormer sheds are structures with dormer roofing. They are proportioned horizontally and cover the roof by a large portion. These structures could either be set on the roof or be an extension of the wall beneath.
- Mini Barn Sheds: this structure is just the ideal option for a handyman workshop or the storage of lawn furniture, motorcycles, bicycles, and garden tools. Features include double standard doors with aluminum diamond plate guard, wood sheathing, rafters, etc.
- Hywel Sheds: this offers maximum overhead storage and this makes it a really popular option. Features include double doors, standard windows, and optional window boxes and shutters which are made available depending on the customization. Other features include pressure-treated skid, smart wood finish flooring, smart side siding finish, rafters, tar paper, etc.
Other extended categories or types of Pole barns constructed by Pole Barn companies include; Dog kennels, Outdoor living, Hay feeders, and Pigeon Lofts.
Pole Barn House Plans
Just as different kits are available for different purposes and preferences, pole barn house plans are available according to the same determinants. Each of these plans has individual divisions according to space and dimensions, but the plans generally fall under the following;
- Residential Pole Barn House Plans: this collection of plans includes designs for traditional homes with the look of a barn. This plan is made to feature barn doors, rustic exteriors, and a gambrel roof. The building ends up looking mostly like a modern farmhouse. The contemporary look obtained is from a combination of master bedrooms or suites with spa settings, open-concept layouts, kitchen islands, and other luxurious amenities.
- Agricultural Pole Barn House Plans: This plan is made available solely for the construction of a pole barn that would be used as a safe storage house for the customer’s valuables. Materials like feed, equipment, and tools are usually stored in pole barn houses structured with this plan. These buildings are usually very sturdy and essentially timeless. The plans usually have a width range of twenty-four inches, and thirty to forty-two inches. Length comes in any size. The painted steel siding with this plan is on 2× 4 wall girts and the board goes through a finishing process which includes skirting and treatments.
- Metal Storage Sheds: this plan is available for customers who seek a simple, basic, and cost-effective storage solution. The structure is mostly used to store outdoor items. It is resistant to rot and pests and unaffected by extremely cold and hot weather. Plus, it is visually appealing and quite appealing. This plan however is not suitable for customers who seek a workshop plan or a multi-functional structure.
- Wooden Pole Shelters: this is the most attractive option amongst the rest, and the plans are very customizable with even more designs and sizes. The door and window sizes differ as well. With insect-resistant wood, It is quite durable, and the maintenance required is only a decent amount. This plan is an option for homeowners who choose to have a simple aesthetically pleasing structure in their backyard which can be used for several things.
Building a Pole Barn House
The first thing to consider after the decision to own this structure is to check and make findings concerning the zoning and building code requirements for the county and city where your pole barn home will be constructed. This is the challenge so many homeowners face since some zoning boards may or may not allow post-frame buildings or steel sidings.
Aside from regulations and rules which might not approve of or allow certain preferences, this structure does not qualify for a loan, and obtaining a mortgage can be very difficult. Extra paperwork, information, and a lot of back and forth procedures are required for even the slightest possibility of being granted a loan.
Where to purchase Pole Barn House Kits
Pole barn house kits can be purchased without hassle on Amazon.
Amazon is recognized as one of the big five companies in the United States information technology industry. It is a multinational corporation formed by smaller corporations.
Cost of Building Pole Barn House
Similar factors and determinants apply with both pole barn homes and regular homes; style, plans, and materials alongside specific preferences of homeowners. However, building a pole barn home is way less expensive. The labor cost and materials amount to something a lot less than what a conventional custom home would demand.
Nevertheless, the cost range of pole barn homes kits is from $4000 to about $50,000. Sometimes, kits for residential Pole barn homes could be up to $100,000.
Building up this structure costs about $10 to $30 per square foot, making the average spending about $15,000 to $35,000.
Pole Barn House Structural Integrity
All post-frame buildings must be designed to safely resist lateral and vertical loads regardless of site location and size.
The structural integrity of a pole barn house simply translates to the ability of this structure to withstand loads without falling apart or retaining any damage. Inevitable and anticipated threatening conditions include certain weather conditions such as wind, snow, rain, and how the structure reacts, which determines its durability and timeless appeal.
Factors that are capable of applying vertical load include; deck systems, lofts, the weight of the building, second stories, and snow on the roof of the building. These loads act by application of pressure in an up-and-down direction.
For lateral load, factors include wind and earthquakes, which apply load in the direction that is parallel to the ground.
Top Building Components of a Pole Barn Home
These components include; Trusses, foundation, truss-to-column connections, purlins, and fastening system.
Fastening system: the fastening system is a general name for different types of fasteners applied in different ways. In pole barn construction, fasteners are used for the attachment of wood to steel and the attachment of wood to wood. Screws are more recommended than nails because screws have high holder power compared to nails. Screws weigh about seven hundred pounds and nails weigh just about two hundred and fifty.
Foundation: this is the solid base where the columns are supported. The right foundation for a pole barn home should consist of adequately sized footings that are properly installed. The extension of the footings should be beneath the exterior grade. This allows it to be free of any kind of frost action. The best foundations are poured at the site or come as precast concrete pads.
Trusses: this is a rigid triangular framework situated at a high position on the roof for support. Trusses that are well designed are essential for the proper construction of a pole barn home. To avoid failure of trusses, ensure that your pole barn building has its own engineered truss, and be sure to use heavy-duty steel plates while conjoining the lumber.
Purlins: These materials span horizontally between trusses. The importance is for the provision of framing for sheathing material during attachment. They can resist uplifting wind loads and gravity. A purlin of appropriate lumber grade should be used and it does not matter the size as long as it is the right grade. Purlins are spaced no more or less than twenty-four inches on the center.
Truss-to-column connection: this is the connection point where the truss is fastened to the column. This acts as a support to the truss when we’ll construct. The engineering process ensures that both are tightly interlocked and not just connected. This connection ensures a continuous load path. This is maintained by the transfer of loads from the truss to the walls and the ground.
Whether it is a farm shop, spacious storage building, indoor riding arena, or just a dream house barn, pole barn buildings have served for years and still stay as part of the trend since more and more people have recognized the mind-boggling flexibility of the building held up simply with post frames.