Post frame buildings are made up of principal structural frames usually comprising of a clear span truss maintained by two columns and supported or connected by purlins, girts and sheathing. Loads are moved to the ground through columns, which may be poles or squared-off posts of forced treated timber, usually rooted to the earth. The types of pole barn applications generally include low-height structures of up to a 50-foot sidewall and qualify as agricultural, residential or Commercial Construction. The different types of pole barns that fall under the category of agricultural applications are animal barns, loafing sheds, riding arenas, stall barns, storage for hay, nurseries, standalone roofs to shelter the animals.
Types of Pole Barn Construction:
The types of pole barns that are included under the category of residential buildings are garages, carports, RV or boat covers, storage sheds or workshops. A new pole barn construction can even be converted into a home. The commercial applications of pole barn buildings are limitless and universal. Some of the applications include self-storage units, stores or retail buildings, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, strip malls and churches. The cheap cost of construction along with style and safety are the main reasons for the popularity of pole barns in commercial applications.
Pole Barns can nowadays be put to any kinds of applications after the introduction of modern building materials such as metal roofs and other siding products that come in different styles and colors. The poles have also been replaced by squared off pressure treated timbers.
Pole Barn Designs
There can be any number of pole barn designs that may be produced but most often are categorized by the roof that is used. The Gable roof is the most widely used and common type that is affordable and very easy to build. It is used for almost all types of pole barns applications such as homes, garages, shops and the like. The monitor roof is similar in nature to the gable roof and has a raised apex along the width of the roof. It has a tall center section that allows for the storage of tall objects or a loft in a residence. This roof type is very popular for the Horse Barns. The Gambrel roof is normally associated with old-type of barns. It is not that cheap and also less common than other types of barns. The Gambrel roof has a cupola placed at its peak. The single slope or lean-to roof is a simple roof that is often linked with an animal shelter or shed. The hipped roof is a kind of a gable roof that is often associated with residential homes or garage buildings. In this type of roof four triangular sides meet at a single peak point at the center.
How to Select Better Pole Barn for You?
There are many procedures to follow for building a pole barn the first one is the selection of site. The slope of the field is an important factor to be considered before beginning with the actual construction. Pole foundations are easier to adapt to sloped fields than a flat site. The type of soil should also be a major consideration for calculating the soil bearing capacity. To decide in which direction the doors and windows should be faced, the climatic and weather conditions should be kept in mind. The kind of soil is vital in terms of pole embedment deepness and soil bearing capacity. Gravelly and sandy soil kinds are considered superior than clay types of soil. The soil testing is very necessary aspect of pole building. To check for the soil features, several test holes are dug around the construction site. Each hole is dug at several feet deep. They should be dug so deep so that a complete soil profile be visible
At first, the building lines and batter boards should be located and the layout of the building is to be determined. The building lines should then be marked by a taut string to locate the foundation holes, the exterior of the pole frame and the corners of the building. Batter boards grip the string in place and let the removal of the string during the digging process that ensures that the center of the hole is precise. Firstly, the measure from left front corner to right rear corner should be taken to square up the building lines. Afterwards, the measure from right front corner to left rear corner is to taken and if the two measurements are of equal length, the building is square.
To install the skirt board, the corner post with the highest grade is to be found. By setting a nail in the corner post, building grade could be set there. Afterwards, a nail in each post around the building is to be placed to maintain a seamlessly equal string line.
Post frame building provides greater structural strength against natural calamities like floods, hurricanes and earthquakes. This is because the posts support and tie the entire building together. The posts enthrall the natural calamities and diffuse them out through the structure into the ground. The ring shank galvanized nails are readily available anywhere for framing and fastening and come in typical sizes.
After The Pole Barn has been completely erected and built according to the norms, it is necessary that the building is insulated properly. There are quite a few insulation options available, but the right one to choose depends upon the type of structure. Blown in foam insulation, loose fill, fiberglass batting and condensation blanket methods are a few of the insulation types. After the insulation process, comes the process of roof selection. The four key types of roofs used for barns are shed, gambrel, gable and hip. It is also to be considered that each of these roof types have their own profits.
What Is A Pole Barn?
A pole barns is a solid structure built mostly by wood and sometimes steel that is supported by poles. The poles function as the primary support structure for the outside walls and the roof. Similar to the pole barn, the pole shed is also used very commonly. The Pole Barns are found both in rural as well as urban areas.
Although there are different patterns of pole barn but, some of the features are common to almost all models. The first is that nearly all poles are made of wood. Secondly, the shell of the barn is Mostly Metallic. The two materials when combined, work to produce a construction that is fit for storage of livestock and some additional things.
Sometimes, a solid foundation is also given to the pole barn to make it stronger. There are quite a few pole barns that are constructed upon simple dirt floor also. The reduction in cost is the primary motive behind building a Pole Barn building on a dirt floor. The disadvantage with it is that it gets vulnerable to insects and animals not that the barns built on concrete are totally insect free. Some people can build a Pole Barn by themselves provided they know the technical aspects and have the required materials with them. This is a much cheaper alternative when compared to having them built by professionals.
Pole Barn Advantages:
The speed of construction and cheap cost are the main advantages of the pole barn. The cost of getting a Pole barn constructed by professionals could be $4,000 to $12,000 but it varies depending on the size of the structure and its base floor. A Pole Barn may even be constructed within a weekend if there are a few people to help.
Pole Barn Disadvantages:
The main disadvantage of pole barns is their inability to stand the power of a strong tornado or a storm. This is their weakness that is not typical of other types of barns. Therefore, Pole barns may not serve the purpose as efficiently in windy places as in other locations.
The Pole Barns serve different purposes for different people. The different purposes they serve include housing for livestock and storage for hay and other feed. Pole Barns are also used as garages for vehicles, machine sheds and even as airplane hangars. A common feature of Pole Barns is their sliding doors for easy access to transfer animals and equipment inside and outside the barn.
To build a typical pole barn, 6 x 6 long poles are inserted deep into the earth and then cemented with concrete. A Pole Barn provides safety to animals, workshop and equipment of the customer. There are companies that offer pre-constructed barns that are transferred on a truck and get assembled in just two days. There is no doubt that the defence a pole barn offers to the possessions and animals of the customers are unparalleled.
The Benefits Of Pole Barn Home Plans
There are many different types of pole barn home plans as there are many types of pole barns. There are many benefits attached with the plans that are desired by many home owners. The plans are Designed around buildings that are used for simple barns such as garages and backyards. These buildings mostly use structural pole features instead of stud framing. The most common one is the 6X6 pole and the more expensive ones are the round poles.
The five topmost benefits of building a pole barn are those as listed:
- Cost is an important reason. Post-frame structure is much cheaper in comparison to most other construction types.
- Loads of storage space. Pole barn homes safely stock customer’s equipment, boat, collections, RV and other elements indoors.
- Rapid construction. The post-frame technique of building permits making quick designs. As the abundant fabrication of its components occurs in a plant thereby, building the site is faster.
- Suppleness of design. The pole barn homes allow variability of sizes and extensive interior clear spans with its Construction Methods. The structure also allows the energy saving benefits of wooden frame construction.
- Lasting value and small maintenance costs. If the customer selects a well –reputed builder who uses superior materials and excellent construction styles, the pole barn would last a lifetime and remain like new.
The pole barn home plans are very affordable and therefore, they are preferred by many homeowners. Since the designs of the pole barns are very solid with structural limitations and integral strength they do not need high costs for building. Another major feature of the home pole barn is that it is very adaptable. Many homeowners that own a 1 or 1.5 stores home can transform it into a simple pole barn. The pole barn user thus, has many options with the pole barn and can build any design that is fit for him.
The cheap cost of the pole barns is the topmost advantage of building them. It is much less expensive than building post-frame construction and other structures. The second advantage of the Pole Barn home plans is that they provide huge amounts of storage space to the user. Pole Barns are used for the safe keeping of equipment, boats, ATV, RV and other toys. The rapid pace at which a pole barn is built as compared to other structures is another advantage of pole barn. A typical home pole barn is more resistant to wind damage than other structures. Home-made Pole Barns require less amounts of wood than other conventional houses. A pole barn can be easily built at home using some tools and equipment and a little knowledge. The pole barn with a slab floor uses very little amounts of concrete. Any worker with moderate skills can build a home pole barn and that too in just a couple of days. A home pole barn incurs very less expenses on excavation, labour and foundation costs and makes the structure one of the least costly ones to build.
How To Build A Pole Barn?
The Pole Barn is a very simple shed structure. In this structure, poles and posts are fixed on the ground which supports a roof. The Pole Barns can be of any types and sizes and can be used for farms, houses and backyards. Most people can build their own Pole Barn provided they know the technical guide. There are three main methods involved in the pole barn building process.
Step – 1: How to build A Pole Barn
The first method involves getting the right materials. The first step in this method which one must follow is to procure the necessary wood. The Pole Barn is not limited to just poles but it can be built upon a square structure also. There is also no fixed design of the pole barn and it may be built in any structure. It can be built in square posts, round posts or old utility posts. Typically, 2X4s and 2X6s are needed to frame the structure. To build the structure, plywood should be used and wood siding can be added to the sides to make it more appealing. The second step is to choose the roof of the structure.
The Pole barn roofs are usually Built of Metal as they are inexpensive and easy to install. Preferably, a rust-resistant roof metal must be used and a ridge cap can be used to cover the center of the roof. The third step is to find out the remaining supplies to build the pole barns. The builder must look out for concrete to place around the poles in the ground and also gravel to create a level ground. Some other types of hardware would also be required such as galvanized screws, roofing nails and storm clips to keep the nails anchored. The last step under the first method of building a pole barn involves getting the right tools. The pole barn building process doesn’t require a huge number of tools and the builder can borrow/rent building machines to help him in the process. To dig the ground for inserting the poles a post-hole digger or a tractor-powered auger can be used. A laser-level and carpenter’s level, an electric drill with attachment for roofing screws, a hammer, a mitre or circle saw and a hand saw would also be very handy. A backhoe can also be rented although it is not essential.
Step – 2: How to build A Pole Barn
The second method in the pole barn Building Process involves the preparation of the area. Firstly, the required space should be measured so that the time and tools required in the building process could be estimated. The builder could walk around the area to get the idea of how much space is required and then should measure the exact space with a measuring tape. The height of the structure should be decided that should normally be a minimum of 8 feet. The area chosen for standing the structure must be drainage proof so that a flooding situation can be avoided in the rainy season. Any obstacles in the area of the structure should be completely removed and a 5 foot wide free space must be created around it. The ground on which the structure is to be standing should be fully levelled. The builder can use any good quality tractor for this purpose or any other machine he desires. The builder must create a string-line on the outlines of the area where the structure is to be built. This would help in laying the pole-holes. The builder can put a small stake at the four corners and then wrap a long piece of string joining the stakes together.
Step 3 : How to build A Pole Barn
The final method in the pole barn building process is to actually build the pole barn. To start this process, holes should be dug with the help of a tractor-powered auger or a post-hole digger. The holes dug must be at least 3 to 5 feet deep. The poles that are put into the ground must be stable enough to withstand in any weather conditions. The poles must be no more than 8 feet apart. To mix the concrete well, one must add 12-24 inches at the bottom of each pole. After applying the concrete, the structure must be left idle for at least 2-3 days. The builder must ensure that the corners are at exactly 90 degrees so that poles could be laid out easily. The height of the poles should be evened out using a laser-leveller. A scaffolding or a sturdy ladder could be used to climb up to the poles and level them equally. The next step is to add the roof-support beams. After this step, comes the step of building the trusses. These are the triangle shaped roof-beams that are placed width-wise across the roof-support beams.
After this, the builder must add additional boards for support. The builder must nail boards across the roof and between the poles to attach the siding. He should add boards between the beams to act as studs for a door. The doors must be created after making a frame by nailing together boards in the desired shapes and sizes. Then the builder should create the sidings. This can be done by taking the plywood and cutting it into proper sizes. Then he should nail them into the support boards along the edges of the structure. A wood siding can be added to the outside as well. The second-last step in the Pole Barn building method is to install the roof. If the roof is built of metal sheets, then it must be cut into proper size. To install the sheets, the screws should be tapped in place over the struts and be inserted with the help of a drill. At the last step, the builder can choose whether to give any doors or windows in the final structure. He can either add the door where he deems right or may even leave it as open-air door or window that is more common nowadays.
How To Insulate A Pole Barn
The Double Bubble Insulation is a very common method for insulating the Pole Barn. This is used to protect from radiant heat and is often used in horse barns and garages. Pole Barn Insulation covers of 93” wide friction fits between 8’ on center posts are available. These are without any thermal breaks and achieve a true R19 value. They may be installed in minutes are a brilliant choice for full time heated buildings. The installation of the right type of insulation is of primary concern as far as pole barns are concerned. It should be noted that any improper installation of the insulation may reduce the R value by 40% and may also incur financial losses to the user.
It is quite obvious that whatever insulation method is adopted there are certain ways by which the user can improve the insulation procedure. Some of these are as mentioned below:
- A wet insulation can permanently degrade R value.
- A compressed insulation also significantly reduces the R value.
- A decent amount of airspace between the insulation and the nearby material would increase the R value.
- The figures of R values that are given as standards can be misleading at times.
- Same insulating materials will have different R values when used in a roof than used in a wall.
- R values for downward heat flow are different from those of inward heat flow.
- A vapour barrier is required that is not involved in a metal siding.
- The proper placement is determined by the locality.
- The kinds of doors and windows used affect the effectiveness of insulation.
- Radiant heat R values do not significantly impact the non-radiant insulation needs.
In any building that is made of metal siding and roofing, condensation control is extremely important. After following the required guidelines of condensation control, one can preserve the hay, car, tractor or any other valuables. Just by buying the necessary tools and equipment proper ventilation, condensation control and optimal insulation cannot be achieved. There are different solutions required for garage workshop, animal comfort and cold Storage Buildings. The type of construction method also determines the choice of insulation to be done.
One of the many ways used to insulate a pole barn is the Blanket Insulation technique. The builder must use enough 24-inch wide insulation to fill out all the openings. Then the insulation is to be rolled out and cut to length. The insulation should now be stuffed into the spaces and a staple gun should be used to fasten the insulation. The ceiling should be insulated in the same way by stuffing the spaces.
Another technique that can be used to insulate pole barns is the wrapping technique. In this technique, everything is wrapped using a nylon reinforced plastic wrap. The tough plastic has cords running through it to provide strength. All of the blanket insulation is to be covered by the plastic wrap. The previous piece is too over-layered by about 1 inch and the wrap is to be applied to full length of the wall then stapled to the horizontal studs. This process is to be repeated until the inside of the building looks like a pillow.
In this technique, everything is wrapped using a nylon reinforced plastic wrap. The tough plastic has cords running through it to provide strength. All of the blanket insulation is to be covered by the plastic wrap. The previous piece is too over-layered by about 1 inch and the wrap is to be applied to full length of the wall then stapled to the horizontal studs. This process is to be repeated until the inside of the building looks like a pillow.
The drywall or foam board is a method popularly used to insulate a Pole Barn Building. In this method, the application of either of the material is always horizontal rather than vertical. Firstly, the builder should screw the drywall or foam board directly to the studs. Although the appearance of the building can be unattractive after applying this, yet pole buildings could be functional. The builder can still paint or texture as he likes but may not get the desired appearance.