Airplane vs. Pole Barn-Guess Who Won?

Posted by polebarnguru on 06/15/2017
Airplane vs. Pole Barn-Guess Who Won?

In all fairness to the airplane, it actually rolled onto the patio of a pole barn. The airstrip, near Auburn, Indiana, is a grassy field. The 74 year-old pilot of the 1965 Cherokee 140 airplane lost control of the plane while attempting to takeoff – so it actually did not “fall” into the pole barn […]

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Why We Do Not Recommend Any Builders

Posted by polebarnguru on 06/14/2017
Why We Do Not Recommend Any Builders

Hansen Pole Buildings receives numerous requests every day from potential new post frame building owners, who are looking for a builder (in my terms technician) who can assemble their building kit. I am going to do both of us a favor and explain why we do not recommend any builders. Hansen Pole Buildings is a […]

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Optimum Aspect Ratio of Length and Width

Posted by polebarnguru on 06/13/2017
Optimum Aspect Ratio of Length and Width

I suppose I inherently knew the answer to the optimum aspect ratio of length and width for post frame construction, but never really sat down to write about it. Well, reader JEREMY in EFFING has an inquiring mind and wants to know: “In general terms is there an “optimum” aspect ratio to gain the best […]

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Sliding Doors, Codes, and Quonset Huts!

Posted by polebarnguru on 06/12/2017
Sliding Doors, Codes, and Quonset Huts!

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I would like to get a quote for sliding garage door for commercial building. The size that I would like to have is 8′ wide 12′ tall. If I can get two slide garage door it would be perfect (two 4’x12′ garage door) if not One door is fine. White garage […]

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Overhead Doors Taller than Eave Height

Posted by polebarnguru on 06/09/2017
Overhead Doors Taller than Eave Height

“Since the peaked end of my new post frame building will be so much higher than the sidewalls, how about I place a very tall overhead door at the center of it?” Today’s topic was prompted by BILL from BUFFALO who writes: “Have you ever attempted to install an overhead door in an end wall […]

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Second Floor Mezzanines and Heights

Posted by polebarnguru on 06/08/2017
Second Floor Mezzanines and Heights

Second Floor Mezzanines and Heights As humans, the great majority of us are dimensionally challenged. Stop the snickers and giggles as this has nothing to do with human anatomy. In this case the dimension challenge is as it relates to post frame buildings and mezzanines. All of this was begun with a question from DAMIAN […]

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BIBS or Cellulose Insulation?

Posted by polebarnguru on 06/07/2017
BIBS or Cellulose Insulation?

BIBS or Cellulose Insulation? Loyal reader and Hansen Pole Buildings’ client Lonnie from Colorado Springs writes: “ I’ve purchased one of your kits as my new residence and am waiting on plans and materials. I’m looking into insulation and as I am planning on dry-walling the interior, I am primarily interested in wall insulation. I know […]

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Spot the Post Frame Problem

Posted by polebarnguru on 06/06/2017
Spot the Post Frame Problem

Spot The Post Frame Problem – Reprised In our last episode, I left you all with a cliff hanger. I did clue you into it being a structural issue, which rules out our builder in the air with his safety harness hooked to an invisible sky hook. While you all ponder the photo and look […]

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To Retro-fit Sliding Doors, Insulation, or Windows!

Posted by polebarnguru on 06/05/2017
To Retro-fit Sliding Doors, Insulation, or Windows!

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I have an existing pole barn with a rough opening and I want to retro-fit a sliding door over it to block wind and rain. If I can supply you with the rough opening dimensions, can you quote the parts kit to assemble a metal frame and hangers that I can clad […]

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Engineer Wanted for Pole Building Garage

Posted by polebarnguru on 06/02/2017
Engineer Wanted for Pole Building Garage

Wanted an Engineer for Pole Barn Garage In deference to the attorneys at Menards, who seem very interested in the articles I write, this ad appeared on Craigslist recently, so it is a direct quote and has not been changed from the original posting: “I am looking for a Colorado registered engineer for a pole […]

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Pole Building Plans for Sale

Posted by polebarnguru on 06/01/2017
Pole Building Plans for Sale

Pole Building Plans for Sale Ah, Spring time, when a young man’s heart turns to how to “get a deal” on a new pole barn. Oftentimes it starts rather like this, “Can I just buy the building plans from you guys stamped and all? I need a 40×60 40 wide 60 deep 16′ tall so […]

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Converting a Pole Barn to a Residence

Posted by polebarnguru on 05/31/2017
Converting a Pole Barn to a Residence

One trend I have seen over the past ten years is folks purposefully designing post frame buildings to homes – they are recognizing the advantages, among them savings in foundation costs, speed of construction, flexibility of design and ability to insulate. Along with this, more and more post frame buildings are being re-purposed from pole […]

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When is Too Small for a Pole Barn?

Posted by polebarnguru on 05/30/2017
When is Too Small for a Pole Barn?

Reader JENNIFER from CANON CITY writes: “Is there such a thing as too small of a pole barn to build? I am wanting a shed/hobby space with enough height to make a loft in the future. Due to setbacks and sewer lines, I can only do a 12’X26′ building. Plans for pole barns begin at […]

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Shipped International, Post Protection, and EmSeal!

Posted by polebarnguru on 05/29/2017
Shipped International, Post Protection, and EmSeal!

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Can the kit be shipped international, like Philippines? ERIC in SUSANVILLE DEAR ERIC: Post frame building kit packages can be shipped anywhere on the planet. In most cases, the components are delivered to the docks – in your case most likely the Port of Tacoma or Seattle, where it is reloaded […]

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8 Foods You Can Grow in Your Pole Building All Year

Posted by polebarnguru on 05/26/2017
8 Foods You Can Grow in Your Pole Building All Year

A pole building grow house works a lot like a greenhouse. You control the temperature and moisture to mimic actual outdoor conditions for growing fruits and vegetables. Under the right conditions, there are foods that you can grow throughout the year – provided you monitor and maintain your indoor grow house appropriately. Try some of […]

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5 Places or Spaces Perfect for Pole Buildings

Posted by polebarnguru on 05/25/2017
5 Places or Spaces Perfect for Pole Buildings

We took a look at some of America’s most wide open spaces and thought hard about how climate, severe weather, wind, and seasonal changes affect the ability of a sturdy pole building to provide housing, commercial office space, and industrial warehouse storage. It may come as no surprise that the majority of the locations we […]

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3 Things to Know Before Running a Business from Your Pole Barn

If you’ve always dreamed of starting your own small business, setting up your business in a pole barn can be a great way to do it. Rather than worrying about paying rent on an expensive commercial property, you could find a low-cost, durable pole barn design and stay close to home to operate your business. […]

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Money-Saving Tips for Building Your Pole Barn

Posted by polebarnguru on 05/23/2017
Money-Saving Tips for Building Your Pole Barn

There are two types of pole building owners: those who like to build it themselves, and those who trust expert builders to masterfully construct their dream pole barn. Hansen Pole Buildings guides both types of owners in the careful selection of materials and designs that are the right balance of luxury, utility, and affordability. But […]

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The Correct Vapor Barrier, Home Prices, as well as Why I Need an Engineer!

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Framed a 12x30x8′ room in pole barn. Insulated ceiling & 1-30′ wall w/fiberglass, the outside wall will be spray foam. Do I need the vapor barrier the ceiling and the 1 wall. I will be using plywood on the ceiling and all the walls for a finish. Thank You for your […]

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Sturdi-Wall Brackets

Posted by polebarnguru on 05/19/2017
Sturdi-Wall Brackets

Placement of Sturdi-Wall Plus Brackets I am enjoying our client Dan who is in the process of getting started with his new Hansen Pole Buildings’ kit package. My educated guess is he is going to construct one truly beautiful building. Dan has a great question, which I will share: “So I went ahead and purchased […]

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Placement of Overhead Doors

Posted by polebarnguru on 05/18/2017
Placement of Overhead Doors

Where, oh Where, to Place Overhead Doors My long term readers may have believed I have pounded overhead doors to death. Ha! I say – there is always more to talk about when it comes to overhead doors! We’ve talked about door widths, avoiding 8 and 14 foot width doors as they are not usually […]

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Lifesaving Bollard

Posted by polebarnguru on 05/17/2017
Lifesaving Bollard

The Day a Bollard Saved my Family’s Lives According to the sum of all knowledge (Wikipedia): A bollard is a sturdy, short, vertical post. Although it originally described a post on a ship or quay used principally for mooring boats, the word is now used to describe posts installed to control road traffic and posts […]

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Loosening Roof Screws

Posted by polebarnguru on 05/16/2017
Loosening Roof Screws

Help! My Roof Screws are Loosening! Our office gets all sorts of phone calls. Besides those clients who are potential investors in new post frame buildings, there are those who have made mistakes (or had builders make them on their behalf) and are looking for fixes.     One call came in earlier this year […]

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Floor Limits, Foam Board, and Consider True Costs!

Posted by polebarnguru on 05/15/2017
Floor Limits, Foam Board, and Consider True Costs!

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: If I wanted a pool table in 2nd floor I’d assume we might be pushing the floor limit at 40psf? NEIL in CLEVELAND DEAR NEIL: As a general rule of thumb, a slate pool table is going to add a dead load of roughly 100 pounds per foot of length. On […]

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Where is Grade?

Posted by polebarnguru on 05/12/2017
Where is Grade?

Grade is at… ANSI/ASABE S618 Post Frame Building System Nomenclature has the definition of grade as, “10.1 Grade line (grade level): The line of intersection between the building exterior and the finished ground surface and/or top of the pavement in contact with the building exterior”. On Hansen Pole Buildings’ Engineered Building Plans, grade is denoted […]

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