Category Archives: Lumber
Pre-construction Termite Treatment
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/09/26 @ 8:00Why would anyone building a pole barn, barndominium, shouse or post frame home need to be concerned about treating for termites? Isn’t pressure preservative treated wood going to solve any potential long range problems from pesky termites? Regardless of whether you build a post frame (pole) building, stick frame, steel frame or even concrete building […]
Read moreHow to Order Lumber for a New Pole Building
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/09/04 @ 8:00This is Wrong in So Many Ways There is nothing wrong about trying to get the best deal for one’s investment. How do you think wealthy people got wealthy? Most of them didn’t just fall into money, they worked to get the best deals for their money spent. However, sometimes, it just doesn’t pay. Recently, […]
Read moreAn Oops from a Competitor’s Architect
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/06/20 @ 8:00The Pole Bar Guru reviews an oops from an architect in today’s blog. Back in 2017 Hansen Pole Buildings was contacted by a gentleman I shall call “Dan” who had an interest in a post-frame home or ‘barndominium’. For those not familiar with this term: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2014/02/barndominium/. I have to admit, Dan spoke with a Hansen […]
Read moreStoring Lumber for a New Pole Building
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/06/12 @ 8:00Storing Lumber for Your New Post Frame Building Ideally, use lumber promptly. Otherwise store in a cool, dry location, avoiding direct sunlight and preferably indoors where humidity variations will be minimal. Dry lumber Unlike green lumber, keep kiln or air-dried lumber away from moisture, otherwise product may lose value added by careful seasoning. Dry lumber […]
Read moreWhen Size (or Lack Thereof) Matters- 4×6 Columns
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/04/16 @ 8:00Prior to Hansen Pole Buildings’ client’s plans being sealed by our third-party engineers, their preliminary plans are uploaded for client review through a login. While review goal is to make certain everyone is working from a same left and ensure doors and windows are properly located, it does trigger some interesting discussions at times. Here […]
Read moreHow Lumber is Pressure Preservative Treated
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/28 @ 8:00How Lumber is Pressure Preservative Treated Most people never have an opportunity to tour a pressure preservative treatment plant in operation. I have had this privilege several times and have always found it to be fascinating. Rather than reinventing things, our friend Bob Vila (https://www.bobvila.com/) and Georgia-Pacific (https://www.buildgp.com/wood/lumber/) have produced this wonderful video for your […]
Read moreAddition to House, Stone Floor Moisture Barrier
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/25 @ 8:00Today the Pole Barn Guru discusses a post frame addition to a house, whether or not one should use a plastic barrier under the stone floor in a steel building, and the ability of a truss carrier to handle imposed loads. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hi! We are considering a sizeable addition to our 600 […]
Read moreFight Knee Braces
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/08 @ 8:00Long time readers (as well as most people with a lick of common sense) know knee braces are not a good thing. Besides taking up valuable interior space, they do more harm than good. Reader TY from QUINTON has run into a dilemma regarding knee braces. He writes: “I pulled a permit to self build […]
Read moreSmartphone App to Test Lumber Strength
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/07 @ 8:00I have been a proponent of machine rated lumber since I bought my first truckload to be made into trusses at Coeur d’Alene Truss (http://www.cdabuilders.com/) back in 1978. Years later I spent five terms on the Board of Directors of the Machine Stress Rated Lumber Producers Council (http://www.msrlumber.org/). I have opined previously on the merits […]
Read moreBookshelf Girts or Stud Walls?
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/01/29 @ 8:00Why Use Bookshelf Girts Rather Than Studs? Long time readers may recall my Grandpa Pete was a home builder and his sons – Sid (my father), Neil, Lyle, Gil, Dave and Amund were all framing contractors. https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2011/06/before-the-pole-barn-guru/. Besides being raised with “wood is good”, I had a concept of vertical stud walls permanently ingrained in […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Questions
- Tags: Drywall, Top Plate, Girts, Stud Walls
- No comments
North Carolina Students Learn Post Frame Construction
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/01/22 @ 8:00North Carolina College Students Learn Post Frame Construction The following article by Dan Grubb appeared first in the December 5, 2018 Sampson Independent “Sometimes the building blocks to success look more like beams than blocks. Students at Sampson Community College’s Building and Construction program know this first hand as work continues on a facility the […]
Read moreElevated Floors, Snow Loads, and Species of Wood in Posts
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/01/14 @ 8:00This week the Pole Barn Guru answers questions about elevated floors, heavy snow loads, and what species of lumber posts are cut from. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: We own a site that was fully treed so the soil is not so great. We are interested in doing a pole barn design however a few engineers […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Design, Columns, Lofts
- Tags: Wood Types, Species Of Wood Posts, Posts, Lofts, Snow Loads, Elevated Floors
- No comments
Site Built Roof Trusses
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/12/26 @ 8:00Site Built Roof Trusses In penning my recent article about sexy prefab roof trusses, recalled from recesses of what little mind I have yet, was a story I will share with you about site built roof trusses. I was not long into my position as truss plant manager for Lucas Plywood and Lumber when a […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Structure, Trusses, Lumber, Pole Barn Design
- Tags: Gussets, Steel Connector Plates, Engineer Sealed Truss Designs, Truss Jigs
- 2 comments
Prefab Wood Trusses are Sexy
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/12/21 @ 8:00Prefab Wood Roof Trusses Are Sexy Though In 1952, in Pompano Beach, Florida, an inventor named Carroll Sanford had been experimenting with building prefabricated roof trusses using plywood gusset plates and varying concoctions and combinations of glue, staples, nails and screws. Eventually he conceived of light gauge steel plates with punched teeth to connect wooden […]
Read moreStarting from the Ground Up- UC-4B Treated Columns
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/12/06 @ 8:00Starting From the Ground Up- UC-4B Treated Columns Decades ago, when I began training a sales staff for Momb Steel Buildings (my 1990’s post frame construction company) I developed an outline we called, “From the Ground Up”. Just as implied by its name, this training went through features and benefits of a typical post frame […]
Read moreA Residential Pole Barn, Missing Lumber, and Building on Existing Slab
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/11/19 @ 8:00Today the Pole Barn Guru answers questions about plans for a residential pole barn, lumber going missing, and to building an existing slab. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hello, I’m looking to build a residential pole barn. I would need enough space for 3 bedroom 2 bath. How big of a pole barn would I need? […]
Read more- Categories: Concrete, Footings, Lumber, Pole Barn Design, Building Styles and Designs, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Plans, Slab, Residential Pole Barn, Lumber Missing, Brackets
- 1 comments
CDX Plywood for Pole Barn Siding
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/11/16 @ 8:00CDX Plywood for Pole Barn Siding? We recently had a client order a new post frame (pole barn) building kit package sheathed with 5/8” CDX plywood. The client’s intention – use plywood as a low budget siding. This one waves red flags as CDX plywood isn’t intended for prolonged exposure to weather. A vital difference […]
Read moreAvoiding Using Pressure Treated Wood
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/09/13 @ 8:00Avoiding Using Pressure Treated Wood Pressure preservative treated wood remains a mainstay in modern wood construction. United States’ manufacturing and sales of pressure treated wood has become a multi-billion dollar industry. Even with all of this, there are some skeptics. Reader DIANE in MORGANTOWN writes in: “ I want to avoid pressure treated wood. Even […]
Read moreIsolating Truss Connector Plates from Treated Lumber
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/09/04 @ 8:00Isolating Truss Connector Plates from Treated Lumber Assembly time for Hansen Pole Buildings’ client BRAD in MOUNT VERNON. Construction has begun upon his new post frame building. Brad had some great questions for Technical Support! “I’m not sure if you can answer my question or can possible point me in the correct direction. We are […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Trusses
- Tags: Treated Lumber, Truss Plates And Treated Lumbef, ACQ Treated Lumber, Epoxy-polymide Primer
- No comments
DIY Savings, Moving an Existing Building, and the Ideal Building Size
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/09/03 @ 8:00Today the Pole Barn Guru discusses potential DIY savings, moving an existing building, and the ideal building size. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am out of the area of which I can order a premade kit and have it shipped to me. If I wanted to still build it myself and buy the parts local […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Design, Constructing a Pole Building
- Tags: Savings, Moving, Relocate, Building Size, DIY
- No comments
Frost Foundations, Painting Metal Buildings, and Hawaii
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/07/16 @ 8:00Today the Pole Barn Guru answers questions about frost protected shallow foundations, repainting metal buildings and a kit in Hawaii. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: What type of frost foundation would you use if planning on doing a finished space in part of the building? ERIC in WINTERSET DEAR ERIC: I’d do a Frost Protected Shallow […]
Read moreWhat Size Posts Should I Use?
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/07/13 @ 8:00What Size Posts Does My Building Need and How Deep Should They Be? Reader ANONYMOUS in BENTON writes: “1. If my building has 16 posts and posts are 12 feet apart do I need 4×6’s or 6×6’s? 2. If the plan shows 16 feet above grade how much do I need underground? 3. If the […]
Read moreDo Screws Back Out of Steel Roofing?
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/05/24 @ 8:00I had a question posed of me recently which included: “Where will the water go when the screws back out of my steel roofing”? While I answered the question at hand, I didn’t actually get into the why this might happen, or the solutions. How to avoid the potential problem completely……use the right part, properly […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Questions, Fasteners
- Tags: Plywood Sheathing, #12 Diameter Screw, Screws, Green Lumber, Osb Sheathing, #9 Diameter Screws
- No comments
The Effect of Temperature Upon Concrete and Lumber
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/05/11 @ 8:00The Effects of Temperature Upon Concrete and Lumber Every time I begin to think I could never possibly hear something new, I have to be corrected as something new crops up. In this particular instance it was a reasoning to not embed properly pressure treated columns in the ground surrounded by concrete. Rot? Nope – […]
Read moreThe Dual Splash Plank Dilemma
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/05/10 @ 8:00The Dual Splash Plank Dilemma I’ve never been a fan of stacking splash planks. Even when they are center matched (think tongue and grooved) the two boards never seem to want to bend, twist, warp and/or cup the same direction leading to gaps. Gaps which lead to water getting through and spoiling an otherwise fun place […]
Read moreJapan and Hansen Pole Buildings
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/05/02 @ 8:00As I keyboard this, it is the seventh anniversary of the passing of my Uncle Neil Momb. I had reminded his daughter, my cousin Amy, of how I loved her Dad’s ability to make profound statements with a smile. Back in 2014 I wrote a couple of articles about my uncle’s adventures in building in […]
Read moreThe Perma-Column Price Advantage?
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/04/06 @ 8:00My good friend John owns (among other things) Heartland Permacolumn. I’ve borrowed this from his website (https://www.heartlandpermacolumn.com/products/the-perma-column-price-advantage/): “Perma-Column products give you the ultimate price advantage. You simply cannot put up a building on a concrete foundation for less money. Yet some may say, “They’re too expensive…” HOWEVER, the only people who ever say this install buildings using […]
Read moreFormula for Calculating Wall Girts
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/02/15 @ 8:00An Excel Formula for Calculating Wall Girts, Post Size and Hole Depth John Minor and I have been friends for nearly 30 years – since his then father-in-law (and my business partner at the time) convinced me John could sell post frame buildings. Well Rod was correct, John could sell buildings – not only for […]
Read morePVC Pipe for Post Sleeves
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/01/31 @ 8:00Reader TOM in PURVIS shares a concept I had neither seen before nor had I even contemplated – using PVC pipe to protect post frame (pole building) columns from decay. TOM writes: “ I know your posts are treated, but I live in the damp state of MS. In recent years 3 of my friends […]
Read moreWhy Post Frame Construction is So Efficient vs. Stick-Built
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/12/29 @ 8:00I recently had this comment from a client, “In normal construction projects I would order at least 5% overage and it looks like closer to 1% here, I have like 20 extra screws total, a foot of extra eave trim, two whole extra pieces of vinyl soffit.” Obviously this client didn’t grow up being the cutoff […]
Read moreHow to Keep Post Frame Buildings ‘Pest-Free’
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/12/27 @ 8:00Post frame buildings have several benefits which make them the perfect choice for virtually any permanent structure like durability, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, quick assembly and versatility. They also serve multiple purposes. They are storage and machine sheds, horse-barns as well as pre-engineered for a plethora of uses. Woodwork can last for several centuries, but if pests […]
Read moreWill My Poles Rot Off? Not If They Are Properly Pressure Treated Wood!
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/12/19 @ 8:00Do the poles start to rot out after so many years? That depends on whether or not they are pressure treated. This question was recently posed to me by reader MARK in WOLCOTT. Typically my answer would include some snarky comment such as: “Most certainly, however it might not be during your grandchildren’s grandchildren’s lives!” […]
Read moreMy Building Inspector Made Me
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/11/28 @ 8:00My Building Inspector Made Me….. An all to familiar tale from those who go by the premise, “penny wise and pound foolish”…. in the misguided attempt to shave a few dollars off the investment in a new building, the price of the engineer sealed plans has been deducted from the budget. Very rarely is this […]
Read moreRough Cut Lumber, Insurance, and Girt Orientation
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/11/13 @ 8:00DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hi, I’m planning on building a ( 32’ x 60’ x 12’ ) Pole Barn with 4/12 scissor truss. I want to price out rough cut lumber on walls and ceiling. How do I calculate the Amount of board feet lumber I need to cover the walls and ceiling. Thanks BRIAN […]
Read more- Categories: Building Interior, Lumber, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: Girts, Insurance, Rough Cut, Lumber
- No comments
Properly Pressure Treated Lumber
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/10/27 @ 8:00Trying to Buy Properly Pressure Preservative Treated Lumber Reader ZACH in BLACK CREEK has been challenged trying to buy properly pressure preservative treated lumber. He writes: “Hello, I would like to get your opinion on 2×6 grade board. I read the article you wrote about lumber pressure treatment. I have been looking around for .20pcf […]
Read moreProperly Treated Poles, Ceiling Loads, and Uplift Plates
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/10/21 @ 8:00Properly Treated Poles, Ceiling Loads, and Uplift Plates DEAR POLE BARN GURU: My pole barn is approximately 25 years old. My question is, does the foundation need to be treated for maintenance to prevent rotting? The wood that is underground was originally treated wood but how long does that last? The floor inside is concrete […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Structure, Trusses, Columns
- Tags: Rotting, Ceiling Loads, Uplift Plates, Pressure Treated Posts, Drywall, Column Uplift Protection
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Building a Pole Building Style Home
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/10/18 @ 8:00Building a Pole Barn Style Home Reader DAVID from NINE MILE FALLS writes: “I am building a pole barn style home. I am having a difficult time in finding what the requirements would be for post setting and post distance spacing in regards to a pole barn used for living spaces. I plan on using […]
Read moreAre My Columns Too Short?
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/09/26 @ 8:00Are My Columns Too Small or Too Short? We receive and answer lots of questions. Even with a Construction Guide which extends over 500 pages, covering a plethora of topics and how to’s, there is always an unanswered question (sometimes two). One of our good clients recently sent a query to the Hansen Pole Buildings’ […]
Read moreTreated Lumber for In Ground Use
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/08/25 @ 8:00Treated Lumber – Justine Schools a Major Lumberyard Chain When it comes to pressure preservative treated lumber, ignorance from the supply side seems to be bliss and there are way too many folks out there happily selling under treated product. For your entertainment pleasure I bring you a discourse between Hansen Pole Buildings Lumber Wizard […]
Read moreBookshelf Girts for Insulation
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/08/02 @ 8:00In the land where I first became acquainted with pole barn (post frame) building construction, was used a term known as commercial girts. These are actually what is more appropriately named “bookshelf girts” designed so as to create an insulation cavity which would extend 1-1/2 inches outside of the columns. The commercial girt is sized […]
Read moreDricon Fire Retardant Treated Wood
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/07/14 @ 8:00Hansen Pole Buildings’ Managing Partner Eric had messaged me this morning to ask if I had ever heard of FRT lumber for roof trusses. While I had never (in my days in the truss industry) manufactured any trusses using Dricon® Fire Retardant Treated (FRT) wood, I am familiar with it. Whether you’re using plywood or lumber, […]
Read morePerfect Pitch, Added Expense, and Endwall Roof Leak!
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/06/26 @ 8:00DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Could you tell me the pitch of the roof…for small pole barn…..front wall is 10 foot high…back wall is 8 foot high…rafter span is 13 feet. HERBERT in HAMPTON DEAR HERBERT: Roof slopes are expressed as the number of inches of rise per 12 inches of run. 24 inches of rise […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Roofing Materials, Pole Barn Planning, Budget
- Tags: Rake Trim, Lumber Species, Roof Pitch, Roof Materials, Lumber Grade, Leaks, Sealant
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Open Endwalls in a Hay Barn
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/04/20 @ 8:00There are plenty of bad structural things which can be done to post frame buildings. While roof only buildings can have their own set of challenges, these can be exponentially made worse by putting walls on the eave sides and leaving the building endwalls entirely open. Here is a good explanation of why this occurs, […]
Read moreWhat Fails First in a Fire? Part II
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/04/19 @ 8:00What Fails First in a Fire- the Truss Lumber or the Steel Truss Plates? Part II If you didn’t read my blog yesterday, you will think me out in left field until you do. Take a few extra minutes and go back and read Part I. You will be glad you did! Continuing from yesterday’s […]
Read moreThe Mark on Pressure Preservative Treated Lumber
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/04/04 @ 8:00Interpreting the Mark on Pressure Preservative Treated Lumber Pressure preservative treated lumber is a mystery to most consumers, builders and even building officials. Certainly all of the above parties understand the need for pressure preservative treated lumber when it is embedded in or in contact with the ground or concrete, or in locations where there […]
Read more- Categories: Columns, Lumber
- Tags: CCA Treated Lumber, UC-4B, AWPA Standard/Use Category
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Timbers Checking In
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/03/22 @ 8:00One of our clients, Matt from Chapel Hill, NC, sent us a few photos showing a concern of “timber checking” to Justine, the Hansen Pole Buildings Productions Wizard (she loves it when I come up with interesting titles for what she does). Here is what Matt had to say: “Been a while since we spoke. […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Questions, Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: Strength Of Timber, Lumber Cracks, Lumber Checks, Timber Cracks
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How Post Frame Building Lumber is Born
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/03/15 @ 8:00I’ve been blessed with being able to have extensive tours of two very sophisticated lumber mills. The first being the Seneca Sawmill in Eugene, Oregon. Seneca Sawmill Company is one of the largest producing single-location sawmills in the United States. Their mills are capable of producing over 650 million board feet per year of premium grade […]
Read moreBook Shelving? Ceiling Insulation
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/02/06 @ 8:00DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Do you have to set laminated pole so you see the 1.5 side of the 2×6’s while looking in or out of the building? I was thinking of using 4ply 2×6 post 10′ out of the ground every 8′ while book shelving with 2×6’s in between posts. I thought it would […]
Read moreFurniture Making from a Barndominium
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/01/24 @ 8:00A year and a half ago, Michael Gibson had what he considered to be a brilliant idea. He and his bride, Andrea, would sell their home, move to his grandparents’ house and build a barn to live in while they invested their money in land they would one day build their forever home on. And, […]
Read more- Categories: Building Interior, Lumber, Pole Barn Design
- Tags: Pole Barn, RAW Furniture, Michael Gibson, Tupelo Daily Journal, Barn
- No comments
Making Your Own Glulam Columns
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/01/18 @ 8:00Should I Make my Own Glulam Columns? I’ve been internet chattering back and forth with a gentleman named Chris, who is probably never going to order a Hansen Pole Building, but it is okay – we have thousands of clients a year who are knocking at our doors (figuratively) ready to place their orders. Total […]
Read moreBarn Doors? Houses? Materials!
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/01/09 @ 8:00DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Where can I find barn doors, sliding steel style? They have no internet presence, or else there is a secret name for them. Thank you! BONNY in FRANKFORT DEAR BONNY: If you are in search of a steel covered, metal framed sliding door (which is what the huge majority of sliding […]
Read moreCordwood Masonry Appears to be a Contradiction in Terms
Posted by polebarnguru on 16/11/30 @ 8:00This article by Randy Edison about cordwood masonry first appeared at www.gfwadvertiser.ca November 24, 2006 and has not been edited “When Paul Johnson first heard of the construction method from a friend it became a curiosity. He was curious enough, in fact, to turn it into a handyman project that, despite the challenges, brought a […]
Read moreWhy 10d Nails?
Posted by polebarnguru on 16/10/13 @ 8:00Readers: This is another one of those “Dear Pole Barn Guru” questions where the answer is so lengthy it deserves an article all of its own! DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Why 10d nails? Do you know how difficult it is to get 10d nails? Every hardware store in my area has big boxes of 8d, 16d, and […]
Read morePole Barn Design for Free
Posted by polebarnguru on 16/09/30 @ 8:00Please Structurally Design My Pole Barn for Free This is one of those POLE BARN GURU questions which results with a lengthy enough answer I feel I must devote a whole column to it. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Could you please help clarify, for a 40 ft. wide x 64 ft. long x 15 ft. […]
Read moreTermites and Pole Barns
Posted by polebarnguru on 16/08/31 @ 8:00A Buggy Situation A client writes to Justine (the Hansen Pole Buildings’ Order Fulfillment goddess) this week: “I was hoping to get some advice. I’m still working on the building having just completed rafter placement and was starting to pull apart the two bundles of lumber for the purlins. When I started pulling boards out […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Questions, Pole Barn Design
- Tags: Purlins, Lumber Grading Rules, Lumber Allowable Defects
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When the Loft Design Seems Inadequate
Posted by polebarnguru on 16/08/16 @ 8:00One of the great things about post frame (pole) building construction is the ability to add interior raised spaces (think lofts, mezzanines and second stories). One of the most overlooked things about adding such space is proper engineering design. In general I have found them to be inadequate to support the loads. This can result […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Design, Building Department, Professional Engineer
- Tags: Mezzanine, Second Story, Ledgerboard
- No comments
When Everything Doesn’t Go Perfect Part II
Posted by polebarnguru on 16/08/11 @ 8:00When Everything Doesn’t Go Perfect (and the sky falls) Part II To refresh your memory a bit, we had a client recently email us a letter outlining some of his challenge in getting his building project going. Read yesterday’s blog for Part I of this client’s challenges with his building project. Nothing but problems seemingly […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Questions, Building Contractor, Columns
- Tags: Building Kit Package, Pole Barn Question
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History of a National Design Standard
Posted by polebarnguru on 16/07/29 @ 2:00History of the Development of a National Standard of Practice for Wood Design From time-to-time you might see the term NDS® (National Design Specification® for Wood Construction appear in my blogs, and it is referenced on every set of Hansen Pole Buildings plans, as well as within the International Building Codes. Me, being the curious […]
Read moreCross Laminated Timber
Posted by polebarnguru on 16/06/21 @ 8:00And long-time reader Vincent Phelps has another great question: “CBS Sunday morning had a segment on CLT, Cross Laminated timber. It brought timber frame construction to mind. Your thoughts on this technique for the Pole builder?” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/living-the-high-life/ Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a large-scale, prefabricated, solid engineered wood panel. Lightweight yet very strong, with superior acoustic, […]
Read moreFSC and Pole Buildings
Posted by polebarnguru on 16/05/10 @ 8:04FSC® Lumber When my youngest son Brent and I were helping Eric construct his self-storage pole building (you can read about it here: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2014/06/builder/ we noticed some of the lumber had FSC stamps on it. I had heard of lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) but had never seen any of it in […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Forest Products, Pole Buildings, FSC, Atrazine, Environmental Protection
- No comments
Pressure Treatment Beyond CCA
Posted by polebarnguru on 16/01/26 @ 8:00Pressure Treating Beyond CCA My friend Sharon Thatcher is the editor of Rural Builder magazine. This article, written by her, was published in the December edition of Rural Builder and is so well done, I felt it was well worth sharing. It’s been nearly 12 years since new measures were put in place to help […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Columns
- Tags:
- 1 comments
Visually Graded Lumber Variability Can be a Problem
Posted by polebarnguru on 15/12/23 @ 8:00While it is impossible to get around the fact lumber is an organic substance, and therefore has inherent variability, it has always been used as the primary raw material of the residential construction industry. In fact, the growing reliance on the structural design properties of lumber by the US housing industry led to the development […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags:
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Pole Building Shipping Disasters
Posted by polebarnguru on 15/09/18 @ 8:00Convoy For those of you not old enough to remember, or those of us too old to remember, the late 1970’s were a time of 55 mph speed limits and C.W. McCall’s iconic: https://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=crmas&p=cw+mccall+convoy Interesting things can happen to pole building kit packages once they get loaded on to one of those big rigs and […]
Read moreSouthern Pine is Not a Benefit!
Posted by polebarnguru on 15/09/17 @ 8:00Almost Anything Can be Sold as a Benefit Over the years I have noticed one thing about sales people (and sales organizations), almost anything can be run up the flag pole as a benefit (oftentimes it is actually a feature) and if it is touted highly enough, a certain number of people will believe it. […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: White Pine, Southern Pine Strength, Canadian SPF Strength
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Local Lumberyard Quote
Posted by polebarnguru on 15/09/16 @ 8:00Local Lumberyard + Pole Barns = Scary Yes, the title looks to be a simple math equation. The problem with math equations is, not very many people can actually do them – at least not when they fly a desk at the local lumber dealer. Case in point –XYZ Lumberyard with multiple state locations. (name […]
Read moreHow to Untwist a Pressure Treated Post
Posted by polebarnguru on 15/08/26 @ 8:08This actually began as an “Ask the Pole Barn Guru” question: DEAR POLE BARN GURU: We have installed the Pressure Treated Posts and they were straight when the concrete was poured, now a couple of weeks later we are seeing the poles twist and warp. They are straight at the ground level but about half […]
Read moreThe Lumber Twist
Posted by polebarnguru on 15/08/04 @ 8:00Twisting Out of Control This morning I received a voice mail message from a builder. He has arrived at a pole building jobsite where the materials have been “on the ground” for some time. It is now August, in Central Washington – where temperatures over 100 and humidity of next to nothing are not unusual. […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Treated Lumber Twisting, Pole Barn Posts Twisting, Lumber Twisting
- No comments
Perma Column vs. Pressure Treated
Posted by polebarnguru on 15/07/24 @ 8:00Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designer Rick has been working with a client who has a nose for knowledge – and I thank both of them for sharing information with me, so I can pay it forward. This particular client is weighing the use of Perma Columns against the more traditional design solution for post frame (pole […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Columns
- Tags: Pressure Treated Wood, Pressure Treated Lumber, CCA Treated Posts, ACZA
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MSDS
Posted by polebarnguru on 15/07/17 @ 8:00MSDS In the olden days, we were taught to look both ways before we went out in the street to play for the quarter dad offered us. Basically, we had personal responsibility – if we did something stupid, it was our own fault. MSDS is the Material Safety Data Sheet which actually is more than […]
Read moreDoes Aged Lumber Get Stronger?
Posted by polebarnguru on 15/07/10 @ 8:00I’ll never be mistaken for either Jamie Hyneman or Adam Savage of the Discovery Channel’s popular and long running series MythBusters, however I can occasionally do some debunking of urban (and rural) legends. I do have to admit, watching MythBusters can become addicting – especially when it can be tuned in on Netflix and watched […]
Read morePressure Treated Lumber
Posted by polebarnguru on 15/03/26 @ 8:00Preserving Wood Columns Beyond Code Requirements The Building Codes (IBC – International Building Code and IRC – International Residential Code) specify minimum requirements for pressure treated lumber used to structurally support buildings. My previous dissertations on pressure treating are available for your reading pleasure here: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/blog/2012/10/pressure-treated-posts-2/ and https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/blog/2014/05/building-code-3/ Hansen Pole Buildings Designer Kelly brought to […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Columns
- Tags: Treated Posts, Post Protectors, Plasti-sleeves, Pressure Preservative Treated Columns
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Part IV: Lumber Quality
Posted by polebarnguru on 15/03/20 @ 8:00We Don’t Always Do Things Perfect, But We Do Listen Part IV Last summer Hansen Pole Buildings Supplied a pole building kit package to a client who experienced a few challenges and took the time to address them. Here is the last portion of the email I was responding to (the past three days’ blogs […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Lumber Grading Rules, Lumber Quality, Lumber Quality Standards, Lumber Wane
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Tongue and Groove Lumber
Posted by polebarnguru on 15/02/25 @ 8:00My first exposure to tongue and groove lumber was when I managed the prefabricated metal plate connected wood truss manufacturing facility at Lucas Plywood and Lumber back in 1979. I’d relocated from Northern Idaho to Salem, Oregon to take the position. (Read more about Lucas Plywood and Lumber here: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/blog/2011/06/theres-no-education-like-real-life-business-experience/) The most common method of […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Building Interior
- Tags: Horse Stalls, #3 Lumber, Center Matched Lumber
- 2 comments
Dear Guru: Is Toe Nailing a Good Idea?
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/12/29 @ 8:00Welcome to Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays. With many questions to answer, please be patient to watch for yours to come up on a future Monday segment. If you want a quick answer, please be sure to answer with a “reply-able” […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Questions
- Tags: Housewrap, Pole Barn Insulation, Eave Height, Tyvek, Pole Building Ventilation
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All Graded Lumber is Not the Same
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/12/23 @ 8:00Standard & Btr and #2 Graded Lumber Are Not the Same Although I had a couple of years’ experience in the prefabricated metal connector plated truss industry, my first opportunity to truly “fly solo” was when I was hired, at the end of August 1979 to manage the truss plant at what was then Lucas […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Code Requirements, #2 Lumber, Lumber Stamps, Standard & Better Lumber, Standard Lumber, Stress Graded Lumber
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Is There Really a Lumber Shortage?
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/10/09 @ 8:00Do we grow enough wood to build a significant number of new wood framed buildings? Most people have the belief the world’s forests are shrinking. They are worried about a lumber shortage. This is one of the marketing ploys frequently used by producers and builders of non-wood framed buildings. A Yale University-led study published in […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Wood Shortage, Lumber, Lumber Shortage, Sustainable Forestry, Tree Supply
- 1 comments
Glulams vs. Solid Sawn Columns
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/10/08 @ 8:00A Hansen Pole Buildings client recently called his Building Designer Rick. The client was concerned as three ply glulams were provided for his pole building kit package, instead of the 4×6 and 6×6 solid sawn columns which were on his plans. He is concerned his inspector will give him trouble about this and would like […]
Read more- Categories: Columns, Lumber
- Tags: Glu-lam Columns, Solid Sawn Lumber, Glulams, Glu-lam Beams, Solid Sawn Posts
- 2 comments
Dimensional Lumber Sizes
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/09/17 @ 8:00Craig Webb to the Rescue Yesterday I wrote about what has become known as the “Lowe’s 2×4” judgment. For those of you who have read the post regarding lumber nominal sizes versus actual dimensions – you’ve probably been left in wonderment over the article! I know I was still frothing over it. Luckily, up came […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Finished Lumber Sizes, Nominal Lumber Sizes, Dimensional Lumber Sizes, Lumber Sizes
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Lowe’s 2×4 Judgment
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/09/16 @ 8:00“Unlawfully Advertised’ 2x4s Cost Lowe’s $1.6 million When I first read this story, it was enough to cause blood to squirt from my eyeballs. My reaction was this is yet another case of government run totally amok! For the handful of American adults who have NOT ever purchased or used a 2×4 – the rest […]
Read moreCut Ends of Pressure Treated Lumber
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/09/04 @ 8:00What to do about Cut Ends of Pressure Treated Lumber? One of my sons works for an auto parts store. He seriously enjoys his job. However he has some misgivings about portions of it. Raises and promotions are based, in part, upon how much extra stuff (with high profit margins) the staff is able to […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Copper Green, Copper Napththenate, Cuprinol, Light Bulb Grease
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PET Lumber
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/08/27 @ 8:00A Builder’s PET The stereotypical builder appears to be characterized as driving a four-wheel-drive extended cab pickup (of course jacked up so a ladder is required to get in), having a jobsite stereo system which can be heard for miles with the sound turned to only 30%, and of course – the ever faithful pet, […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Pole Barn, Precision End Trimmed Lumber, Square Lumber, Studs, Wall Studs, Pole Building
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Lumber Bending Stress
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/08/14 @ 8:00The Big Stick is Better than the Little Stick – Right? Those of you who are regular readers know I am fascinated by all things magical. I don’t know how they do it, but I will watch a good magician over and over. When I was in architecture school at the University of Idaho – […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Bending Lumber, Bending Wood, Fiberstress, Lumber Bending Stress, Posts & Timbers
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Incising Lumber
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/08/13 @ 8:00Incising My former wife (mother of my two youngest children – Allison and Brent), was by training an RDH (Registered Dental Hygienist). In order to keep her registration current, she had to obtain CEUs (Continuing Education Credits). One way to generate CEUs was to attend the annual state dental convention. One year I went along […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Chemical Treatment Of Lumber, Incising Lumber, Incising Wood, Treated Lumber, Lumber Treatment, AWPA
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Wane
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/07/03 @ 8:00In the construction of Eric’s new self-storage pole building, my son got to experience first-hand the effects of wane! What exactly is wane? When a log enters a sawmill, it is first cut into boards. Before further processing, most boards cut from the outside edges of the log exhibit wither residual bark or jagged edges […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Constructing a Pole Building
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- 3 comments
Eased Edge Lumber
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/07/01 @ 8:00¼” EE In my exploration of lumber grade stamps, 1/4″ EE was one which I was familiar with, but had no idea what the history was behind it. When I remodeled my 1909 home 24 years ago – it was for the most part down to the bare studs and floor joists. The lumber, having […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Eased Edges Wood, EE Lumber, Lumber Grade Stamps, Lumber Quality, Framing Lumber
- 3 comments
Heat Treated Lumber
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/06/27 @ 8:00In yesterday’s article, I was explaining lumber grade stamps to my son, Brent. One part of the stamp which is not in the five “required” designations (grading agency, producing mill, product grade, species and moisture content) was the “HT”. HT designates the wood is heat treated lumber. Many countries require imported lumber to be heat-treated […]
Read moreGrade Stamps
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/06/26 @ 8:00Walk into your local lumber dealer – whether a big box store (aka The Home Depot® or Lowe’s®), a national lumber dealer (think ProBuild®, Stock Building Supply®, or 84 Lumber®) or the local mom and pop lumber seller and pickup any piece of dimensional lumber. On it will be a grade stamp – which is […]
Read moreNot Burger King Crowns
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/06/25 @ 8:00My readers will recognize my 19-year-old son Brent’s name from recent articles on the construction of a pole building storage building here in Browns Valley. After two weeks of working together, I have learned something important (yes, 56 year old Dads can learn new things). Growing up, my brother Mark and I worked for Dad […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, About The Pole Barn Guru, Constructing a Pole Building
- Tags: Lumber Defects, Burger King, Lumber Crowns
- 2 comments
Poles for Pole Barns
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/06/12 @ 8:00Some days it seems there are nearly as many possible design solutions for pole barn “poles” as there are pole barns! Here is a brief overview of the organic (think coming from trees) ones. For the sake of brevity, I will limit this article to only applications where the columns are embedded in the ground. […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Structure, Columns
- Tags: Glu-laminated Columns, Solid Sawn Lumber, Glulams, Columns, Timbers
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Finger Jointed Lumber
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/05/15 @ 8:00The recent National Frame Building Association (NFBA) 2014 Frame Building Expo was a reunion event for me with several long-time friends. One of these is Ferg Evans. In the 1990’s I was elected to the first of five terms I was to serve on the Board of Directors for the Machine Stress Rated Lumber Producers […]
Read more- Categories: Uncategorized, Lumber
- Tags: Pinkwood, Truss Lumber, MSR Lumber, Canadian Engineered Wood Productsk, LTD
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Dear Pole Barn Guru: What Size Glulam Should I Use?
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/04/07 @ 8:00Welcome to Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays. With many questions to answer, please be patient to watch for yours to come up on a future Monday segment. If you want a quick answer, please be sure to answer with a “reply-able” […]
Read moreTimberSIL® – A Great Idea?
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/02/19 @ 8:00Great Ideas May Not Always Bring Great Results Much ado has been made about alternatives to CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) pressure preservative treated lumber. CCA has been used to pressure treat lumber since the 1940s. Since the 1970s, the majority of the wood used in outdoor residential settings (as well as pole buildings) has been […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Lumber Preservative, Treated Lumber, Pressure Treated Lumber
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LVL: I Woodn’t Use It
Posted by polebarnguru on 14/01/22 @ 8:00I Woodn’t Use It (pun intended) For those of you who are unfamiliar with LVLs (Laminated Veneer Lumber) here is a good primer: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/blog/2013/01/lvl/ For the thousands of my regular daily readers, you know Justine well – she is the one who makes sure all of the good stuff arrives at client’s jobsites when they […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Bad Lumber, Black Lumber, Lumber Defects, Lumber Storage, Laminated Veneer Lumber
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Allowable Lumber Defects
Posted by polebarnguru on 13/12/11 @ 8:00As a teenager I worked for Blaine Johnston Construction in the Spokane Valley twice, the summer after my freshman year of college, and again after I was out of school. The second time around, I was the “change order guy” – if a client wanted something changed on their house, I got to go do […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Defects In Lumber, Lumber Grading Rules
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Dear Guru? Use Galvanized Nails or Not?
Posted by polebarnguru on 13/12/09 @ 8:00Welcome to Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays. With many questions to answer, please be patient to watch for yours to come up on a future Monday segment. If you want a quick answer, please be sure to answer with a “reply-able” […]
Read moreShould a Treated Post Look Treated all the Way Through?
Posted by polebarnguru on 13/11/18 @ 8:00Welcome to Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays. With many questions to answer, please be patient to watch for yours to come up on a future Monday segment. If you want a quick answer, please be sure to answer with a “reply-able” […]
Read moreOSB versus Plywood
Posted by polebarnguru on 13/10/31 @ 8:00Plywood or OSB; OSB or Plywood? Oriented strand board (OSB) long ago became the market leader, in relationship to plywood. As much as 75% of all sheathing is now OSB, thanks mostly to cost conscious buyers. OSB versus Plywood Prices Prices for commodities like structural panels are notoriously volatile, and plywood can often be nearly […]
Read more- Categories: Roofing Materials, Lumber
- Tags: Osb Sheathing, Roof Sheathing
- 3 comments
Construction Tape, Instead of Nails to Build Pole Buildings
Posted by polebarnguru on 13/09/03 @ 8:00I’m always on board (pun intended) for new, interesting and different ideas. This one certainly qualifies! German researchers are working on a quick-setting construction tape which can bond lumber members together. They’ve developed an adhesive tape, which sets in under a minute to reliably and durably bond together individual components. The construction tape doesn’t dry […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Constructing a Pole Building, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: 10d Nails, Adhesive Tape, Construction Adhesive, Nails
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Composite Grade Board
Posted by polebarnguru on 13/08/28 @ 8:00Typically post frame (pole) buildings have a pressure treated board at the base of all enclosed walls. Known also as a Bottom Girt, Grade Girt, Skirt Board or Splash Plank, it is a decay and corrosion resistant girt which is in soil contact or located near the soil surface. It remains visible from the building […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: Splash Plank, Grade Skirt, Skirt Board
- 5 comments
MCA: Micronized Copper Technology
Posted by polebarnguru on 13/08/23 @ 8:00Particulate (micronized or dispersed) copper preservative technology has recently been introduced in the USA and Europe. In these systems, the copper is ground to micro sized particles and suspended in water rather than being dissolved in a chemical reaction as is the case with other copper products such as ACQ and Copper Azole. There are […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber
- Tags: Lumber Preservative, Treated Lumber, ACQ, CCA
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