A Basement Foundation, a Leaky Roof, and Raising Bays

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/29/2025
A Basement Foundation, a Leaky Roof, and Raising Bays

Today’s “Ask the Guru” tackles reader questions about erecting a kit on a basement foundation, how to find and repair a leaky roof, and some advice on raising bays to add height to a structure. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Is it possible to erect one of the pole barn kits on a basement foundation? LUCAS […]

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Reason You Go With Engineered Prints

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/28/2025
Reason You Go With Engineered Prints

Reason You Go With Engineered Prints Yes, I know some of you gentle readers are offended by my harping on how important it is to build only from site specific fully engineered plans. Well, here is a case study. Reader AARON in CARBON HILL writes: “Reason you go with engineering prints. My contractor said it’s […]

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Thinking Stick Frame Rather Than Post Frame

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/23/2025
Thinking Stick Frame Rather Than Post Frame

Thinking Stick Frame Rather Than Post Frame Reader BRAD writes:“Real question…I’ve been doing lots of reading and love this site. I am building a 40x60x14 this spring. I originally thought I was going to go pole barn and now I am thinking stick frame. Reason….1. I am going to have insulated concrete foundation with in […]

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Full Foundation, Hurricane Proof, and Drill-Set Brackets on Slab

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/22/2025
Full Foundation, Hurricane Proof, and Drill-Set Brackets on Slab

This Wednesday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about a village or township requiring you to put a full foundation in for a pole building, whether a pole building is “hurricane proof,” and the potential use of drill-set brackets to set 6×6 columns on an existing slab with thickened edge. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: […]

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Understanding Steel Roofing and Siding Load Tables

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/21/2025
Understanding Steel Roofing and Siding Load Tables

Understanding Steel Roofing and Siding Load Tables Posted by McElroy Metal ● Aug 15, 2024 8:00 AM Understanding Load Tables can feel complicated, especially if you’re not an engineer, but knowing the basics can help you make informed decisions about your building projects. Here, we’ll break down the key elements of load tables and clarify […]

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Attic Ventilation – Where Hindsight is Always 20-20

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/16/2025
Attic Ventilation – Where Hindsight is Always 20-20

Attic Ventilation – Where Hindsight is Always 20-20 Reader CHRIS in TULSA writes: “Hello! I have a question about attic venting that I’m just not experienced enough to answer properly. I have a new 24’x’40’x12′ post frame building I’m currently working on finishing out (fiberglass insulation, walls, ceiling, etc.). My hindsight was bad and I […]

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Vapor Barriers, Post Longevity, and Spray Foam

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/15/2025
Vapor Barriers, Post Longevity, and Spray Foam

This Wednesday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about the need for a vapor barrier, the longevity of properly treated posts, and the better spray foam between open and closed cell. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hello Sir, hoping you can help answer a question I cannot get a straight answer on. Currently building a […]

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PermaColumn Foundation Investment

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/14/2025
PermaColumn Foundation Investment

My good friend John used to own (among other things) Heartland Permacolumn. Six years ago, I borrowed this from his website: “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 […]

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Pole Barn Plans With Clerestory Roofs

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/09/2025
Pole Barn Plans With Clerestory Roofs

Pole Barn Plans With Clerestory Roofs Reader BRENT in HUNTSVILLE writes: “Do you have any plans for pole barns with a Celestial Shed Roof? It seems like a great way to allow natural light into the building while being an aesthetic design.” By coincidence, I have a son named Brent! In architecture, a clerestory is […]

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A Builder Area, Beefed Rafters, and Vapor Barrier

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/08/2025
A Builder Area, Beefed Rafters, and Vapor Barrier

This Wednesday readers “Ask the Guru” about Hansen having a builder in the area of Minot, ND, if an existing pole barn with 8′ column spacing can be converted into a residential space by “beefing up” rafters, and use of a vapor barrier in a residential post frame structure. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am […]

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Attic Trusses for Post Frame Construction

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/07/2025
Attic Trusses for Post Frame Construction

Attic Trusses for Post Frame Construction Reader RICK in LEWISTON writes: “I’m researching post frame construction as I’d like to build a 28×40 shop this summer. We really need storage and I’d like to use attic trusses for the area it offers. I’m a little confused as to how the full length header is attached […]

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How to Properly Insulate between Roof Purlins

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/02/2025
How to Properly Insulate between Roof Purlins

How to Properly Insulate Between Roof Purlins Efficient climate control is becoming the buzz term for post frame construction. A challenge occurs when clients look to insulate between their roof purlins. Reader JOHN in COVINGTON writes: “I am building an all wood pole building. The purlins are 2x8s. I want to insulate the walls and […]

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Attic Space, Cost Effective Size, and Column Sizing

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/01/2025
Attic Space, Cost Effective Size, and Column Sizing

This week the Pole barn Guru answers reader questions regarding a 6ft attic space over a 30×44 pole barn, the most “cost effective” method to build, and the point at which a post increased from a 6×6 to a 6×8. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: We want a decent-height (a bit over 6ft) attic space in […]

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Change Orders in Contracts

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/30/2025
Change Orders in Contracts

Disclaimer – this and subsequent articles on this subject are not intended to be legal advice, merely an example for discussions between you and your legal advisor. Please keep in mind, many of these terms are applicable towards post frame building kits and would require edits for cases where a builder is providing erection services […]

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Heave Ho

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/25/2025
Heave Ho

Heave Ho Reader TIM in HUNTER writes: “I have a pole building, dirt floor no concrete that has heaved up in one corner about 12 inches. I think the builder put Quick Crete in the hole of each posts. I realize it is caused by frost. The frost free hydrant located near the corner has […]

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A Stick Built 2nd Floor, Steel Profiles & Gauges, and Heating an Old Metal Garage

This Wednesday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about the possibility of adding a stick built 2nd floor to a post frame structure, the what profile and gauge steel is available for metal roofing and siding, and if an old metal garage can be moderately heated. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: My 20×24 will have […]

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Effects of High Temperature on Glulaminated Columns

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/23/2025
Effects of High Temperature on Glulaminated Columns

Effects of High Temperature on Glulaminated Columns Long time readers have gotten accustomed to all sorts of interesting questions posed by Hansen Pole Buildings’ clients. Building Designer Rachel had a brand new one come up just this week: ”But what you don’t address, and what would be needed to convince me, are glue statistics. Humans […]

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HELP I Didn’t Do Enough Research on Deflection

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/18/2025
HELP I Didn’t Do Enough Research on Deflection

HELP I Didn’t Do Enough Research Reader JORDAN writes: “Unfortunately I didn’t do enough research before building a post frame building. I’m running into a lot of deflection on the gable end of a 48x72x16’ high building. I made my own laminated columns out of 4 ply 2×6 southern yellow pine and liquid nails. Unfortunately […]

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Perma-Columns, Posts, Trusses and Purlins, and Mono Truss Roof Venting

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about the value of Perma-Columns, setting of posts, trusses and purlins, and the proper way to vent a mono-truss lean-to roof. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Are perma columns worth it? JOHN in TRUMANSBURG DEAR JOHN: When I built my own 8000 square foot finished post-frame barndominium, […]

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Understanding How to Size Rafters

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/16/2025
Understanding How to Size Rafters

Understanding How to Size Rafters Reader ANDY in SHELBYVILLE writes: “I’m looking for an explanation on how to size a rafter on the side of an existing pole barn. The lean-to will be 12′ wide, 80′ long, ~10 height on the inside, pole barn post are 8′ spacing. I was planning on using 2×4 on […]

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Pouring Wet Set Bracket Piers

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/11/2025
Pouring Wet Set Bracket Piers

Pouring Wet Set Bracket Piers Reader SEAN in ANACORTES writes: “Hello, I am getting ready to pour concrete columns and set Perma-column brackets, and want to then set my posts so as to build first, then set the wire mesh, run my radiant tubing and then pour the slab for the home after I set […]

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Columns in Clay Soil, a Maintenance Facility, and Post Rot

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/10/2025
Columns in Clay Soil, a Maintenance Facility, and Post Rot

This week readers “Ask the Guru” to answer questions about setting columns on clay soil that has been saturated, a quote request for a maintenance facility, and protecting posts from rot. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hello, I am building a pole barn for cattle in the north TX area ( primarily clay soil). I have […]

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Can’t Afford a Backyard Guesthouse? Think Again

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/09/2025
Can’t Afford a Backyard Guesthouse? Think Again

Can’t Afford a Backyard Guesthouse?  Who wouldn’t want a backyard guesthouse and the endless possibilities it offers? You could use your guesthouse to host friends from out of town or house parents or in-laws. You could earn some extra income by renting out your guesthouse on Homeaway or Airbnb, or you could use it as […]

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Calculating Stairs Rise and Run

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/04/2025
Calculating Stairs Rise and Run

What is Wrong With this Picture? Stairs, they seem to confound and befuddle just about everyone. In my early years as Sales Manager at Coeur d’Alene Truss, I used to volunteer to go measure houses up to confirm plan dimensions would match up with what was actually being built. Usually yes, but on occasion – […]

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Loft Storage Solutions, Insulation, and Home Insurance?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/03/2025
Loft Storage Solutions, Insulation, and Home Insurance?

This week readers “ask the Guru” about loft storage above a garage, condensation control, and home insurance. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I like the idea of a 2-stall garage with second level for storage. Is a second level storage area more economical than increasing the square footage of the building? Lot less concrete. JOEL in […]

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