Today’s Pole Barn Guru answers questions about building a two story pole barn house, condensation in a car storage building, and how to build a post frame house with a concrete basement. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: We are wanting to build a 2 story pole barn house, it will have an upstairs loft. Would the […]

Concrete Slabs on Grade for Cold Climates Reader TERRI in DULUTH writes: “What type of slab for cold climates do you recommend?” Well Terri, thank you for your patience in awaiting a response, your email address was not included with your question, so I was unable to message you back as quickly as I would […]

This question was posed to Justine, who gets everyone’s wonderful materials to their pole building sites for Hansen Buildings: “Justine, pardon me for being confused but: If the tops of glulam posts were manufactured that way to allow cutting, why are they not all that way?  There is no rhyme or reason to them. Some […]

Today’s Pole Barn Guru tackles reader questions about plans to insulate and preparations ahead of insulating, recommendation for framing and footing an apartment to prevent movement, and if the PBG knows whether or not the USDA programs apply to post frame homes. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am currently constructing my Hansen provided pole building, […]

Recommendations for Grading Reader ISAAC in BURLINGTON writes: “Do you have any instructions or recommendations on the grading side of things before i buy a post in ground house kit on how much of a pad to build up and how far away from house to slope it to keep water away and post rot?” […]

Partially Enclosed Buildings (and Why It Matters) I have previously written how a fully enclosed building could be less of an investment than a three sided building – even though a fourth wall has been added: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2014/03/three-sided-building/ For those of you who neglected to click and read my previous article, consider your building as a […]

This Wednesday the Guru answers reader questions about what comes in a residential pole barn kit, floor plans and payment schedule, and whether or not we, “put it together.” DEAR POLE BARN GURU: What all comes in a residential pole barn home kit? JACQULINE in FAYETTEVILLE DEAR JACQULINE: Our residential pole barn home kits (barndominiums) […]

Post Frame Home Construction Financing Most people building their own post frame home (barndominium or shouse included) need some amount of post frame home construction financing.  (shouse=shop+house) Some important things to keep in mind with construction loans: Obtaining one takes more time and financial investment than a conventional loan (loan on or against an existing […]

Building Materials: Inventory and Inspection Like many suppliers of pole buildings kits, whether “standard” or completely “custom” kits, such as ours, I’m sure I am barking up a familiar tree.  What does building materials inventory involve?  Let me tell you about one of my most frustrating stories first. The one which first comes to mind, […]

This week readers “ask the Guru” about “residential kits and how it comes to my site. Is it built or does it need to be assembled,” Designing for Snow Loads in northern Minnesota, and Finding a Builder in Wyoming. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hi. I’m interested in one of your residential kits and how it […]

How to Prep Your Site for a Pole Barn Deciding to add a pole barn to your property can be exciting, and you may already be envisioning how you’ll use this new space. However, before you get too carried away planning your pole barn’s layout and features, you’ll need to choose a building site and […]

Floor Plans vs. Structural Building Plans Floor (architectural) plans and structural building plans are two completely different animals and should not be confused with each other. Architectural plans show what your home will look like, structural plans detail skeletal aspects and structural stability. In jurisdictions requiring structural plan reviews and inspections floor plans only will […]

This week readers “Ask the Guru” about a remedy to eliminate a frost heave issue with post heave, advice for a “house/barn combo,” and shipping a building package to Prince of Wales Alaska. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I have a question. I have a pole and half the posts are heaving up. The old owners […]

Barndominium Electrical Outlets No matter how many electrical outlets I plan for, it feels as if there were never enough where I really need them. There are some basic minimum rules, however when planning your barndominium or shop/house – think about places you might need more than these requirements. It is much easier to have […]

In a previous article, I gave credit to a post frame industry pioneer, Mr. Henry Getz, of Morton Buildings, for being innovative in the introduction of scissor trusses to post frame construction. Now I will tell you, gentle reader, of a scissor truss consideration which you have probably never considered – horizontal deflection. When sealed […]

This Wednesday readers “Ask the Guru” about issues such as how to best insulate a residence and garage in KY, the best method to resist uplift, and what the “optimal dimensions” might be for a 2 story, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Insulation questions. Lexington KY Zone 4. Residential req. Roof […]

Flash-and-Batt Insulating Barndominium Walls We’re in a seemingly never ending cycle of racing towards net zero post frame homes, shouses (shop/houses) and barndominiums (read more on net zero post frame here: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2019/01/net-zero-post-frame-homes/).  One possible design solution involves what is known as “flash-and-batt” where two inches of closed cell spray foam insulation is applied to steel […]

Spray Foam for Barndominiums – Is a Thermal or Ignition Barrier Required? Although it’s certainly not used in every green building project, spray foam insulation has become a popular way to build an air-tight (https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2019/11/airtight-post-frame-homes-and-barndominiums/) barndominium, shouse (shop/house) or even just a well-insulated post frame building. Early on building codes hadn’t caught up with how […]

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about FEMA information about wind factors like hurricanes, tornado or earthquakes, Delivery to East Jordan, MI, and advice on a header beam for a porch. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I do not see any FEMA information per wind factors like hurricane or tornado or earthquake… Do […]

Minimum Design Loads and Risk Model Building Codes, such as IBC (International Building Code), offer minimum design loads for climactic forces such as snow and wind. As building permit issuing agencies adopt codes, within their scope they can establish minimum values for their particular jurisdiction. Key word here “minimum” – least values a building may […]

What is a Degree Day? In an article penned a year ago (https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2021/11/insulated-ceiling-vapor-barrier/), I referenced building scientist and founding principal of Building Science Corporation Joe Lstiburek. Joe stated, “Plastic vapor barriers should only be installed in vented attics in climates with more than 8,000 heating degree days.” However my bad was, I did not define […]

This week readers “Ask the Guru” about a Hansen Building using a Horton Stack Door, or a FoldTite Door in an ag building in Florida, if Hansen can design a lean-to addition, and if all buildings are designed with “treated steel.” DEAR POLE BARN GURU: 50′ w x 50′ d x 12′ h (possibility of […]

Air Spaces in Walls Reader GARY in HAMILTON writes: “My building is metal. I beams, 6 inch purlins and R panel exterior. I am going to finish the interior with sheet rock. 1. If I put up 2×4 stud wall plus a radiant sheet plus R-13 rock wool insulation. Do I need to be concerned […]

Re-roofing a 1960’s Pole Barn Reader JEFF in GRESHAM writes: “I have an older (built in the 60’s?) pole building that needs a new roof. It is a typical metal over 2×6 purlins (Purlins 2′ on center, trusses 12′ apart). Current roof is corrugated metal attached with ring shank nails with rubber washers and it leaks […]

This Wednesday readers “Ask the Guru” about “flashing tape” for a wall to roof transition, if a person could build an indoor skateboard training facility, and if Hansen has a catalog available. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am having a steel pole barn built. Where a vertical wall meets the roof, the builder completed both […]