Today the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about moisture control, insulating a building with a ridge vent, and a solution for replacing posts that have rotted out. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Thanks for the abundance of technical information you provide your readers. Like many of them, I inherited a pole barn with the same […]

Steel Roofing: Screw in the Flats or the High Ribs It was a pleasant October evening back in 1985 in Blacksburg, Virginia. My friend Dr. Frank Woeste was then a professor in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech (officially Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) and he had invited me to […]

Modern Post Frame Buildings and Geothermal Over the past few years, there has been a trend towards building modern climate controlled post frame buildings for homes and commercial use, but the HVAC Systems in these buildings remains outdated. Most climate controlled post frame buildings are still being built with inefficient gas or propane furnaces, coupled […]

Today’s “Ask the Guru” addresses reader questions about Perma Column Cast Concrete pole bottoms) that seems to be the ticket to eliminate any concern about rot, a list of what is included in a Hansen Building Kit, and if Hansen designs are classified as single family dwellings. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: As a prospective customer, […]

Due to our recent storms throughout the country, we thought it might be nice to revisit a blog about building codes. My Response: Why We Need Building Codes As promised, here is my response to the Coeur d’Alene Press article of December 5, 2017 (exactly as I wrote in the comments portion following the newspaper […]

Geothermal Heating/Cooling for Post Frame Buildings I’ve opined upon geothermal heating and cooling for post frame buildings in the past (https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2016/12/modern-post-frame-buildings-geothermal/). Reader STEVE in BOYNE CITY had some further questions and writes: “You said you pump (approx.) 55 degree liquid through pex in ”wells” in the ground (I think is how you put it) through […]

This week readers “Ask the Guru” about an estimated cost for a building kit, concerns about a “moisture sandwich” when adding insulation and vapor barrier, and a risk to packing it to the exterior metal siding (with no air gap)? DEAR POLE BARN GURU: 40×91.5 Calhoun. Looking to potentially build this kit. I was wondering […]

Benefits of Adding Solar To Your Barndominium Solar energy is taking off in a big way, both here and worldwide. There are around 2.7 million residential solar panels installed in the United States, and solar trends continue to grow as people become more interested in energy alternatives. If you’re considering building a post frame barndominium […]

I Like Vaulted Barndominium Ceilings When I built my first personal post frame shop/house, it had a 7/12 exterior roof slope, to match other buildings on the same property. Upper level of this building was designed as an area where we would potentially place a ping pong table. To allow for lobs, I had prefabricated […]

This Wednesday readers “Ask the Guru” about “any rebates or deals available” with a purchase of two buildings, the purchase of only columns and brackets- nope, and a delivery to Soldotna, Alaska. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: If I purchase 2 buildings, do you have any rebates or deals available or do you give a break […]

Post Frame on a Rock Pile? Reader MIKE in MAINE writes: “Hello , I am looking to purchase a Post and Beam Barn kit, but I have been advised by my excavator guy that I won’t be able to set the sonotubes in the ground due to the mixture of rocks sizes at my location A […]

Blown-In Fiberglass Attic Insulation In Climate Zones 3 and higher blown-in fiberglass attic insulation is extremely popular due to lower investment cost and high performance. Looking for a best solution for your barndominium or post frame attic? It is inevitable an insulation contractor will warn you away from blown-in fiberglass due to a dated study […]

This week readers “Ask the Guru” about best the practices for insulating an old 1993 pole barn, if a fireplace can be added to a “bardo,” and whether or not Hansen Pole Building supplies wood wall sheathing for exteriors. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hello, I have a 28′ x 36′ x 13′ high pole barn […]

Insulation R Values Reflect Real-World Energy Performance? Energy efficiency has become huge for post frame building construction. More and more people are discovering post frame buildings as being a cost effective design solution for residential and commercial construction. Long time readers of this column have seen article after article in this vein, increasing with time. […]

Designing a Dream Barndominium Loft Reader BRIAN in PETOSKY writes: “ Hi Mike, Mindi told me to email you my lofted floor question for our project. To avoid messing with truss-support floors, we were planning to build a full 26×60 main barn with scissor trusses the full length. Then on one end, we would make […]

Today’s “Ask the Guru” covers questions regarding the use of sheathing on walls, and roofing with trusses 2′ on-center, if a combo residence/horse barn can be built, and a question asking what the “typical” size of animal confinement barns might be. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am planning to build a pole barn garage with […]

Comparing Rockwool and Fiberglass Insulation   Fiberglass insulation has long been a popular option for slowing heat transmission through building walls and ceilings. While it may have an added benefit of creating a fire-resistant layer between interior and exterior walls, fiberglass still may not measure up to Rockwool’s natural abilities. Like fiberglass, Rockwool is an insulation […]

Do 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!” […]

This Monday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about UC-4B treated columns, advice to connect a new structure to existing building, and if one can customize a monitor style building to eliminate pony wall. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: We are considering residential post frame construction in southeast Ohio. I’m concerned about wood posts in […]

Starting 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 […]

Looking for a Place for a New Barndominium Reader PATTI in MINNESOTA writes: “My husband and I are knocking around the idea of doing a Barndominium.  We need a 4-5 car garage space and we can barely afford a traditional preloved home that has a 3-car garage which will require us to add another stall […]

This Wednesday readers “Ask the Guru” how to insulate a post frame ceiling that already has bubble wrap, how to wire for bookshelf girts, and how to set trusses where a crane is not an option. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Best and easiest way to insulate the sloped ceiling in my pole building? it already […]

Barndominium Building on Expansive Soils Expansive soils in many United States areas pose a significant hazard to foundations for barndominiums. Swelling clays derived from residual soils can exert uplift pressures of as much as 5,500 PSF (pounds per square foot) and can do considerable damage to barndominiums, shouses and post frame homes. Insurance companies pay […]

Unless someone reincarnates Nikola Tesla (and he is sane) chances are good energy costs are not going to decrease. Air sealing your post frame barndominium or shouse increases your comfort by reducing drafts and cycle time your heating and cooling systems are running. Air sealing your barndominium reduces humidity increasing comfort levels. A drafty barndominium […]

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about building over or on an existing slab or concrete, whether of not Hansen sells “just the blueprints” for a pole barn/house, and lending for a pole building set on foundation/footing/wall. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: In Arkansas, I want to build a pole barn (or similar) […]