PVC Pipe for Post Sleeves
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/31/2018Reader 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 moreTop Plate
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/30/2018Top Plate (Truss Carrier) Size With Attic Trusses Question from reader JEFFREY in STAPLETON: “I’m building a gambrel pole barn 30ft x 50ft , these are attic trusses with a 16ft room sitting @ 2ft oc, will 10ft pole spacing with double 2×12 top plate be sufficient, any suggestions?” Mike the Pole Barn responds: […]
Read moreConsidering a Pole Barn, Roof Loads, and Proper Ventilation
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/29/2018DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Good morning. I am considering building a pole barn on our land in northwest Georgia and wanted to know the following: 1) On your website, you list links for residential, agricultural, and commercial buildings. What is the difference between a those three types of buildings? Are they different because of design […]
Read more- Categories: Insulation, Pole Barn Design, Roofing Materials, Trusses, Ventilation
- Tags: DIY, Pole Barn, Shingles, Roof Loads, Ventilation, Roof Steel
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Minimizing Condensation When Building Over an Existing Foundation
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/26/2018Minimizing Condensation When Building Over an Existing Foundation Reader ROSS writes: “Hello, I have a question about venting of my building. I currently am in the process of building a shop myself. I had an existing foundation of 75 x 42 that had 8ft concrete walls all the way around. I’m building my building on […]
Read moreBuilders Who Make No Upgrades in Twenty-Five Years
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/25/2018Builders Who Make No Upgrades in Twenty-Five Years. Why? We’ve Been Building This Way for 25 Years In the event you happen to hear this from a pole builder – run away from them as quickly as possible. Why? Because every three years there is a new version of the Building Codes and often those […]
Read moreRock Climbing Holds and Pole Barns
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/24/2018What do Rock Climbing Holds have to do with Pole Barns? Among other things my late cousin Kim Momb was an avid rock climber, before he became world famous as a mountaineer. (Read about some of Kim’s exploits here: https://www.everesthistory.com/climbers/kimmomb.htm). Well Kim was a rock climber way before it became popular and a proliferation of […]
Read moreConverting a Pole Barn to a Residence
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/23/2018Converting a Barn to a Residence Reader MARK in PORTLAND writes: “I have a pole barn structure that was converted to a residence without a permit. The slab is 4″ thick with a 4×4 skirt edge around the perimeter. Since the foundation is a pole (pier) system, does the slab edge (non-load bearing) need a […]
Read moreA Retro-Fit, Truss Support? and Sliding Door Installation
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/22/2018The pole barn Guru looks at a Retro-Fit, truss supports, and installing a sliding door. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I have a question about Retro-Fit insulating my pole barn. I live in Southwest Michigan and bought my house with an existing 40’x60′ building, just used for storing farm equipment before I acquired it. Steel roofing […]
Read moreFinishing a 15 Year Old Pole Barn
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/19/2018Finishing a 15 Year Old Pole Barn Reader BOB in WASHOUGAL writes: “I have a 30’x60′ pole building. It was constructed in 2003. I would like to finish the inside with a concrete floor, Insulation, and sheet rock. My question is…How long do the posts last before they rot off at ground level? (I have […]
Read moreCall a Geotechnical Engineer
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/18/2018When is it time to bring in a Geotechnical Engineer? Reader WES in RAVENNA writes: “I am building a 36×48 pole barn w/ attic trusses on a piece of property were the water table is quite high. The wettest hole contained about 3 feet of water and caved in to about 5 or 6 feet […]
Read morePost Frame Ramadas
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/17/2018For the uninitiated, here is the definition of ramada from the source of all human knowledge, Wikipedia: “In the southwestern United States, a ramada is a temporary or permanent shelter equipped with a roof but no walls, or only partially enclosed. Ramadas have traditionally been constructed with branches or bushes by aboriginal Americans living in the region […]
Read moreComparative Building Shopping
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/16/2018Comparative Building Shopping: The following was originally blogged about in July of 2011. It is a conversation we have with our designers regularly. On Fridays, Hansen Buildings holds an internal informational teleconference for our Building Designers. These sessions provide our designers with the best possible tools to assist clients in designing ideal dream buildings. Last […]
Read moreDIY Kits? Fiberglass Insulation, and Free Quotes
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/15/2018DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Are these DIY kits or do you guys do labor too? PATRICK in LOCKPORT DEAR PATRICK: Hansen Pole Buildings provides complete custom designed and engineered post frame building kit packages which are aimed towards the average individual who can and will read instructions in English to successfully erect themselves. In the […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Design, Constructing a Pole Building, Pole Barn Planning, Insulation
- Tags: Insulation, Tyvek, Quotes, DIY
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Roping Arenas
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/12/2018For whatever the reason it seems there has been an influx of inquiries recently for arenas to practice roping in. For those who are less familiar with roping, according to the sum of all human knowledge, Wikipedia, “Team roping also known as heading and heeling is a rodeo event that features a steer (typically a Corriente) and two mounted riders. […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Planning, Horse Riding Arena
- Tags: Horse Arenas, Arenas To Rope In, Calf Roping
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Building on Existing Concrete
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/11/2018Building on Existing Concrete Which is Below Grade Trying to utilize existing concrete slabs on grade in new post frame building can bring with it some unique challenges. Reader DARREN has one of these situations which most people do not face. Please read on: “I want to build a pole building on an existing cement […]
Read more8 Questions to Ask When Investing in a Pole Barn
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/10/20188 Quick Questions to Ask When Investing in a Pole Barn Will my building be fully-engineered? Be sure all of your building’s components are engineered to work together and to last – this entails a complete building system, designed specifically for your site, with your openings and sealed by an RDP (Registered Design Professional – […]
Read moreCondensation Under Roof Steel
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/09/2018Condensation Even With Radiant Barrier Installed Under Roof Steel It seems every winter I get a few messages similar to this, So far, this winter, I have gotten two, both from newly constructed post frame buildings and from the same area of the United States (which is known for high humidity). Reader SAM in GREENBANK […]
Read moreTemporary Bracing to Avoid Under Construction Mishaps
Posted by polebarnguru onTemporary bracing in post frame buildings come without a prescription – there is nowhere which spells out “do it this way and all will be good”. There are some things which can be done to minimize the potential of mishaps similar to the one in the photo. Buildings in their framing stages are the ones […]
Read moreFlood Rebuilding, Retrofitting Stem Wall, and Platinum Engineering
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/08/2018DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hi. I am an architect with a flood victim client in Houston whose 1500 sf house must be rebuilt 5′ above grade. C panel, aluminum sliding windows/doors, low budget. Is it crazy to think they could buy a custom kit from you and have a crew from MN install it in […]
Read moreThink-How to Avoid Fire in a Pole Barn Shop
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/05/2018Avoiding Fire in Pole Barn Shops From www.hometownstations.com story by Joseph Sharpe: “The cold weather almost cost one local man a big bundle of cash, in the form of muscle cars. He was trying to thaw some water lines, when things got ugly fast! Jeff Cook shows us what happened Tuesday in American Township, and how […]
Read moreDon’t Hire a Contractor Unless You Are Willing to Take a Risk
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/04/2018From The Dalles (Oregon) Chronicle December 26, 2017: “A theft report was filed Wednesday morning concerning a theft by deception when a woman reported she paid a contractor $30,000 to build a pole barn on her property by the end of October and no work has been completed.” Most people assume when they hire a […]
Read moreCrossed Gable Dormers
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/03/2018Reader JOY in PHILADELPHIA writes: “Can I build my pole house with crossed gable dormers? I want the center section of my house to have a second floor, but with the gable ends facing front and back, rather than running the length of the building as with the monitor roof design. (In case that isn’t […]
Read moreHow to Avoid Being Bilked by an Unscrupulous Contractor
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/02/2018Other than being pennywise and pound foolish there is absolutely no reason for those who are hiring a contractor to get bilked should the person they hire be unscrupulous. Here is a story from www.mlive.com by Cole Waterman which makes me cringe: “SAGINAW, MI — A Linwood contractor and his wife are charged with a combined […]
Read moreTear Down to Rebuild? Bay Spacing, and Condensation Problems
Posted by polebarnguru on 01/01/2018DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hello, I am going to tear down a 30x40x10 pole building to rebuild on my property. I noticed that the trusses are spaced 10 feet apart and are set on the 6×6 pole that has been notched. With no header board. This is an all metal building. Was wondering if this […]
Read moreWhy Post Frame Construction is So Efficient vs. Stick-Built
Posted by polebarnguru on 12/29/2017I 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 […]
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