Category Archives: Barndominium

Barndominium homes are gaining in popularity as homeowners embrace the rustic yet modern style of open floor plans, gambrel or gable rooflines, and repurposed pole barn buildings. If you’re interested in barndominium info ranging from insulation options to how to obtain a barndominium loan, the Pole Barn Guru blog is the place to get all the details you need. In these blogs, you’ll get valuable ideas, professional advice, and in-depth knowledge of the art of pole buildings and how to build barndominiums.

So what is a barndominium? This style of building is a pole barn home that’s quick and easy to construct, similar to a barn, but with the comfortable utility of a condominium. Barndominiums have an open floor plan with spacious and light interiors, giving the home a bright and airy quality. This seamless feeling, making it easy for your family and guests to flow between the kitchen, dining room, and living room, is one of the reasons barndominiums are popular with those who like open space and entertaining loved ones.

The Hansen Pole Buildings Pole Barn Guru blog gives you barndominium ideas, floor plans that resonate with your lifestyle, types of windows and doors that complement your pole building, advice on building codes, and instructions on how to assemble the pole building. You can even pose questions to the Pole Barn Guru to get advice on your pole building needs. Our team of professionals will answer your questions, guide you on the proper dimensions and materials, and help you decide whether it’s better to order a pre-made kit or have our designers make a custom floor plan for you.

Post Frame Plywood Slab-on-grade

Posted by polebarnguru on 22/03/10 @ 8:00
Post Frame Plywood Slab-on-grade

Post Frame Plywood Slab-on-grade As concrete and excavation costs have increased steadily buildings are more frequently turning to slab-on-grade foundations. These assemblies require less concrete and labor than full basements and have a number of advantages over crawlspaces: better thermal performance, much lower risk for water and animal intrusion, and lower maintenance overall. Slab-on grade […]

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How Much Will My New Pole Barn Cost?

Posted by polebarnguru on 22/03/08 @ 8:00
How Much Will My New Pole Barn Cost?

How Much Will My New Pole Barn Cost? Reader CLAUDIO in LEWIS writes: “Hello, I would like to know what would be the cost to build a pole barn building 25’x50′ with loft? Are the interior partitions and insulated walls and floors included? Is the permit application included? Is delivery and construction included in your […]

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When Barndominium Batman Light Illuminates

Posted by polebarnguru on 22/03/01 @ 8:00
When Barndominium Batman Light Illuminates

When Barndominium Batman Light Illuminates Dark Sky Loyal reader MARCO in EDINBURG brought a smile to my face when he wrote: “*Batman light illuminates dark sky* Pole barn guru! Help! I am building my pole barn house, Finally. This will be a DIY project with help of friends and family. I will more than likely […]

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Occupancy, a Single-Slope Residence, and Lean-to Addition

Posted by polebarnguru on 22/02/16 @ 8:00
Occupancy, a Single-Slope Residence, and Lean-to Addition

This week the Pole Barn Guru take care of reader questions about getting an occupancy permit in Victor ID, the size and scope of building a single-slope with a loft, and the addition of a lean-to to an existing structure. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I follow your posts and have seen some who question if […]

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Existing Foundation, “Home/Pool Combo” and HOA’s

Posted by polebarnguru on 22/02/09 @ 8:00
Existing Foundation, “Home/Pool Combo” and HOA’s

This week the Pole Barn Guru tackles reader questions about design ideas to build over or around an existing foundation, designing a “home/pool combo,” and design options for roofing and siding when dealing with an HOA. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: We currently have foundation/basement that measures 14×66, with additional 26×26 room with ground level concrete. […]

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Retro Installing Windows in a Spray Foamed Post Frame Building

Retro Installing Windows in a Spray Foamed Post Frame Wall Reader JOEY in PRINCETON writes: “Good Evening Pole Barn Guru! We need to add picture (9) and slider (3) windows to an existing 3-year old Sherman Pole Building Post frame building where we are converting part into living quarters. The building was spray foamed by […]

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Boral Steel Stone Coated Roofing

Posted by polebarnguru on 22/02/03 @ 8:00
Boral Steel Stone Coated Roofing

Boral Steel® Stone Coated Roofing Boral Steel® Stone Coated Roofing is manufactured from Galvalume® steel, then coated with stone granules applied with acrylic polymer adhesives. Result is a lightweight (1.5 psf – pounds per square foot) durable and cost-effective roofing system offering superior strength of steel and is ideal for new post frame barndominium or […]

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Batteries Not Included

Posted by polebarnguru on 22/02/01 @ 8:00
Batteries Not Included

Batteries Not Included Batteries Not Included is a 1987 American comic science fiction film starring Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy (winner of a Saturn Award for Best Actress for her performance) and Elisabeth Pena about small extraterrestrial living spaceships saving an apartment block under threat from property development. Reader AARON in NORTH VERNON queried: “Does your pricing also […]

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Will My Minnesota Shouse Require Frost Footings?

Posted by polebarnguru on 22/01/25 @ 8:00
Will My Minnesota Shouse Require Frost Footings?

Will My Minnesota Shouse Require Frost Footings? Reader CHAD in JANESVILLE writes: “I am planning on building a shouse or barndominium some may call. I am doing 5″ cement with a heated floor throughout. My hope was not to bury any poles but to anchor them on top of the slap. Do you recommend front […]

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My Barndominium Attic Has Moisture Issues!

Posted by polebarnguru on 22/01/06 @ 8:00
My Barndominium Attic Has Moisture Issues!

My Barndominium Attic Has Moisture Issues! Reader DAVID in CHICAGO writes: “Greetings – I’ve got a pole barn style home that’s about 2.5 years old and I’m having moisture issues in the attic. Hoping I can talk with someone to get a consult or second opinion to resolve as quickly as possible. Let me know […]

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Framing Loads, Footing Pads, and a Pole Barn Home

Posted by polebarnguru on 22/01/05 @ 8:00
Framing Loads, Footing Pads, and a Pole Barn Home

This Wednesday the Pole Barn Guru kicks off 2022 with reader questions about framing loads using heavy duty steel roof trusses, a stone siding wainscot, and lap siding. Mike then addresses questions about footing pads, and finally creating a pole barn home. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am planning to build a pole barn 36×40 […]

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Why Your New Barndominium Should Be Post Frame

Posted by polebarnguru on 22/01/04 @ 8:00
Why Your New Barndominium Should Be Post Frame

Why Your New Barndominium Should Be Post Frame For those who follow me – you know I am all about people loving their end results. As long as one has a fully engineered building they love, I couldn’t be more pleased, regardless of the structural system. In My Humble Opinion – fully engineered post frame […]

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Worker Injured During Pole Project, Who Pays

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/12/30 @ 8:00
Worker Injured During Pole Project, Who Pays

Worker Injured During Pole Building Project – Who Pays? Disclaimer: this article is not to be construed as legal advice, please engage a qualified construction attorney prior to any construction project. If you don’t take steps to find out in advance whether workers on your new pole building are insured for injuries, you could end […]

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You Can Do It!

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/12/23 @ 8:00
You Can Do It!

You Can Do It! Screamed headlines of my first ever print display ad for pole barn kits in 1981! I have included below a snippet from one of my first blog posts from 10 years ago: “In the summer of 1979, home interest rates began to rise. Idaho had a usury limit, home mortgages stopped […]

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Help! My Barndominium Roof is Dripping!

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/12/16 @ 8:00
Help! My Barndominium Roof is Dripping!

Help! My Barndominium Roof Is Dripping! Reader TIMM in WHITEFISH writes: “Thanks for taking my question. I recently built a barndominium in NW Montana. I tried to find someone to build it for me, but the demand and cost in the area had gone up so much that I had to do almost all the […]

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Storage Barn to Dwelling

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/12/14 @ 8:03
Storage Barn to Dwelling

Storage Barn to Dwelling Reader JD in FAIRPLAY writes: “I have read over your blogs & my head is spinning. However, you obviously know your stuff. My question is this, do you have a trusted company or guy who can help me design & build a 30x60x16 RV garage that will meet the requirements of […]

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Is Fiberglass Insulation a Carcinogen?

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/12/09 @ 8:00
Is Fiberglass Insulation a Carcinogen?

Is Fiberglass Insulation a Carcinogen? We live in a world fraught with unseen perils (COVID-19 anyone?), however fiberglass building insulation is probably not one of them. When it comes to fully engineered post frame barndominiums and homes, we all just want our clients to be safe and happy. I went to an expert on this […]

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Hanging Single Hung Windows to Slide Horizontally

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/12/07 @ 8:00
Hanging Single Hung Windows to Slide Horizontally

Hanging Single-Hung Windows to Slide Horizontally You order a 4’ x 4’ sliding window for your new post frame building or barndominium. Depending upon your geographical location, you will assume this window opens up-and-down (Eastern U.S.) or side-to-side (Western U.S.). Well, we all know what happens when we assume. It is critical to clearly understand […]

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Barndominium Closed Cell Spray Foam

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/12/02 @ 8:00
Barndominium Closed Cell Spray Foam

Barndominium Closed Cell Spray Foam – and Rodents Closed cell spray foam applied directly to steel roofing and siding can be a great product for controlling condensation, achieving an air tight barndominium and at R-7 per inch is a great insulation solution. So good, I strongly encourage its use, especially for those buildings in Climate […]

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How to Quit Your Job

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/11/30 @ 8:00
How to Quit Your Job

How To Quit Your Job & Build Your Home Full Time Hansen Pole Buildings’ DIY clients Kevin and Whitney Hart are today’s guest bloggers. Hey everyone! My wife and I have been building our barndominium since about March and have been documenting the whole thing on social media. The most commonly asked question that we […]

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Barndominium Concrete Slab Insulation Boards

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/11/18 @ 8:00
Barndominium Concrete Slab Insulation Boards

Barndominium Concrete Slab Insulation Boards – XPS or EPS? Other than in Climate Zone’s 1 and 2 (think deep South), International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) requires perimeter and under slab continuous insulation for barndominiums. When it comes to concrete and insulation, contractors tend to be most familiar with extruded polystyrene (XPS). Yet, expanded polystyrene (EPS) […]

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Owner Barndominium Builder Construction Loans

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/11/16 @ 8:00
Owner Barndominium Builder Construction Loans

Owner-Barndominium Builder Construction Loans Qualifying for owner-barndominium builder construction loans can be a daunting task. Given 2007-2008’s housing market downturn, owner-builder construction loans are increasingly hard to get but not impossible. An owner-builder is a property owner who serves as general contractor on their own project. A General contractor coordinates everything from budget to hiring subcontractors. […]

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Designing to Withstand a Hurricane

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/11/11 @ 8:00
Designing to Withstand a Hurricane

Loyal blog reader and video watcher DANIEL in SULPHUR writes: “What practices are best for increasing wind rating of a post frame building? My goal is to build a post frame home to withstand 150+ mph winds. I live on the gulf coast and hurricanes are a serious threat, I know I can’t make my […]

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A Barndominium Challenge

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/11/09 @ 8:00
A Barndominium Challenge

A Barndominium HVAC Challenge My now dear friend (thanks to his barndominium) LONNIE in COLORADO SPRINGS writes: “Hi Mike, I’m still around and still working on the house and making some slow but constant progress so I thank you all for your help and support. I have run into an issue (it’s not related to […]

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Syracuse, Nebraska Approves Shouses!

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/11/04 @ 8:00
Syracuse, Nebraska Approves Shouses!

Syracuse, Nebraska Approves Shouses! Syracuse, Nebraska was laid out in 1869 when it was certain railroads would be extended to it. With a population of roughly 2000, Syracuse is pretty well smack dab centered in Nebraska, in Otoe county. While Syracuse might be small in numbers, they are forward thinking in following what is trending […]

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Blown-In Fiberglass Attic Insulation

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/10/22 @ 8:00
Blown-In Fiberglass Attic Insulation

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 […]

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Hand Winches, Mono Trusses, and a Post Frame Home

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/10/04 @ 8:00
Hand Winches, Mono Trusses, and a Post Frame Home

This Monday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about the use of hand winches to raise trusses, how to secure mono trusses built from complete trusses – DON’T- and the costs to build a small post frame home. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I’m curious of the stability of wet set brackets during raising our […]

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How to Pour a Slab on Grade

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/09/29 @ 8:00
How to Pour a Slab on Grade

How to Pour a Slab on Grade in an Existing Barndominium Reader PAUL writes: “I have an opportunity to purchase a barndominium that has the posts set in 20” wide 40” deep peers. Unfortunately the county where this is located does not require a footing. All city codes in this area require an 8”X 36” […]

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Building After a Burn Down

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/09/17 @ 8:00
Building After a Burn Down

Building After a Burn Down Western United States wildfires have been featured on network newscasts and seen in our air for months. My own Auntie Norma’s home was a victim of California’s 2018 Camp Fire – where she lost all of her worldly possessions. Reader MATHEW in RENO writes: “Greetings, I know I’m not the […]

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How to Properly Design a Barndominium Wood Floor Over a Crawl Space

How To Properly Design a Barndominium Wood Floor Over a Crawl Space Reader JERRY in HAWESVILLE writes: “If one were to build a post frame home on a crawlspace and the floor joists were sitting on a 3 ply 2×10 center beam on post spaced 8-10 feet apart, how does one support the joists at […]

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Vaulted Barndominium Ceilings

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/09/08 @ 8:00
Vaulted Barndominium Ceilings

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 […]

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Barndominium Spray Foam Insulation

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/09/03 @ 8:00
Barndominium Spray Foam Insulation

What Amount of Barndominium Spray Foam Insulation is Adequate? Reader DON in LAKE CHARLES writes: “Building new pole barn. Would using closed cell foam in roof and walls be adequate?” Lake Charles is in climate zone 2A. 2018’s International Energy Conservation Code prescriptively mandates (for your zone) a minimum R-38 value for ceilings and R-13 […]

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Better Entry Level Barndominium Buyers

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/08/20 @ 8:00
Better Entry Level Barndominium Buyers

Better Entry-Level Barndominiums Thanks to John Burns Real Estate Consulting for providing content data. US’s largest age group today is 27 to 31 years old. My three adult children are now 31, 27 and 26, pretty well hitting right in there. With the median age of an entry-level buyer at 33 (according to National Association […]

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Barndominium Questions

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/08/18 @ 8:49
Barndominium Questions

Questions About a Pole Barndominium Reader PAYTON in CANTON writes: “I have a few questions regarding building a pole barn/barndominium. 1. Do you offer any model homes we can explore? 2. Can we set up a consultation to discuss our options as far as building/kits? 3. What is the lead time for purchasing a kit? […]

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Open Web Wood Floor Trusses

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/08/13 @ 8:00
Open Web Wood Floor Trusses

Prefabricated Open-Web Wood Floor Trusses in Your Future? Use of open-web floor trusses has steadily increased over this past decade, but there’s a lot of room to grow. Ed Huston from Home Innovation Research Labs (HIRL) recently shared some results from their April 2021 Builder Best Practice Reports on Structural Systems, containing survey results from […]

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Contract Scheduling and Terms

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/08/06 @ 8:00
Contract Scheduling and Terms

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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Contracts: Inspect It, Inventory It

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/07/30 @ 8:00
Contracts: Inspect It, Inventory It

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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Residential Building, I-Joist Purlins, and Post Proximity

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/07/19 @ 8:00
Residential Building, I-Joist Purlins, and Post Proximity

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about whether or not Hansen can provide a residential building kit in their area, if Mike advises the use of I-Joists as purlins, and post proximity– how close can two posts be to each other? DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Do you build residential buildings in the […]

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Change Orders in Contracts

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/07/14 @ 8:00
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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Building Codes and Requirements in Contract Terms

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/07/07 @ 8:00
Building Codes and Requirements in Contract Terms

Building Codes and Requirements in Contract Terms 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 […]

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Arnold Missouri Bans Pole Building Construction

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/07/02 @ 8:00
Arnold Missouri Bans Pole Building Construction

Arnold Missouri Bans Pole Building Construction! Just a week ago I wrote asking my readers to assist in defeating a proposed restriction on post-frame (pole barn) homes in Madison County, Illinois. Some of you may have scoffed and done nothing, thinking it could never happen where you want to build. Arnold, Missouri is a town […]

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Contract Sales Tax and Financing

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/06/30 @ 8:00
Contract Sales Tax and Financing

Disclaimer – this and subsequent articles on this subject are not intend 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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Protect Your Right to Freedom of Choice

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/06/25 @ 8:00
Protect Your Right to Freedom of Choice

Today we take a momentary pause from contracts to protect your right to freedom of choice. Your first question is going to be, “Why should I care about what Madison County, IL does? Easy answer – because what one jurisdiction does, another is sure to follow, then another, then another. But I don’t care about […]

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Attic Truss Lofts, Wall Switch Heights, and A Shouse

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/06/14 @ 8:00
Attic Truss Lofts, Wall Switch Heights, and A Shouse

Today the Pole Barn Guru responds to reader questions about an attic truss loft, whether or not wall switches and outlet heights are different for post frame, and building a shouse– garage with living space above (Shop/House). DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Is it possible to have a loft in a 30 x 50 x 8 […]

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Things You Want to See On a Building Proposal

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/06/11 @ 1:00
Things You Want to See On a Building Proposal

Things You Want to See on a Building Proposal/Contract Maybe you (as a soon to be building owner, building contractor or provider) are satisfied with being overly vague when it comes to what you are buying or selling. From a contractor/provider standpoint, this gives you lots of leeway to add ‘extra dealer margin’ by providing […]

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Contracts Are Boring…Until You Go To Court

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/06/09 @ 8:00
Contracts Are Boring…Until You Go To Court

I have one goal – for people to end up with structurally sound buildings they love. Follow these guidelines and you are far more likely to love your new building. Your work starts before you sign a contract. ASSUME YOUR PROJECT WILL END IN COURT ASSUME YOUR BUILDING PROVIDER/CONTRACTOR IS UNTRUTHFUL ASSUME YOUR PROJECT WILL […]

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Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/06/04 @ 8:00
Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors Robert Frost’s 1914 poem Mending Wall began this proverb. Good fences do indeed help make good neighbors. A good fence is a line of mutual respect and understanding with minimal ambiguities. A good fence is a mutually-agreed upon boundary, with implied and explicit responsibilities for both sides to maintain and […]

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Roof Insulation, Pole Barn Houses, and Adding Heat

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/05/31 @ 8:00
Roof Insulation, Pole Barn Houses, and Adding Heat

Today the Pole Barn Guru tackles reader questions about the best method of insulating a building with no plans for a ceiling, planning a pole barn house, and adding heat to a completed post frame building. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am insulating my 30×50 pole barn that is wrapped with Tyvek outside the purlins […]

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Is Western SPF at $2000 Just Around the Corner?

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/05/28 @ 8:00
Is Western SPF at $2000 Just Around the Corner?

Is Western SPF at $2000 Just Around the Corner? Originally Published by: Russ Taylor Global by Russ Taylor, President — May 4, 2021 In late July 2020 I wrote an article in the WOOD MARKETS Monthly Report (my last-ever editorial) where I posed the question if W-SPF 2×4 #2&Better Random Lengths (FOB BC Mill) lumber could achieve the US$1,000/Mbf threshold […]

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Foam Boards, Foundations, and Rat Walls

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/05/24 @ 8:00
Foam Boards, Foundations, and Rat Walls

Today the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about adding kraft-backed insulation to rigid foam boards, if posts go in the ground or a foundation system, and if a pole building needs a “rat wall” poured. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I have an existing pole barn, the front portion being 30×30 with 11′ walls. The […]

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Post Frame Homes

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/05/21 @ 8:00
Post Frame Homes

Post Frame Homes – Coming Soon to a Neighborhood Near You After providing or building post frame (pole) buildings for over 40 years, one might think there would be very few things coming as a surprise to me. Well…..SURPRISE! Barndominiums and shop houses are no surprise to me at all. I first built one for […]

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What Surging Lumber Prices Have Done to Barndominiums

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/05/19 @ 8:00
What Surging Lumber Prices Have Done to Barndominiums

What Surging Lumber Prices Have Done to Barndominiums Based upon NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) data from April 26, 2021 According to NAHB’s latest estimates, a year of rising softwood lumber has added $35,872 to an average new single-family home’s price.   These estimates are based on softwood lumber used directly and embodied in products going into […]

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Human Habitation Prohibited

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/05/14 @ 8:00
Human Habitation Prohibited

Human Habitation Prohibited “Please be aware that the Land Development Code and adopted Building Codes prohibit the human occupancy of any Accessory Building. This means that buildings such as metal buildings, pole barns, tool sheds, garages, or any other accessory structures shall not be constructed or used for human occupancy. Accessory Buildings are not constructed […]

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Not Quite an Acme Hole Kit

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/05/12 @ 8:00
Not Quite an Acme Hole Kit

Not quite an Acme Hole Kit I grew up in an era where we (as children) could watch cartoons such as Road Runner and not immediately go out and try antics as pictured on our screens. Somehow our generation understood this and used common sense. One of my favorites is Acme’s “Hole Kit” where a […]

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Rain-screen Siding for Post Frame Barndominiums

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/05/06 @ 8:00
Rain-screen Siding for Post Frame Barndominiums

Horizontal exterior sidings like wood clapboards, vinyl, and fiber cement have traditionally been nailed directly to underlying sheathing, typically over a water-resistant underlayment of asphalt felt or some sort of housewrap. This is still common practice, but over the past few decades, a more labor-intensive technique known as rain-screen siding has been steadily gaining ground. […]

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Pole Barn Homes, Pole Barn Home Financing, and Insulation Assistance

This Monday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about pole barn homes, help with finding a lender for a post frame home, and an insulation solution for a gambrel style building. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hello, do you have any information on your pole barn homes? Looking to build in lower Michigan. HOLLY in […]

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Texas Post Frame Barndominium Insulation

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/04/23 @ 8:00
Texas Post Frame Barndominium Insulation

Reader KIMBERLY in LINDEN writes: “We are building a 52x40x10 post frame home in East Texas.  The entire thing will be living space.  I have been researching as much as possible on the best way to insulate a post frame home with metal siding and roof.  The information is overwhelming and you get a completely […]

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Pole Barn Homes

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/04/21 @ 8:00
Pole Barn Homes

Pole Barn Homes: Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Choose Post-Frame Construction Today’s guest blogger is Esther Williams, She specializes in Real Estate & Home improvement content, and wants to share her knowledge of creative interior designing ideas with those who are passionate about it. She’s also finishing her MA in journalism studies, dreams about […]

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Where Should You Place Your Pole Building?

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/04/16 @ 8:00
Where Should You Place Your Pole Building?

Where Should You Place Your Pole Building? Today’s guest blog comes from an expert in pole buildings, Lauren Groff. Pole buildings are perfect for so many applications, from sheltering animals to housing your very own hobby shop. Whatever you want to use it for, you need just the right place for it. There’s more to […]

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Repurpose – From Pole Barn to Barndominium

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/04/14 @ 8:00
Repurpose – From Pole Barn to Barndominium

Reader LAUREN in THORNVILLE has an existing pole barn and writes: “Hello! We have an existing 40×64 post frame construction pole barn that is 16′ high at the eaves/trusses and 20′ total height. It has siding and half of the space has 6 inch poured concrete. We would like to turn this into a one […]

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How Tall Are Barn Homes?

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/04/07 @ 8:00
How Tall Are Barn Homes?

Reader CAROLYN in INDIANAPOLIS writes: “How tall are barn homes? I didn’t know what height to put in…I like tall ceilings …also do u build the homes also?” Fully engineered post frame homes and barndominiums (barn homes) are beautiful because they only limit your heights under Building Codes to three stories and a 40 foot […]

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Rascally Rodents

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/03/19 @ 8:00
Rascally Rodents

Rascally Rodents Rodents, such as rats and house mice cause serious damage to structures of barndominiums, shop/houses and other buildings. These rascally rodents can cause grief with any structural system – not just post frame buildings. While rodents are notorious for their consumption and contamination of feed, rodent damage to insulation raises heating and cooling […]

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PermaColumns, Pole Barn Planning, and Insulating a Roof

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/03/15 @ 8:00
PermaColumns, Pole Barn Planning, and Insulating a Roof

This Monday the Pole Barn Guru discusses the use of PermaColumns, planning of a pole barn in Florida, and the best solution for a building without roof or exterior wall weather resistant barriers. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am having a pole building put up with engineered laminated columns. The contractor is pushing a “Perma […]

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Post Frame Barndominium Exterior Wall

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/03/10 @ 8:00
Post Frame Barndominium Exterior Wall

Post Frame Barndominium Exterior Wall Questions Reader IAN in RIDGWAY writes: “I am looking for help understanding a couple of exterior wall questions.   My county is enforcing the 2018 IECC for energy efficiency. In my region this requires R-20 cavity + R-5 exterior wall assembly.  From everything I’ve read, this means a continuous layer of […]

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Thoughts When Considering Building a Barndominium

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/03/05 @ 8:00
Thoughts When Considering Building a Barndominium

Thoughts When Considering Building a Barndominium If you are reading this, you are probably somewhere between, “Living in a barndominium would be really cool” and “I wish I would have done…..” This is not meant to be a 100% comprehensive list, but may give some food for thought. The Importance of Location When it comes […]

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Barndominium Building on Solid Ground

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/03/04 @ 8:00
Barndominium Building on Solid Ground

For many, a new barndominium is looked upon as being a ‘forever’ home. This is an opportunity to have a floor plan custom crafted to meet all sorts of family wants and needs – whether it is a huge country kitchen or shop space big enough to house a fleet of classic vehicles. It is […]

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Fire Separation When Living With Large Animals

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/03/03 @ 8:00
Fire Separation When Living With Large Animals

Fire Separation When Living With Large Animals While barndominiums and shop houses have become quite a rage, for years we have been providing fully engineered post frame buildings combining animals (most often horses) with living spaces (usually as a full or partial second floor). Along with this come some perhaps unexpected design considerations. Reader LISA […]

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Blog 2000

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/02/23 @ 8:00
Blog 2000

2000 Thank you to loyal readers who have made this blog a success – today marks 2000 blog articles written and shared! It could not have been done without your continued support and encouragement. Back in December 2015, I shared a milestone of reaching 1000 articles, and thought it was a very big number (https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2015/12/1000/). […]

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Looking for a Place for a New Barndominium

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/02/19 @ 8:00
Looking for a Place for a New Barndominium

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 […]

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Market News: OSB Shortage

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/02/18 @ 8:00
Market News: OSB Shortage

Market News: Oriented Strandboard Shortages We are now living in a world of COVID induced product shortages – from commodities such as toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning products to simple things such as McCormick Thick and Zesty Spaghetti Sauce Mix. When it comes to building products, it is not unheard of to have to […]

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Floored By A Barndominium Elevator

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/02/17 @ 8:00
Floored By A Barndominium Elevator

Recently I have penned a couple of articles about elevators (yes plural, we have two) in our Northeast South Dakota post frame shop/house. Certainly not every barndominium needs an elevator, but if you have more than one level, there is a better than fair chance someone with mobility challenges will be unable to access portions […]

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A Shortlist for Smooth Barndominium Sailing

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/02/16 @ 8:00
A Shortlist for Smooth Barndominium Sailing

Every builder worth his or her salt is busy right now – there is a far greater demand for builders, than there are builders to fill needs. This makes builder’s time extremely valuable. There are some things you can do to make for smooth sailing when shopping for and/or dealing with contractors. #1 Have a […]

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Barndominium Electrical Outlets

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/02/12 @ 8:00
Barndominium Electrical Outlets

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 […]

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AdvanTech®

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/02/09 @ 8:00
AdvanTech®

AdvanTech® Christina reached out to me on social networking and asked: “Hello, always look forward to your advice and I ran across something I didn’t find on the Hansen website. AdvanTech flooring as an alternative to OSB or plywood. Thoughts?” While I have successfully utilized AdvanTech subflooring myself, rather than reinventing a wheel, today’s expert […]

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Building Code, “Barndos”, and Barn Doors

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/02/08 @ 8:00
Building Code, “Barndos”, and Barn Doors

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about which building code applies to a residential “pole barn,” a “Barndo” for Betty, and stall doors for a horse barn. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Planning to build in Fremont County, CO. This will be a 2 bedroom residential cabin at 9400 ft. Which building code […]

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Full Size Elevator for Judy

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/02/05 @ 8:00
Full Size Elevator for Judy

Raising Judy Disclaimer: This article has nothing to do with Coen Brothers’ 1987 film Raising Arizona (starring my lovely bride’s favorite Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter). Yesterday’s story left Judy crammed into a pneumatic elevator tube on an airplane transfer chair. It wasn’t long before we had to arrive at a better (and safer) solution. […]

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Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators for Barndominiums

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/02/04 @ 8:00
Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators for Barndominiums

Thank you to my friend John Lyle who encouraged me to write about elevators. As a child, I was fascinated by going through bank drive thrus with our mother as she made bank deposits. Why? Because Mother could fill up a clear plastic cylinder with her deposit, push a button and it was whisked away […]

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Long-Span Truss Installation Guidance for Post-Frame

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/02/03 @ 8:00
Long-Span Truss Installation Guidance for Post-Frame

Long-Span Truss Installation Guidance for Post-Frame Originally published by: Construction Magazine Network(link is external) — January 18, 2021 The following article was produced and published by the source linked to above, who is solely responsible for its content. Hansen Pole Buildings, LLC is publishing this story to raise awareness of information publicly available online and […]

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Venting an Attic

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/02/02 @ 8:00
Venting an Attic

Saving Money When Venting An Attic? While some of you may think I have been doing post frame buildings since dinosaurs roamed our planet, I can assure you this is not true. Now my youngest son, when he was pre-school aged, did ask me (in all seriousness) what was it like watching space aliens build […]

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Barndominium on Expansive Soils

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/01/29 @ 8:00
Barndominium on Expansive Soils

Post Frame Barndominium Building on Expansive Soils. When I was a 1990’s post frame building contractor we trained our sales team to be diligent in looking at soil cuts near where our potential clients were considering erecting new post frame buildings. These cuts could tell us much about what was happening below the surface and […]

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Wood I-Joists for Your Barndominium

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/01/21 @ 8:00
Wood I-Joists for Your Barndominium

With many barndominiums being multi-storied, or at least having lofts or mezzanines, there are several methods of structural support. These would include dimensional lumber, wood trusses and I-joists. In our own post frame barndominium, we utilized I-joists as rafters for both side sheds. They are also floor joists for my lovely bride’s mezzanine sewing loft […]

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Enforcing Updated Building Codes Saves Money

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/01/20 @ 8:00
Enforcing Updated Building Codes Saves Money

Enforcing Updated Building Codes Saves Money As a member of most every active barndominium group in the social media world, I read all too often how new or prospective barndominium owners proudly proclaim they are or will be building where Building Codes are not enforced. Long time followers of my column may be tired of […]

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Wide Clearspan Barndominium Floors

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/01/19 @ 8:00
Wide Clearspan Barndominium Floors

Wide Clearspan Barndominium Floors Multi-story post frame barndominiums are embracing a great feature found in better stick framed homes – engineered prefabricated wood floor trusses. Loyal reader RICK in MONTICELLO writes: “First off, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience in the blog and answering questions regarding post frame construction with us laymen! It is […]

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Steeply Sloped Post Frame Roofs

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/01/14 @ 8:00
Steeply Sloped Post Frame Roofs

With fully engineered post frame buildings becoming a popular barndominium design solution, future home owners are looking for more variety in their builds. Loyal reader KEITH in MADISON is one of these and writes: “Thanks very much for all the work you do to make this website such a treasure trove of information! Online, I […]

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Hemp Based Barndominium Insulation

Posted by polebarnguru on 21/01/05 @ 8:00
Hemp Based Barndominium Insulation

I try to keep my eyes open for new products available for post frame barndominium construction. Hemp based insulation might be of interest to some. Disclaimer: I have never used this product and it appears to currently be a challenge to source it. Hempitecture, based in Ketchum, Idaho, in conjunction with their material processing and […]

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How a Realtor Can Participate With Post-frame Barndominiums

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/12/31 @ 8:00
How a Realtor Can Participate With Post-frame Barndominiums

Reader (and Realtor) JIM in NEW PALISTINE writes: “How can I participate in the post-frame industry as a Realtor?   How do people develop their custom residential interior designs?   How are residential pole barn projects coordinated A-Z? Okay, that was three.  Can you help me, please?” Mike the Pole Barn Guru responds: Post frame […]

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Avoid These 4 Mistakes in Your Post Frame Building

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/12/29 @ 8:00
Avoid These 4 Mistakes in Your Post Frame Building

Avoid These 4 Mistakes In Your Post Frame Building Today’s guest blogger is Katherine Rundell, a construction writer and editor at Assignment Help and College Paper Writing Service. She is also a contributing writer at Buy Essays. As a professional writer, she coaches college students on how to write in various fields. Yes, buyer’s remorse […]

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Tubular Skylights for Barndominiums

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/12/24 @ 8:00
Tubular Skylights for Barndominiums

Tube Skylights for Barndominiums Reader EMANUAL in SPRINGDALE writes: “Read your article about skylights, but what about Tube skylights?” Mike the Pole Barn Guru says: Bringing natural light into a post frame building is a relatively easy prospect, provided the room is adjacent to at least one exterior wall. Windows and glass doors have been […]

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How Much is the White Gambrel Barn?

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/12/23 @ 8:00
How Much is the White Gambrel Barn?

How Much is the White Gambrel Barn? Reader ALLISON in SALIDA writes: “I’m wondering what it would cost to build the large white gambrel style barn that’s on your website.  Thanks!” This building has been featured in places like covers of NFBA’s post frame building design manual and Rural Builder magazine. It is truly a […]

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Doesn’t Like Idea of Concrete Slab on Grade Foundation

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/12/17 @ 8:00
Doesn’t Like Idea of Concrete Slab on Grade Foundation

Doesn’t Like Idea of a Concrete Slab Foundation Loyal reader ASHLEY in KELSO writes: “I will be building in southwest Washington – Cowlitz County. We are wanting around a 2800 square foot home. I do not like the idea of a concrete slab “foundation”, we are going with crawl space (I read your blog on […]

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Question About a Pole Building Under Construction

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/12/16 @ 8:00
Question About a Pole Building Under Construction

If you are like me, when you hire a professional to do professional work, you expect them to be experts and to do things correctly. Few things in life upset me more than when a builder gives a client a great price and then cuts corners in order to make a profit. Facebooker CHRIS in […]

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Must Do’s for a Worry Free Barndominium

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/12/08 @ 8:00
Must Do’s for a Worry Free Barndominium

My Facebook friend RICK in MALDEN messaged me: “I have never built a building like this. I have seen many bad experiences with concrete, poor quality metal work and many more issues. I would just like to know if there is a list of things to make sure I get a quality home. I saw […]

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Build on a Slope, Joist Hangers, and the Future of Post Frame

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/12/07 @ 8:00
Build on a Slope, Joist Hangers, and the Future of Post Frame

This Monday the Pole Barn Guru answers questions about building on a slope with use of embedded columns or brackets on piers, the proper installation of joist hangers, and the Guru’s vision of the future of post frame construction. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Because of the 16% slope, I will be using concrete piers & […]

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Do You, or Anyone Else You Trust, Build In or Near (fill in the blank)?

This question was put forth by reader TARILYNN in FREEDOM. It (or a similar variant) also gets posted roughly 10 to 20 times daily in various social media groups. I spent most of a decade as a registered General Contractor in multiple states. At times we would have as many as 35 crews erecting buildings […]

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How Best to Use Metal Building Insulation

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/12/03 @ 8:00
How Best to Use Metal Building Insulation

How To Best Use Metal Building Insulation Loyal reader ANDY in SOUTH CAROLINA writes: “ I read with interest the article “What house wrap is good for” on your website and would like to include house wrap on a pole building I’m currently planning to build in the upstate of South Carolina.  Typically builders in […]

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If You Think Red Iron Buildings Are Great

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/12/02 @ 8:00
If You Think Red Iron Buildings Are Great

If You Thought Red Iron Buildings Are Great Loyal readers, please join me in reaching way back to yesterday’s article espousing great benefits of PEMBs (Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings) aka “red iron” or “bolt up” buildings. If you are planning a new barndominium, shouse (shop/house), shop, etc., and have decided a PEMB is your one and […]

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Answers for Brian’s Barndominium Builder

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/11/27 @ 8:00
Answers for Brian’s Barndominium Builder

Answers for Brian’s Barndominium Builder Should you have missed yesterday’s episode, please click back to it using link at bottom of this page – it will make more sense as well as being more entertaining! Hello Brian ~ My Father and his five brothers were all framing contractors, so I was raised in a world […]

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Our Builder Has a Few Questions

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/11/26 @ 8:00
Our Builder Has a Few Questions

Our Builder Has a Few Questions Not a surprising statement, as few stick frame (stud wall) builders are willing to learn a new structural system, and few post frame builders have actually erected barndominiums or shouses (shop/houses). I was a first group member (although willing to learn) and frankly lost my posterior financially erecting my […]

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Designing a Dream Barndominium Loft

Posted by polebarnguru on 20/11/24 @ 8:00
Designing a Dream Barndominium Loft

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 […]

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11 Reasons Why Barndominium Crawl Space Encapsulation is Important

11 Reasons Why Barndominium Crawl Space Encapsulation is Important Today’s Guest Contributor is Joseph Bryson. Joseph was born in Alberta, raised in NYC and is living in New Zealand. He has been working in 4 different industries and helped numerous businesses grow. Now, he is focused on writing as his next career from home and […]

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