Category Archives: Lumber

Green Pole Barns

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/04/2011

Green building is one of the most dynamic market forces in construction today. Pole buildings are considered sustainable, but until very recently little documentation existed on the energy efficiency and the reduced impact on the environment created by pole barns. “Green building” is based on producing more sustainable buildings and is the basis for green […]

Categories: Lumber, Pole Building Comparisons, Building Styles and Designs, Constructing a Pole Building, Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure
Tags: Green Building, Pole Building Construction, Green Building Systems
2 comments

Do the Lumber Twist

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/02/2011

Let’s start in the forest… When David Friss of Anchorage worked for NOM ‘s Environmental Research Labs in Boulder, he was once asked why lightning sometimes spirals down the trunk of a tree. While the answer was not proven, we observed the path of least resistance might follow the spiral grain of the wood. He […]

Green Lumber vs. Dry Lumber

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/01/2011

Need a piece of lumber? In most of the United States, you get one from your local lumber yard or “big box” store and do not have a choice as to whether the lumber is “green” (moisture content of over 19%) or dry. For the most part, what is available at the retail level is […]

Categories: Lumber, Pole Building Comparisons, Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure
Tags: Dry Lumber, Mold Growth, Green Lumber
22 comments

Lumber Defects: Crowns Aren’t Just for Royalty

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/30/2011

Grab any piece of lumber, with a narrow edge pointed up. Look down the narrow edge and you will normally see an upward or downward arch, or bow to the wood. An upward arch is “crowned up”. This is a common lumber defect. When building your new pole building, it is important for the crowns […]