Category Archives: Pole Barn Structure
Pole Barn Videos from Peru
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/27 @ 8:00I Went to Peru and All I Brought Back For You Is Pole Barn Videos I’ve been working at reducing my “bucket list” of places to go and things to see and do. My list priorities include places where being physically able proves essential. A visit in Machu Picchu was way towards top of my […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Structure, Pole Barn Design
- Tags: Pole Barn Video, Peru, Post-Frame
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Participating in Rick’s Post Frame Cabin Planning
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/26 @ 8:01Participating in Rick’s Post Frame Cabin Planning Happy readers have been following Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designer Rick’s journey towards constructing a new cabin. Rick has graciously asked me to jump in with sage advice (yep, Rick and I are both old guys), as well as answering some questions he has posed. Rick mentions using a […]
Read moreDevelopment of My Post Frame Cabin Plans
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/21 @ 8:00Thank you to Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designer Rick Carr for today’s guest blog. Development of my Cabin Plans I have been looking at both open land and existing “cabins” in the Southwestern part of the State of Wisconsin where I do a lot of fly fishing for trout in anticipation of eventually retiring. I want […]
Read moreRoof Collapses Due to Heavy Snow are Largely Avoidable
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/14 @ 8:00Roof Collapses Due To Heavy Snow Are Largely Avoidable. Portions of this article are thanks to a February 25, 2019 article by Bill Steffan at www.woodtv.com “Above pic. is the Negaunee Schools bus garage in Marquette Co., Michigan. The roof collapsed under the weight of heavy snow over the […]
Read moreCan You Provide Just Trusses for My New Pole Barn?
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/12 @ 8:00Back in my owning a roof truss manufacturing plant days, we sold trusses to a building contractor, who was uninsured, and new building owner neglected to insure building. When it collapsed due to builder error (building also was not engineered), our insurance company ended up paying for a replacement building as it was ruled we […]
Read moreFight Knee Braces
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/08 @ 8:00Long time readers (as well as most people with a lick of common sense) know knee braces are not a good thing. Besides taking up valuable interior space, they do more harm than good. Reader TY from QUINTON has run into a dilemma regarding knee braces. He writes: “I pulled a permit to self build […]
Read moreSmartphone App to Test Lumber Strength
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/07 @ 8:00I have been a proponent of machine rated lumber since I bought my first truckload to be made into trusses at Coeur d’Alene Truss (http://www.cdabuilders.com/) back in 1978. Years later I spent five terms on the Board of Directors of the Machine Stress Rated Lumber Producers Council (http://www.msrlumber.org/). I have opined previously on the merits […]
Read moreBoots on the Ground With Rick Carr
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/06 @ 8:00Boots On The Ground With Rick Carr Long time Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designer Rick Carr has a lengthy history in post frame construction – back to his early years where he worked assembling them for a living. Rick is one of those inquisitive sorts, he wants to know not only what a best design solution […]
Read moreI’d Rather Order My New Pole Building Myself
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/03/05 @ 8:00We humans want to do things ourselves. We love GPS because it keeps us from having to ask strangers for help or admitting we are lost. I admit to, at one time in my life, being an extremist at “doing it myself”. Then I learned….. by listening to experts I could learn so much faster. […]
Read moreThe Case of the Leaking Post Frame Building Window
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/02/28 @ 8:00The Case of The Leaking Post Frame Building Window Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s hero – renowned sleuth Sherlock Holmes, was forever solving mysteries entitled “The Case of Something or Other”. To solve this particular mystery neither Holmes, nor Dr. John Watson’s skills will be required. Nor shall we need a call to Scotland Yard. Reader […]
Read moreFree Post Frame Foundation Building Calculator
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/02/22 @ 8:00Free Post-Frame Building Foundation Engineering Calculator No, such a thing as a free post-frame building foundation engineering calculator does not exist. However there always seems to be someone out there who is in search of “engineering for free”. Reader KELLY writes: “Guru, Do you have a link to a pole foundation engineering calculator? Looking for […]
Read moreSafety Information for Post Frame Truss Installation
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/02/21 @ 8:00Safety Information for Post-Frame Truss Installation The following article, written by Frank Woeste, P.E., appeared in the February 2018 edition of The Component Manufacturing Advertiser, and is reprinted here, in its entirety. The BCSI-B10 document referenced is included within the Hansen Pole Buildings’ Construction Manual as part of every building kit package provided by Hansen […]
Read moreWhere Oh Where Should My Purlins Go?
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/02/20 @ 8:00Where, Oh Where, Should My Purlins Go? There are almost as many methods for assembly of a post frame building, as there are post frame buildings! I kid you not. Amongst differences are how to space trusses – two, four, eight, 12 foot or numerous other possible centers. Along with different truss spacings are how […]
Read moreMinimizing Excavation in Post Frame Buildings
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/02/13 @ 8:00Minimizing Excavation In Combination With Post-Frame Frost Protected Shallow Foundations Regular readers of this column recognize a groundswell movement towards energy efficient post frame building design. Reader (and Mechanical Engineer) DAVID in CONNECTICUT had some thoughts (after reading a volume of my article pages) in regards to FPSF (Frost Protected Shallow Foundations) and radiant in […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Structure, Concrete, Footings, Insulation, Pole Barn Questions, Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Insulation, Vapor Barrier, Radiant Heat, FPSF, Pex Tubing, Skirtboard
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Unvented Post Frame Attics
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/02/08 @ 8:00Unvented Post Frame Attics Energy efficiency concerns have literally become a “hot” (pun intended) topic in new construction, and post frame construction methods are no exception to inclusion. Traditionally buildings have had insulation placed or blown into dead attic spaces, directly above a ceiling. Unvented attics have entered fray as an alternative. To construct […]
Read moreA Case for Minimum Post Frame Truss Loads
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/02/07 @ 8:00A Case for Minimum Post Frame Truss Loads Portions of this article were written specifically for Component Advertiser, a monthly truss industry publication. However I feel strongly enough about this subject to use my column to pitch it to both my employers and other post frame building kit suppliers and contractors. In my career I […]
Read moreHow to Reduce Condensation in Post Frame Buildings
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/02/05 @ 8:00How to Reduce Condensation in Post Frame Buildings Condensation occurs when excessive atmospheric water vapor comes into contact with a cold surface. Post frame building condensation will be particularly common in winter time, in regions where temperatures reach dramatic lows, and also in spring and early summer when ground temperatures are still cool but humidity […]
Read moreCrawlspace Skirting, Adding Spray Foam, and Rafters
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/02/04 @ 8:00Today the Pole barn Guru discusses crawlspace skirting, adding spray foam, and building with rafters instead of trusses. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am planning on building a post frame home with a standard wood framed floor structure. It will have a crawlspace below but will not have concrete stem walls. The building site slopes […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure, Ventilation, Insulation, Pole Barn Design
- Tags: Insulation, Spray Foam, Rafters, Crawl Spaces, Skirting, Pole And Raftered
- 2 comments
Foil Insulation is Not Insulation
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/01/23 @ 8:00Foil Insulation Is Not Insulation Products being incorrectly marketed and sold as “foil insulation” are actually nothing more than a radiant reflective barrier. They are not insulation. I have previously covered this very subject, so will not rank and rail more: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2014/04/reflective-insulation-wars/ Today’s learning article has inspiration in this from reader BOBBY in GRASSTIN who […]
Read moreNorth Carolina Students Learn Post Frame Construction
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/01/22 @ 8:00North Carolina College Students Learn Post Frame Construction The following article by Dan Grubb appeared first in the December 5, 2018 Sampson Independent “Sometimes the building blocks to success look more like beams than blocks. Students at Sampson Community College’s Building and Construction program know this first hand as work continues on a facility the […]
Read morePlacement of Sliding Doors, Extreme Snow Loads, and Custom Quotes
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/01/21 @ 8:00Today Mike addresses questions about placement of sliding doors, extreme snow loads, and quoting for a specific design. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I’m building a 32 wide 48’ long 14’ tall hay barn. 6×6 posts. Looking at my barn I have one post in the center and want two 16’ wide sliding doors to access […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Structure, Sliding Doors
- Tags: Building Design, Sliding Doors, Snow Loads, Heavy Roof Snow
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My Pole Barn Heats Most of Southern Michigan
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/01/18 @ 8:00My Pole Barn Heats Most of Southern Michigan Most post frame (pole barn) buildings were not designed with an idea of efficiently and effectively being able to climate control them. Likely very little (if any) thought was put in by the salesperson other than giving his client a lowest possible price to secure a signed […]
Read moreSome Pole Barns Deserve a Proper Burial
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/01/11 @ 8:00Some Pole Barns Deserve a Proper Burial Reader STEPHAN in OGDENSBURG writes: “Dear Pole Barn Guru, I have a 30ish year old 32 by 54 feet horse pole barn where half the poles heaved some for more than 1 foot over the years. I need to fix it this year because I am afraid that […]
Read more- Categories: Rebuilding Structures, Pole Barn Questions, Columns, Pole Barn Design, Pole Building Comparisons, Constructing a Pole Building, Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn holes, Pole Barn Structure, Concrete, Footings
- Tags: Building On Bedrock, Lean-to Shed, Floating Posts, Bedrock, Permacolumns, Bond Beam, Sono Tubes
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What Kind of Trusses Are Pictured?
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/01/10 @ 8:00What Kind of Trusses Are Pictured? This question was posed by Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designer Doug. Photo isn’t of a Hansen Pole Building, probably raising questions in Doug’s mind as it looks rather foreign. Only actual trusses in photo are in raised center portion of this monitor style building. Interior trusses were probably sold to […]
Read moreMetal Building Insulation
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/01/08 @ 8:00Building Has Metal Building Insulation Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designer Rachel received an inquiry from a client whose existing post frame (pole) building has metal building insulation. Rachel sent this to me: “STEVE would like some advice on insulating. He has a Cleary Building which has blanket insulation in the walls and roof and he would […]
Read moreMulti-Story Pole Barns
Posted by polebarnguru on 19/01/01 @ 1:30Multi-story Pole Barns Hansen Pole Buildings has developed a reputation for taking potentially challenging post frame (pole barn) building projects and developing them from concept to fruition. This leads many clients, with an interest in multi-story pole barns, to our doors. My own post frame building home, along Lake Traverse South Dakota side, features both […]
Read moreHorse Barn Trusses, A Pole Barn Face lift, and Double Trusses
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/12/31 @ 8:00Today the Pole Barn Guru answers questions about custom trusses for a horse barn, a face lift for a pole barn and where to use double trusses. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hi, I am looking to build a horse barn next spring, and had a question on the trusses that you offer. The barn will […]
Read moreSimpson Strong-Drive SDWS Timber Screw
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/12/28 @ 8:00Simpson Strong-Drive® SDWS Timber Screw In yesterday’s article I discussed attachment of roof trusses in post frame building construction. In most cases, Hansen Pole Buildings utilizes Simpson Strong-Drive® SDWS Timber screws. It was more than twenty years ago Simpson Strong-Tie changed fastening world with introduction of a heavy-duty structural connector screw used in wood construction […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure, Trusses, Fasteners, Pole Barn Design
- Tags: Simpson, Timber Screw, SawTooth Point, Nibs, Driving Torque, Cutting Knurl
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Connecting Trusses Not Dots
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/12/27 @ 8:00Connecting Trusses Not Dots This feature is probably not overly mentioned, however as most structural failures involve connections, it probably should be. FEATURE: Double trusses notched into sidewall columns and connected with Strong-Drive® SDWS TIMBER Screws BENEFIT: Trusses placed in a notch cannot slide down columns and Strong-Drive® SDWS TIMBER Screws resist uplift forces without […]
Read moreSite Built Roof Trusses
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/12/26 @ 8:00Site Built Roof Trusses In penning my recent article about sexy prefab roof trusses, recalled from recesses of what little mind I have yet, was a story I will share with you about site built roof trusses. I was not long into my position as truss plant manager for Lucas Plywood and Lumber when a […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Structure, Trusses
- Tags: Gussets, Steel Connector Plates, Engineer Sealed Truss Designs, Truss Jigs
- 2 comments
Do I Need Any Additional Vapor Barrier?
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/12/19 @ 8:00Do I Need Any Additional Vapor Barrier? Reader TOM in NEW LONDON writes: “Have a 40 x 60 pole barn which I have poured a 20 X 60 6″ concrete floor with radiant heat. I have installed 1 1/2″ R 7.5 rigid pink board between the 2 X 6 side boards against the steel. I […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure, Trusses, Ventilation, Insulation, Pole Barn Questions
- Tags: Kraft Faced Batts, Concrete Sealant, Gypsum Wall Board, Trusses, BIBS Insulation, Knee Braces, Pressure Preservative Treated Lumber, Condensation In Pole Buildings
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Will My Post Frame Building Support a Ceiling?
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/12/18 @ 8:00Will My Post Frame Building Support a Ceiling? One of my frequently received questions – wanting to add a ceiling into a post frame building and wondering if the building will support the added weight. Other frequent questions include condensation issues and ventilation, so this reader has hit upon a trifecta. Reader BRYAN in SWANTON […]
Read moreStarting from the Ground Up- UC-4B Treated Columns
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/12/06 @ 8:00Starting 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 […]
Read moreA Red Barn, Traditional Footings Not Needed, and Added Lighting
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/12/03 @ 8:00The Pole Barn Guru answers questions about a traditional red barn, footings, and additional lighting to outside of building. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hello, We are looking to have a barn built by the Amish community, but are having trouble finding someone to contact. I see on your website you have had several things […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Structure, Concrete, Footings
- Tags: Footings, Red Barn, Junction Box, Outside Lighting, Post-Frame
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Insulating a Steel Truss Building
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/11/30 @ 8:00Insulating a Steel Truss Building Reader JONATHAN in MISSISSIPPI has been planning a building using steel trusses and has insulating questions. He writes: “I have recently found your blog and I have to say I am on good information overload. I’ve read your posts on insulation and air barrier more than twice maybe more. I […]
Read moreImportance of Constrained Posts
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/11/28 @ 8:01Importance of Constrained Posts In structural design of post frame (pole) buildings, an ability to transfer wind shear loads from roof to endwalls to ground becomes a key to cost effective design success. When sidewall columns are in a properly constrained condition (usually by attachment to a concrete slab-on-grade) shear forces are reduced by 25%. […]
Read moreSiloxa-Tek 8505 Concrete Sealant
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/11/27 @ 8:00Siloxa-Tek 8505 Concrete Sealant Recently I received a question from a reader who was having condensation issues in his post frame (pole) building. Amongst my suggestions was using a concrete floor sealant, if there was not a well-sealed vapor barrier underneath the slab. Following this conversation, my reader did his research and determined a silane […]
Read moreWho is Responsible for Design of Permanent Truss Bracing?
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/11/23 @ 8:00Who is Responsible for Design of Permanent Truss Bracing? This article was triggered by an email questioning truss bracing from Hansen Pole Buildings’ client JASON in WELLINGTON who writes: “My inspector is telling me that the truss documents take precedence over the building plans. I told them the building plan has the x bracing and […]
Read moreAcquire a Building Permit First
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/11/14 @ 8:00You want a new pole barn, so you put together some plans, order up some materials, have them delivered and start building. In all of this excitement something was overlooked – acquiring a Building Permit! Reader SHELBY in COLORADO writes: “Hello, My name is Shelby, my father and I are trying to build a pole […]
Read moreFoundations
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/11/09 @ 8:00Foundations – Post Frame Keeps It Simple Post frame (pole building) construction affords a plethora of savings for a new building owner, chief amongst these are foundation simplicity. I’ve previously expounded upon foundation savings in post frame construction as compared to stick frame buildings: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2011/10/buildings-why-not-stick-frame-construction/. Today I will add some graphics to reinforce (pun intended) […]
Read morePole Barn Ignorance
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/11/06 @ 8:00Gordon Miller photo Pole Barn Ignorance After spending pretty well my entire adult life in some facet of my industry, it becomes amazing to me to find pole barn ignorance. Other than recent immigrants to our country, and maybe those who have never traveled outside of urban areas most everyone should have some inkling as […]
Read more500 Year Storm and Wind Exposure
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/11/01 @ 8:00500 Year Storm and wind exposure. Allstate® Insurance has a TV commercial featuring actor Dennis Haysbert. Haysbert sits in an open field and questions why there have been 26 “once in 500 years storms” in last decade, when term alone implies they should only happen every 500 years. View Allstate® commercial here: https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=crmas&p=Allstate+once+in+500+years+storm+commercial#id=1&vid=b134fa05aba0ff046debaea22891c23d&action=click IBC (International […]
Read moreCeiling Vapor Barriers in Post Frame Construction
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/10/31 @ 8:00Ceiling Vapor Barriers in Post Frame Construction A ceiling vapor barrier or no, in post frame (pole building) construction? Good question. For most of my life I have lived where it tends to get chilly in winter. Here in Northeast South Dakota it can not only be chilly, but downright frigid. It has been drummed […]
Read morePlywood Siding Z-Flashing
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/10/25 @ 8:00Plywood Siding Z-Flashing My first full time construction job was as an MEI (Momb Enterprises, Inc.) slave working for my framing contractor father and his brothers. 1970’s found T1-11 plywood siding to be very popular (as were disco balls) and we installed plenty of it. Where walls were higher than available panels of T1-11, one […]
Read moreExamining a Light Steel Truss Frame Building
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/10/23 @ 8:00Examining a Light Steel Truss Frame Building I have never owned or assembled a light steel truss frame building. A gentleman named Stan Floyd worked for me as a salesman when I owned M & W Building Supply. Stan’s dad had fabricated light steel truss frame buildings in Arkansas and Stan was interested in developing […]
Read moreHow to Frame a Reverse Gable Porch
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/10/17 @ 8:00How to Frame a Reverse Gable Porch Reverse gable porches are an excellent way to protect any door from effects of weather – specifically rain and snow. I personally feel they are an underutilized great feature. For more reading about reverse gable porches: http://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2015/07/reverse-gable-porch/. Today’s article has been sparked by reader DARRELL in ATLANTA who […]
Read moreDry Set Brackets on Foundation, Unfinished Jobs, and Engineering
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/10/08 @ 8:00Today the Pole Barn Guru discusses rebuilding on an existing concrete foundation with dry set brackets, unfinished work, and proper engineering. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I’ve recently torn down an old machine shed that still has very good 8″ wide by 24″ deep cement foundation walls that I’m thinking about using to erect a new […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Structure, Footings, Professional Engineer
- Tags: Foundation, Engineering, Footings, Dry Set Brackets, Unfinished Work
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Whiskey Tango Foxtrot! Is It Ventilation?
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/10/02 @ 8:00Whiskey Tango Foxtrot! Is it Ventilation? I really enjoy good food. In order to continue doing so and avoid weighing significantly more than I should, I do a treadmill run nearly every morning. To keep from expiring from utter boredom of exercise, I have wall mounted my flat screen LED television within easy viewing distance. […]
Read moreTrue Double Trusses
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/09/27 @ 8:00True Double Trusses ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers) published ANSI/ASABE S618 “Post Frame Building System Nomenclature” in December 2010. For those who are unfamiliar ANSI stands for American National Standards Institute (www.ansi.org). ANSI is a private non-profit organization overseeing development of voluntary consensus standards for United States products, services, systems and personnel. […]
Read moreDomestic Cat Pole Barns
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/09/19 @ 8:00Domestic Cat Pole Barns I know my loyal, long time column readers think I am stretching way out there when I start writing about domestic cat barns. Reality being stranger than fiction, one of them exists! Now neither our mom, nor any of our grandmothers were crazy cat ladies with housefuls of feline friends. Even […]
Read moreUplift Concerns, Retro-fitting Insulation, and High Water Tables
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/09/17 @ 8:00This week the Pole Barn Guru answers questions about uplift concerns, retro-fitting insulation, and setting posts in high water tables. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am adding an open overhang to the gable end of my 40×80 pole barn. I bought 36’ trusses and will lower them to fit under the existing gable going out […]
Read more- Categories: Insulation, Pole Barn Structure, Ventilation, Footings
- Tags: Ceiling Insulation, Uplift, High Water Table. Setting Posts, Insulation
- 2 comments
Post Frame Gun Range
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/09/14 @ 8:00Post Frame Gun Range A few years ago a Hansen Pole Building became a gun range for U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, California. It was easy for us, as we were merely given dimensions to provide and only afterwards were we clued in to actual building use. Reader DIANE in FORSYTH writes: “Hello, I […]
Read moreRoof Slope
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/09/11 @ 8:00Roof Slope Dang, up jumped an altogether conspicuous term included as a part of every building, and I totally neglected – roof slope. Growing up in low-middle income level suburbia, I had never given much thought to slope of roofs. This oversight existed even though my father and his five brothers (as well as their […]
Read more- Categories: Trusses, Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: Roof Pitch, Roof Rise, Roof Run, Roof Elevation, Roof Angle, Roof Grade
- 2 comments
Spot Problems with This Pole Barn Photo
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/09/07 @ 8:00Spot Problems With This Pole Barn Photo One of my Facebook friends had posted this as a timeline photo as it brought back to her fond memories of a childhood spent frolicking in hay lofts. It was so bad, I just had to save it. So, what’s wrong with this photo anyhow? Obviously bird excrement […]
Read moreAn Advance Article Preview for The Advertiser
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/08/29 @ 8:00Besides being a semi-regular contributor to Rural Builder magazine, I have also had articles published in several other lumber and wood truss periodicals. I’ve been asked to write an article for The Advertiser (https://www.componentadvertiser.com/), which I share with you below: Increase Your Post Frame Sales Nearly every U.S. and Canadian metal plate connected wood truss […]
Read moreVenting an Attic Without Soffit Air Intake
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/08/23 @ 8:00Venting an Attic Without Soffit Air Intake Loyal reader KEN has an attic space with only air exhaust points – a vented ridge, and no air intake. His dilemma, how to adequately ventilate his attic without vented soffits. Ken writes: “I finally was able to make contact with the manufacturer of the open foam like […]
Read morePost Frame Scissor Trusses
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/08/21 @ 8:00Post Frame Scissor Trusses I’d spent summers working for my dad and uncles framing buildings and being low man when it came to a totem pole of laborers, I did my fair share of strong back, weak mind work – such as setting trusses. As a teenager, I had not given much thought to complexities […]
Read moreA Tornado and a Pole Barn
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/08/03 @ 8:00Pole Barns and Tornados (Excerpts from a July 21, 2018 Jeffersonville, Indiana News and Tribune article by Jenna Esarey are incorporated in this article) “NEW MIDDLETOWN — With Bobcats, ATVs and chainsaws, many residents of New Middletown spent their Saturday cleaning up after an EF-1 tornado cut a swath through homes, barns and cornfields Friday […]
Read moreInsulating a Room in an Unheated Pole Barn
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/07/31 @ 8:00Insulating a Room in an Unheated Pole Barn Regular readers of this column recognize insulation as being a hot (pun intended) topic of discussion – not just entire buildings, but also of a room or rooms in an unheated pole barn. Reader RICHARD in WOODSTOCK writes: “I have a 50 x 75 pole barn with […]
Read moreAlmost Round Pen
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/07/25 @ 8:00Almost Round Pen Our eldest daughter Bailey, as a professional horse trainer, has spent a great deal of her life with horses in round pens. Generally round pens are unprotected in the great outdoors, leading to them not being able to be used in inclement weather. Personally, experience has shown it is far more economical […]
Read moreDecks and Exterior Balconies of Post Frame Buildings
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/07/24 @ 8:00Decks and Exterior Balconies of Post Frame Buildings Post frame buildings and residential construction have finally met and the marriage happily looks to be a long term one! Along with this marriage, post frame has to familiarize itself with structural areas which were previously unfamiliar. Amongst these are decks and exterior balconies. The 2018 IBC […]
Read moreWhat To Do With an Old Dollar General Pole Barn
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/07/19 @ 8:00What to Do With an Old Dollar General® Pole Barn In the fall of 2016 the town of Reading, MI purchased the pole barn which had previously been the home of a Dollar General® store. The original plan was to convert the pole barn into a new city hall, but, after seeing the estimated price […]
Read moreWhat Size Posts Should I Use?
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/07/13 @ 8:00What Size Posts Does My Building Need and How Deep Should They Be? Reader ANONYMOUS in BENTON writes: “1. If my building has 16 posts and posts are 12 feet apart do I need 4×6’s or 6×6’s? 2. If the plan shows 16 feet above grade how much do I need underground? 3. If the […]
Read moreSplashwood
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/07/10 @ 8:00Splashwood™ Reader MIKE in ORLANDO writes: “Dear Pole Barn Guru, I bought a 38×42 Pole Barn kit from a reputable supplier. The posts are 8″ x 8″ – but do not have the AWPA markings that you describe in your Blog. These posts have a tag stapled to the end that says “SPLASHWOOD, Saltwater Splash […]
Read moreIsolating Pole Barn Poles from Concrete Slabs
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/07/05 @ 8:00Isolating Pole Barn Poles From Concrete Slabs The fear factor – comes up again and again in construction. Today’s fear is a concrete slab being poured against the poles (columns) of an existing pole barn will cause the columns to decay. “We have a 25 year old pole barn with 12 main 8×8 poles sunk […]
Read moreInstalling Joist Hangers
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/06/29 @ 8:00Installing Joist Hangers on Opposite Sides of a Double Truss My friend and loyal reader LONNIE in COLORADO SPRINGS is one Hansen Pole Buildings’ client who truly puts thought into the assembly of his new post frame building. Lonnie writes: “I’ve been pondering and pondering this and I may have a solution that I want […]
Read moreConditioned Post Frame Crawl Space
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/06/27 @ 8:00Conditioned Post Frame Crawl Space Recently I had a reader ask about Conditioned Post-Frame Crawl Spaces, a subject I quickly did an internet search on, and found nothing. Dear gentle readers: In the event you should Google any post frame related information and cannot find the answer you are searching for, please drop me an […]
Read moreAdding a Lean-to on a Pole Barn Part II
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/06/26 @ 8:00To continue from last Friday’s blog on adding a lean-to onto an existing pole building… Moving onto the design of the lean-to itself: The lean-to can be placed to either begin at the same height of the existing building eave, or the high side can be placed lower along the original building wall. If the […]
Read moreBuilding Height, Building on Existing Foundation, and Spray Foam
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/06/25 @ 8:00Today the Pole Barn Guru answers questions about calculating the height of a building, Building on and existing foundation, and Spray Foam Insulation. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I’m looking for over all height of a building with a 14’ eave? Thanks. DOUG in PILOT ROCK DEAR DOUG: The overall height determination starts with a clear […]
Read more- Categories: Insulation, Pole Barn Structure, Ventilation, Footings
- Tags: Foundation, Spray Foam, Eave Height, Building Foundation, Building Height, Spray Foam Insulation
- 1 comments
Adding a Lean-to on a Pole Barn
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/06/22 @ 8:00Adding a Lean-to on a Pole Barn In six years and nearly 1500 articles written it is hard for me to believe I have actually overlooked the topic of a lean-to being added to a pole barn! For the biblical readers amongst you, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find” […]
Read moreEngineering Your Pole Building for Free
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/06/08 @ 8:00Please Let Me Engineer Your Post Frame Building For Free Because I am not a Registered Design Professional, I can’t engineer your new post frame building for you. And, if I was, I most certainly would not be doing it for free. Typically an engineer should be compensated somewhere in the area of 8 to […]
Read moreConcerns of a Post Frame Building Kit Shopper
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/05/29 @ 8:00Hopefully most, if not all, of my loyal readers are those who have concerns when it comes to investing in a new post frame building (I do know some of you just enjoy my slightly skewed sense of humor, or find my writings otherwise entertaining). For those of you who are avid kit shoppers, I […]
Read moreRetro Insulation, Cost of a Hipped Roof, and Slab Prep!
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/05/28 @ 8:00Today Mike the Pole Barn Guru answers questions about Retro Insulation, Cost of a Hipped Roof, and Slab Prep! DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Retro Pole barn wall insulation: should a person put plastic or some sort of vapor barrier against outside tin on interior, then put fiberglass blanket up? Which Is a better option faced or […]
Read more- Categories: Insulation, Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Structure, Trusses, Concrete
- Tags: Insulation, Visqueen, Hipped Roof, Hipped Roof Trusses, Gravel, Concrete Preparation
- 1 comments
Ways You Can Integrate Cost Effective Heating
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/05/23 @ 8:00Ways You Can Integrate Cost-Effective Heating Into a Self-Build Thank you to today’s guest blogger is Chrissy Nicholson Only 65% of homeowners in America have mortgages and with an average down-payment of just under $13,000, it’s not surprising consumers are looking for alternate ways to own their own homes. One of the most cost-effective ways of owning […]
Read moreBigfoot Systems
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/05/16 @ 8:00Bigfoot Systems® Bigfoot Systems® bills itself as North America’s Original #1 Selling Pier Footing Form, which I would say is most likely 100% or more correct. So, what exactly is a Bigfoot and why would one use one? Before we get carried away, I have never used a Bigfoot and this is not a celebrity […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Structure, Concrete, Footings
- Tags: Pier Base, Embedded Columns, Pole Barn Footings, Footings, Sonotubes, Pier Footing
- 2 comments
Free Standing Hangar Door
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/05/09 @ 8:00Free Standing Hangar Door Disclaimer: this is not a testimonial for this door, I have not personally used one, and to the best of my knowledge none of our clients has (although I could be wrong on this last part). As readers of yesterday’s column have learned, deflection can become an issue with openings for […]
Read moreIt’s All About the Posts!
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/04/30 @ 8:00Trimming Posts, A Taller Building, and Post Treatment: DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Trimming posts or adding Shims? My pole barn kit uses steel trusses that sit on top of the posts and bolt to their sides. If I set two or three posts lower than the rest, can I just add a shim the top […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Structure, Professional Engineer, Columns
- Tags: Posts, Columns, Post Treatment, Taller Building, Trimming Posts
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How Not to do a Post Frame Sheer Wall
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/04/27 @ 8:00How Not to Do a Post Frame Shear Wall Reader DAVID in MIDDLETON writes: “Hi we are currently building a 40/72 pole barn. We are wrapping the bottom 4 feet in OSB for sheer strength along with sheeting the roof with osb. We want to insulate the walls and put a drop ceiling in the […]
Read moreLightning and Steel Covered Pole Buildings Part II
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/04/26 @ 8:00The following is the second part of a two part series on the risk of a metal roof and lightning. Jump back one day to read the first segment. Jim Cunningham writes: “Lightning – like any electrical charge – seeks the path of least resistance to discharge. In CG lightning, it’s discharging into the earth, […]
Read moreLightning and Steel Covered Pole Buildings
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/04/25 @ 8:00Lightening and Steel Covered Pole Barns From a www.kmbz.com story of March 8, 2018 by Jim Cunningham: “Each year more than 100 people are killed by lightning in the U.S., according to the National Weather Service. Another 300 people are injured in the electrical strikes. Severe Weather Awareness Week is March 4-10. In most cases […]
Read moreHow to Clearspan the Juncture of L or T Shaped Pole Buildings
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/04/24 @ 8:00How to Clearspan the Juncture of L or T shaped Post Frame Buildings There are some instances where either an L or a T shaped building is the design solution of choice. In some cases it is due to the shape of the property being built upon. Other times it is a result of ideal […]
Read morePost Frame and Permafrost
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/04/18 @ 8:00Permafrost is soil, rock or sediment which is frozen for more than two consecutive years. In areas not overlain by ice, it exists beneath a layer of soil, rock or sediment, which freezes and thaws annually and is called the “active layer”. In practice, this means permafrost occurs at an average air temperature of 28°F or […]
Read more- Categories: Insulation, Pole Barn Design, Pole Building How To Guides, Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure, Concrete, Footings
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18 Foot Span Roof Purlins?
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/04/04 @ 8:00The Possibility of 18 Foot Span Roof Purlins? Reader CHRIS writes: “I have a building I want to build but I am not able to add the height I need on the side walls. My plans are 24 deep by 30 wide with 8 foot walls. Roof trusses would be 24 ft. My problem comes […]
Read moreUse and Occupancy Part III: Monitor Style
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/03/29 @ 8:00Go back two days to get up to speed for an example of determining the Use and Occupancy of a monitor barn example. Part III “SECTION 506 BUILDING AREA 506.1 General. The floor area of a building shall be determined based upon the type of construction, occupancy, whether there is an automatic sprinkler system installed […]
Read moreThe Use and Occupancy Use Challenge
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/03/27 @ 8:00The Use and Occupancy Classification Challenge Part I Every building, regardless of how it is constructed has a Use and Occupancy Classification (sometimes more than one). In order to best enjoy this, you can play along at home by opening this free access link to the International Building Code (ICC): https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/IBC2015 Who Should Read This? […]
Read moreBoth Ends Open, Pole Barn Wind Load Challenge
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/03/13 @ 8:01The Both Ends Open, Pole Barn Wind Load Challenge There are plenty of people who just do not understand the basic concepts of how wind loads are transferred through a pole barn (post frame building) to the ground. Included amongst these would be those who desire buildings which are enclosed on both long sidewalls and […]
Read moreMinor League Baseball, and Indoor Batting Cage Buildings
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/03/07 @ 12:00Indoor Batting Cage Buildings Growing up in the 1960’s and early 1970’s in Spokane, Washington, we had the AAA minor league baseball club for the Los Angeles Dodgers in our town. On many a weekend we were entertained for a 50 cent bleacher ticket to be able to watch future major leaguers such as Bill […]
Read moreFormula for Calculating Wall Girts
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/02/15 @ 8:00An Excel Formula for Calculating Wall Girts, Post Size and Hole Depth John Minor and I have been friends for nearly 30 years – since his then father-in-law (and my business partner at the time) convinced me John could sell post frame buildings. Well Rod was correct, John could sell buildings – not only for […]
Read moreSoil Bearing Pressures Challenge
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/02/13 @ 8:00Soil Bearing Pressures Challenge Fast and Loose With Numbers and Terms DAN from MOUNDS VIEW is the first reader who admits they are an addict to my blogs – for this, I love you man!! Luckily there is no 12 step program to cure you, so you are just going to have to keep feeding […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Design, Pole Barn Structure, Concrete, Footings, Pole Barn Questions
- Tags: Uplift, 2100 Soil Rating, Soil Load
- 4 comments
Supporting Drywall in Post Frame Construction
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/02/08 @ 8:00Loyal reader SCOTT writes: “Good Morning, First, thank you for the amount of information you post through the Pole Barn Guru section. There have been a wide variety of questions, and thoughtful responses posted. One of the points my father had was, why do a post frame if you have to go back and stud […]
Read morePVC Pipe for Post Sleeves
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/01/31 @ 8:00Reader 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 18/01/30 @ 8:00Top 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 moreFinishing a 15 Year Old Pole Barn
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/01/19 @ 8:00Finishing 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 more8 Questions to Ask When Investing in a Pole Barn
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/01/10 @ 8:008 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 18/01/09 @ 8:00Condensation 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 moreFlood Rebuilding, Retrofitting Stem Wall, and Platinum Engineering
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/01/08 @ 8:00DEAR 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 18/01/05 @ 8:00Avoiding 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 moreCrossed Gable Dormers
Posted by polebarnguru on 18/01/03 @ 8:00Reader 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 Keep Post Frame Buildings ‘Pest-Free’
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/12/27 @ 8:00Post frame buildings have several benefits which make them the perfect choice for virtually any permanent structure like durability, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, quick assembly and versatility. They also serve multiple purposes. They are storage and machine sheds, horse-barns as well as pre-engineered for a plethora of uses. Woodwork can last for several centuries, but if pests […]
Read moreHow Insulation Works
Posted by polebarnguru on 17/12/26 @ 8:00I so enjoy clients who truly care about the outcomes of their post frame buildings. In this case, I’ve been back and forth with reader Eric and today we are discussing how insulation in walls works. Eric writes: “Mike, Thanks again for the input. I read those articles you mentioned on the BIBs and the […]
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