This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about pricing on a 2 bed 1 bath with 600-650 square feet, and a shed. The use of inside closures to seal off gaps before spray foaming walls, and if we had a floor plan template used on a 30X32X20 barndominium.
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: If I want a 2 bedroom and 1 bath like a 600 to 650 square footage! What are some of the prices? Also can we see one of these sheds? CHRISTIE in MILLBURY
DEAR CHRISTIE: Our floor plans specialists could custom design this combination for you (https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/post-frame-floor-plans/). Be aware, unless this is an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit), most jurisdictions require primary residences to have a larger footprint. You should reach out to your local Planning Department to confirm. Pricing can vary greatly, depending highly upon selected doors and windows.
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: In my recently built pole barn I had the idea of sealing off the base where the metal siding connects with the flashing and the bottom girt with closed cell spray foam. The idea behind this is to prevent air gaps and block insects, etc. But would this be a bad idea if I decided to insulate the walls? In other words if I insulated the walls would I want to keep the air gaps to ventilate the wall cavity and prevent condensation? Thanks, GREG in FAIRBURY
DEAR GREG: Best method of sealing is likely to be to place form fitted Inside Closure strips between bottom of steel siding and base trim. This should be able to be accomplished by removing screws from bottom of steel panels, slide closures in from inside, and reinstall screws. You can then add closed cell spray foam (closures will keep spray foam from oozing out bottom of panels) above closure strips. Ventilating a wall cavity typically results in reducing insulation capacity and can result in increasing damage should a fire occur. To minimize possibilities of condensation, have a well-sealed vapor barrier on interior face of your wall insulation.
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I see you guys have a 30X32X20 barndominium. I was wondering if there was a floor plan template, or any other pictures I can get besides the standard one? RYAN in BEL AIR
DEAR RYAN: Unfortunately, this client had us design building around his own floor plan/sketch and did not use our Floor Plan Service, so we don’t have anything “official”. However, Mason in our office (Mason@HansenPoleBuildings.com) was actually Building Designer who worked with client on this building so has his drawing we used.
Second-floor layout is his living space. Below this living space is a 32×32 Garage with (2) 9×7 garage doors. This is all attached to a second 18’x32’ building to house an RV.
If you’re interested in a building similar to this, we do offer custom in house floor plan services where you can work one on one with a floor plans specialist to create your own ideal dream floor plan. https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/post-frame-floor-plans/
In my world it is Asian Beetles getting between wall steel and building wrap. No matter how tightly I have exterior skin sealed, they seem to find a way to migrate in and then expire. I am not sure, as of yet, how to calculate added R-value from their bodies.
DEAR RALPH: In a typical fully engineered post frame (pole) building isolated columns embedded into your ground would be complying and meet Building Code requirements. We would like to see your jurisdiction’s written requirement for mandating a continuous foundation, as often times these ‘requirements’ are just one person’s own feelings of how things should be done, rather than having an actual basis.
DEAR BRIAN: Regardless of spacing of columns or trusses, a fully engineered post frame building will be designed to meet or exceed a specified set of wind design criteria – speed and exposure. You are better served to increase design wind sped, so your entire buildings is capable of supporting higher loads, than to merely move columns closer together. Provided Code required deflection limitations have been properly engineered for, any purlin sag, over time, should be relatively imperceptible.

