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Utility Poles, an Estimated Cost, and Floor Plans for a Kit

This week readers “Ask the Guru” about the use of utility poles for post frame “equipment cover,” an Estimated Cost for a 50X80X16 pole barn, and if our kits come with Floor Plans.

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I have 3 hi-cube 40′ shipping containers configured in a “U” shape ( open on one end). These are located near Amarillo in the Texas panhandle. I would like to build a open span 40′ x 40′ x 14′ height pole barn “equipment cover” over the center of these shipping containers. These shipping containers have doors on one end and 4 doors down one side. The containers that form the sides of the “U” configuration will have their sides with 4 doors orientated so pointing to the inside of the “U” ( under cover ). I am planning on using six utility poles for columns (6′ deep), headers across the columns to support 40′ wood trusses & wood purlins to attach R-panel 26 gauge roofing panels to. The sides will be finished with R-panel siding to the top of the shipping containers. What recommendations would you have for my design or would you recommend I-beam rafters instead of trusses? SCOTT in AMARILLO

DEAR SCOTT: I would strongly recommend against use of utility poles (read more here: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2012/11/used-utility-poles/).

My recommendation would be to invest in a fully engineered building using properly pressure preservative treated glulaminated columns, placed every 10 feet, to avoid your door openings. https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2024/11/new-hansen-pole-building-roof-supporting-columns/

Prefabricated wood roof trusses should be directly aligned with eave side columns https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2024/11/new-hansen-pole-buildings-prefabricated-roof-trusses/

29 gauge steel will likely do everything you need it to do https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2012/01/steel-thickness/

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I’m just wondering an Estimated Cost for a 50X80X16 pole barn just wondering if it’s in my budget is it 15-20 grand? 30-50 grand? 60-100 grand? Thanks BOB in ENUMCLAW

DEAR BOB: Thank you for your interest in a new Hansen Pole Building.

Hansen Pole Buildings has provided over 1000 affordable, fully engineered, custom designed post frame buildings to our clients in Washington. You are likely to find keeping with multiples of 12 feet in width and length will result in cost savings (e.g. 48′ x 84′ as an example). For an idea of potential investment please visit https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/pole-barn-prices/ This should also prove helpful reading: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2024/04/things-hansen-pole-buildings-does-better-than-any-other-post-frame-building-provider/

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am looking at a few of your barndo kits – my main question is do they come with floor plans? I don’t see the floor plan on the purchase page or are these just shells? LIZ in BARK RIVER

DEAR LIZ: We have an in-house team of floor plans specialists who can work with you to craft an ideal dream floor plan to best meet your family’s needs and budget. For more information, please visit: http://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/post-frame-floor-plans/

This entry was posted in Constructing a Pole Building, Barndominium, Pole Barn Planning, Trusses, floorplans, Building Interior, Budget, Lumber, Columns, Pole Barn Questions, Pole Barn Design, Building Styles and Designs and tagged prefabricated trusses, post frame costs, utility poles, post frame floor plans, estimated costs for post frame, pole building floor plans, floor plans, post frame columns on June 24, 2026 by Rick Ochs.

Floor Plans, Delivery to Bridgewater Maine, and Building on a Block Wall

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about floor plans offered for a design in Florida, the costs to deliver to Bridgewater Maine, and if a structure can be built on a block wall foundation.

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Just curious if I draw a rough drawing of how I would like the lay out of the barndo I would like to build can I get someone there to draw my plans according to how I want my layout to be? And if so what would be the price in doing that? I am located in northwest Florida Bonifay Florida 31425 zip code to be exact. ERIC in BONIFAY

DEAR ERIC: We have floor plans specialists as part of our team. They will work with you to craft your absolute perfect ideal dream barndominium. Full details are available here: http://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/post-frame-floor-plans/

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hi do you deliver to Bridgewater Maine and what are your delivery fees. Thank you. GARY in BRIDGEWATER

DEAR GARY: Hansen Pole Buildings has provided hundreds of affordable, fully engineered, custom designed post frame buildings and barndominiums to our clients in Maine. All quoted prices will include delivery to your site. Our logistics team is very efficient in keeping transportation costs to a minimum. https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2024/11/hansen-pole-buildings-getting-it-there/

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: What if I have a concrete foundation with 2 rows of block. CHRIS in TIPTON

DEAR CHRIS: In most instances, if your foundation is adequate, we can provide ICC-ESR approved dry set anchors to mount columns to your block.

This entry was posted in Pole Barn Questions, Post Frame Home, Pole Barn Design, Barndominium, Constructing a Pole Building, Pole Barn Planning, Concrete, Budget, Columns, Pole Barn Homes and tagged post frame brackets, post frame floor plans, post frame materials delivery, Maine building, brackets on block foundation, floor plans, Post brackets on June 10, 2026 by Rick Ochs.

Condensation, Floor Plans, and Planning a House

This Wednesday the Pole Barn Guru discusses condensation issues in a metal pole barn a reader would like to convert to livable space, floor plans for a new post frame residence, and the steps to take to plan and build a new post frame house.

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I just purchased a property with a metal pole barn on it. It has a concrete floor and is not insulated. I want to finish part of it off to make living space. Currently condensation will form on the bottom of the roof and I obviously can’t have that over my living space. Planning to frame out the portion I’ll use for living space, install kraft faced batt insulation and then drywall over that. Not planning on any additional vapor barrier on walls. Once I build the ceiling I plan on using blown insulation. How do I address the condensation/moisture issue from the roof in the most economical way possible and do I need anything additional on the walls? The cement floor seems dry enough but I don’t know if there is a vapor barrier underneath, how can I know if it’s dry enough and if it’s not what should I do? Thanks so much!! MARK in UNDERWOOD

DEAR MARK: You can easily check your concrete slab for a vapor barrier – place a wrench on floor overnight, next morning remove wrench and if a dark spot is seen where wrench was placed, you have no vapor barrier. If so, seal slab with a high quality sealant (here is an example https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2018/11/siloxa-tek-8505-concrete-sealant/).
For you roof, best solution is two inches of closed cell spray foam applied directly to underside of your roof steel. If you create any dead attic spaces, make certain they are well ventilated, ideally at eave and ridge.

On exterior walls, since you have no Weather Resistant Barrier (Tyvek or similar), I would recommend using rock or mineral wool insulation (https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2013/03/roxul-insulation/) as it is unaffected by moisture. Install a well-sealed clear poly vapor barrier between wall framing and drywall.

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Do you do 6 bedroom Barndo’s? I’m looking for a 6 bed, 4 bath barndominum floor plan. I have an idea of what I like in my head but 6 bedrooms one story are difficult. HEATHER in CLEBURNE

DEAR HEATHER: We can provide any number or bedrooms and bathrooms, as every barndominium Hansen Pole Buildings provides is 100% custom designed to best meet the wants and needs of our clients and their loved ones. Please see #3 here to assist in determining needed spaces and approximate sizes, and to have professional floor plans and elevation drawings produced affordably.

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I would like to build a 20 foot wide x 40 foot long pole barn house in Fredericktown, Ohio. Do you know if the local building department would give a permit for a residential pole barn house, & what are the steps to obtaining that permit, who to call, & etc.? I’m at the beginning of that building process & would like to begin this summer. Thanks. RENEE in MOUNT VERNON

DEAR RENEE: Here is some information you may find useful in getting started: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2021/02/a-shortlist-for-smooth-barndominium-sailing/
You will need to contact your local Planning and Zoning office to begin with. You can look up appropriate office (depending upon your actual Township/Village/City) at www.KnoxRegionalPlanning.com. This should get you what you need to know from them: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2020/01/your-barndominiums-planning-department/
Many jurisdictions do have minimum square footage requirements for dwelling, so you may be forced into more than your desired 800 square feet. You may also want to investigate building 24′ x 36′ as it is more efficient for materials usage.

If anyone tells you a fully engineered post frame home cannot be erected in their jurisdiction, get from them a copy of any approved ordinance to confirm (usually there is not one) and if it does exist, get it to me and I will go battle for you for free (I win 99% of these).

In many smaller communities, Planning, Zoning and Building Departments are a “one stop shop”. Here is what we will need from your Building Department: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2020/08/building-department-checklist-part-i/ and https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2020/08/building-department-checklist-2020-part-ii/