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Gable Venting, Building “Installation” Included, and a “Livable” Barndo?

This week readers “ask the Guru” about how to best vent gable ends of a structure with no overhangs, if Hansen includes “installation” with purchase of a kit, and Mike asks if these barndos are “livable.”

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am working on a 30’x40′ pole barn that has no eave overhang/vented soffit. I am planning to renovate the barn for a customer of mine and want to make sure I order/install the correct gable end venting. Please let me know if you have any information regarding the project to make sure I best serve my customer! Let me know if you need any more information regarding the barn. Thank you! PEYTON in TRAVERSE CITY

DEAR PEYTON:

• R806.2 Minimum Vent Area. The minimum net free ventilating area shall be 1/150 of the area of the vented space. Exception: The minimum net free ventilating area shall be 1/300 of the vented space provided one or more of the following conditions are met:

1. In climate zones 6, 7 and 8, a Class 1 or 2 vapor retarder is installed on the warm-in-winter side of the ceiling.

2. At least 40 percent and not more than 50 percent of the required ventilating area is provided by the ventilators located in the upper portion of the attic or rafter space. Upper ventilators shall be located no more than 3 feet below the ridge or highest point of the space, measured vertically, with the balance of the required ventilation provided by the eave or cornice vents. Where the location of wall or roof framing members conflicts with the installation of upper ventilators, installation more than 3 feet below the ridge or highest point of the space shall be permitted.

• R806.3 Vent and Insulation Clearance. Where eave or cornice vents are installed, insulation shall not block the free flow of air. A minimum of a 1 inch space shall be provided between the insulation and the roof sheathing and at the location of the vent.

With 1200 square feet, if you vent ridge with at least 231 square inches of NFVA, but no more than 288 square inches, you can use gable vents to provide an air intake so total gable and ridge NFVA is 576 square inches (these values being bare minimums). Beware of gable vents as their actual physical dimensions are far greater than their NFVA.

 

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Is installation included in kits? NICOLE in BRIGHTON

Hansen Buildings Construction ManualDEAR NICOLE: Hansen Pole Buildings is America’s leader in providing fully engineered, 100% custom designed, post frame building and barndominium kits, with multiple buildings in all 50 states. Your new building kit is designed for the average physically capable person, who can and will read and follow instructions, to successfully construct your own beautiful building shell (and most of our clients do DIY – saving tens of thousands of dollars – need a builder, we can probably help you there too https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/builder-terms-conditions/). We’ve had clients ranging from septuagenarians to fathers bonding with their teenage daughters erect their own buildings, so chances are – you can as well! Your new building investment includes full multi-page 24” x 36” structural blueprints detailing the location and attachment of every piece (as well as suitable for obtaining Building Permits), the industry’s best, fully illustrated, step-by-step installation manual, and unlimited technical support from people who have actually built post frame buildings. Even better – it includes our industry leading Limited Lifetime Structural warranty! We would appreciate the opportunity to participate in your new pole building. Please email your building specifics, site address and best contact number to our Design Studio Manager Caleb@HansenPoleBuildings.com 1.866.200.9657 Thank you.

 

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Are these barndos livable? MIKE in BETTENDORF

DEAR MIKE: Absolutely they are! I built my first one in 1990 as a combination ADU/Garage/Office and it has been in use continually now for 36 years! My most current personal one was built nearly 20 years ago, has 8000 finished square feet on two levels plus a mezzanine (it includes a basketball half-court and two elevators). Tens of thousands of barndominiums are now being built every year in America. We have provided them to clients in nearly every state.

This entry was posted in Constructing a Pole Building, Pole Barn Planning, Shouse, floorplans, Alternate Siding, Building Interior, Budget, Lumber, Pole Barn Questions, Pole Barn Homes, Pole Barn Design, Building Styles and Designs, Barndominium and tagged , , , , , , , , on by .

Foundation Requirements, Matching Siding, and Building Stability

This week readers “ask the Guru” about the type of foundation the “Brantley” model requires, designing siding to match existing house, and whether or not the post frame buildings are “stable enough” to drywall, and add electrical, plumbing and finishes.

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: What type of foundation and footings does the Brantley model barndominium 32’x30’x20″ with attached 16’x30’x20′ SKU: 2818123 require? JENI in BORING

DEAR JENI: Thank you for your interest in a new Hansen Pole Buildings’ barndominium/shouse.

As pictured, this model (as well as all models available) is designed for a foundation system consisting of our proprietary 3000f glulaminated columns, embedded in ground roughly 40 inches, with bottom 16 inches of this being encased in concrete. This is a highly affordable and DIY friendly method of installation. As an option, we can also provide this with columns above a concrete slab on grade, utilizing Code compliant, wet-set brackets attached to concrete piers or a thickened edge slab.

 

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I live in a neighborhood where any exterior building erected has to match your house in like kind and quality. I live on 6.5 acres, my house is around 3400 SF 2 story with brick covering around 60% and 40% is vinyl and shake vinyl. I can have a metal roof because I have metal on covered porch and a pool house. So, my question is what are the sides of these buildings made of and would I be able to brick around the bottom and then use vinyl siding and shake siding to get it to match my house? I appreciate your time. Many thanks, CHRIS in GREENVILLE

DEAR CHRIS: Fully engineered post frame buildings can be designed to accept any type of siding materials. We would typically take materials we provide through walls being sheathed with Oriented Strand Board covered with an Omni-Directional Water Resistant Barrier. We can incorporate a brick ledge into your design, so no worries.

 

Untitled design – 1

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Once the building is put together, is it stable enough for a contractor to put sheetrock walls, electrical, plumbing, and also kitchen. Also, how big do the buildings come. I’m looking for a 900 to 1200 square foot. Thank you. NONINA in CLARKSVILLE

DEAR NONINA: Our post frame homes (aka barndominiums) are engineered to meet strict International Residential Code (IRC) specifications for deflection, making them “stiff” enough for finishes such as sheetrock. As all our buildings are 100% custom designed to best meet your wants and needs, any size is a possibility.

This entry was posted in Building Styles and Designs, Pole Barn Homes, Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure, Barndominium, Pole Building Siding, floorplans, Footings, Vinyl Siding, Building Interior, Budget, Pole Barn Design, Columns and tagged , , , , on by .

Supporting Drywall in Post Frame Construction

Loyal 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 to support drywall?
I am still curious about the proper finishing of the interior or perimeter walls, but I can see you spoke much to deflection and making sure the building was engineered to withstand natural forces.
All this said, I am close to Fort Wayne, IN, and was curious if you offer and service this far away, or if you have knowledge of a reputable company that has tacked post frame residences.
The design we have in mind is quite simple, as we are really only looking at post frame due to the simple fact we could have half (or more) of our house completely open.
We like the idea of having our kitchen, dining, entryway, and living room all part of one open space.
Thanks for the great info on the site, and good luck in your future projects!”

Mike the Pole Barn Guru writes:
Thank you very much for your kind words, they are appreciated. If we are able to inform and entertain you then our mission has been successful.

Even if one decided to stud frame to support drywall (there is a one-step framing method for exterior walls: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2017/08/bookshelf-girts-insulation/) there is a huge savings to be had from post frame construction (https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2011/10/buildings-why-not-stick-frame-construction/).

For interior walls – they can be studwall framed and since they are not supporting a roof load, they can be placed wherever you desire (or large portions can be left open). In our own post frame home, 3/4 of our floor plan is wide open without interior walls. Our home happens to be entirely on a second floor, and given the challenges of accessibility I normally encourage clients to keep their home designs on a single level and for comfort and ease of living construct them over a crawl space.

We provide post frame homes in every state in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii – so Indiana almost feels local!

One of our Building Designers will be in contact with you to further discuss your needs.

This entry was posted in Pole Barn Questions, Pole Barn Structure, Building Interior, Pole Barn Homes and tagged , , , on by .

Building Houses, Siding Options, & Construction

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Do you build houses from the ground up? ERIC

Hansen Pole Buildings GuesthouseDEAR ERIC: We are not contractors, so we do not build anything for anyone anywhere. Our post frame building homes are designed for the average person who can and will read instructions to successfully construct their own home – even without the help of a contractor! We will design specifically to meet with the requirements of your site and your needs and budget in mind. Our system provides the structure – what holds your house up, allowing you to place interior non-load bearing walls anywhere your heart fancies. We can design for full or partial basements, concrete slab on grade or crawlspace applications. Homes may be on a single level, or multiple levels up to and including three stories above grade.

Basically – if you can dream it, we can design and provide it.

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I need to know what type of wood the board and batton siding is.  Cedar?  What kind of cedar?  I can’t find specifics on the materials list or my project site.  Thanks. TRISHA in MEAD

Hansen Buildings TaglineDEAR TRISHA: The rough sawn T1-11 panels are typically either a Southern Yellow Pine or Douglas Fir facing. The 1x for battons and corners is most usually Western Red Cedar.

 

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am buying a timber frame barn kit. Can you erect this building and contract the construction? STEPHEN in MIDDLETOWN

DEAR STEPHEN: We provide post frame (pole building) custom designed kit packages. We are not contractors in any state, so no – we cannot erect your building or contract the construction.

 

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