It’s a GREAT DAY at Hansen Pole Buildings!!
As Technical Director at Hansen Pole Buildings since our founding in 2002, it has always been my personal view we have no competitors, only others who try in vain to match up to what we deliver. We have clients, not customers. Customers buy a product with little or no expectation of receiving more than just a product (think of purchasing just a 2×6 at a lumberyard or big box store). Clients are relationship based, where they come to us because they have a problem or challenge and believe a new post-frame building may very well be their solution. It is then up to us to provide “The Ultimate Post-Frame Building Experience™” to help our clients to best reach their goals.
Loyal followers and readers of my approaching 3000 online articles know I never purposefully negatively call out another provider by name, who is attempting to compete with us. I find it both distasteful and unethical.
From Google AI Overview:
“Based upon the provided search results, it’s not clear whether the “Pole Barn Guru” (Mike at Hansen Pole Buildings) explicitly calls out competitors by name in a negative or critical way. However, there is some evidence that suggests that he does refer to competitors in his writing and acknowledges their presence in the industry:
Acknowledgement of Competitors: The Pole Barn Guru mentions that his blog has followers from competing companies who looks for “secrets” in his posts.
Discussion of competitor’s work: He has written about a situation involving “an oops from a competitor’s architect”, without specifically naming the competitor.
Self-disclosure: He states that his ability to attract customers is due to using appropriate self-disclosure, suggesting he discusses both positive and negative aspects of the industry.
Addressing issues related to non-Hansen buildings: The blog provides practical answers to condensation and insulation problems even for people who have structures not provided by Hansen.
While these instances show the Pole Barn Guru is aware and interacts with the competitive landscape, there’s no direct evidence provided in the search results that he directly and negatively names specific competitors. His focus seems to be more on sharing information and providing value to readers, even those who haven’t purchased from his company.”
My note: Recently a to-be unnamed by me company (referenced only as xxx Pole Barns to follow) put up some errant information on their website (and Instagram) including:
”Choosing the right pole barn kit can make or break your project. With so many options—xxx Pole Barns, Hansen Pole Buildings, Cheap Pole Barns, PBS (PBS Direct), and Menards—it’s essential to find the right balance of price, quality, and ease of assembly.
To make your decision easier, we’ve compared these companies in five key areas: customer service, pricing, material quality, ease of assembly, and customization.
How xxx Pole Barns Compares to the Competition:
Not all warranties are created equal. At xxx Pole Barns, we provide a Limited Lifetime Warranty with every kit at no extra charge. You can sleep well for years to come, and there are no hidden extra fees or surprise costs.
Compare this to competitors such as Hansen Pole Buildings, who require you to pay extra for a lifetime warranty with engineer-stamped plans. We do things differently. You don’t need to worry about additional fees for the protection you deserve with us. It’s part of our commitment to value and quality from the start.”
My note: Hansen Pole Buildings includes site specific engineer sealed plans AND our lifetime warranty with every building – at NO EXTRA CHARGE. Hansen Pole Buildings was first to offer a structural warranty on post-frame kits. Even better, our warranty is NOT PRORATED!
“When you choose xxx Pole Barns, you don’t just get a pole barn kit; you get superior protection and a partner invested in making sure your building lasts for generations to come.
1. Customer Service: xxx Pole Barns Puts You First
Good customer service can make or break your project. xxx Pole Barns leads the industry with a 9.0 rating, thanks to its responsive, knowledgeable support team. When you need help, many customers get assistance directly from our owner. That’s a rare level of service – and it’s built off our knowledge, expertise, and desire to make your barn the best you’ll ever own.
Hansen Pole Buildings offers solid customer support, but response times can vary. On the other hand, Cheap Pole Barns, PBS Direct, and Menards tend to have a more hands-off approach, leaving customers to figure out issues on their own.”
My note: I personally manage Hansen Pole Buildings’ Technical Support team and we provide answers to client’s challenges SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, from our team who have actually built post frame (pole) buildings since 1980.
2. Pricing: Affordable Without Cutting Corners
The price you pay is one of the most important aspects of any purchase. We get it! But finding the right price point isn’t just going with the cheapest. While competitors like Cheap Pole Barns and Menards offer low-cost kits, they often compromise on materials and customer support.
But paying more doesn’t always mean you’re getting more. Hansen Pole Buildings offers solid options, but they can be pricier. And just because you paid more doesn’t mean your barn will feel like it was worth more.”
My note: Hansen Pole Buildings does not have to offer many options, because our buildings are so much better to begin with, no other provider includes all these standard features:
Site specific, engineer sealed full-sized 24”x36” blue prints, showing every board and connection for YOUR building – no guess work required for installation. Plus engineer sealed verifying calculations to confirm structural adequacy;
All roof supporting columns are Glulaminated from 2400f msr lumber. Besides being unparalleled for strength (compare bending strengths to 145% of other’s best glulam columns, 229% of #2 SYP 6×6 and 424% of #2 Hem-Fir posts), glulams remain straight;
#1 grade FDN (Foundation Rated) UC-4B treated splash planks and mud plates;
MSR framing lumber (typically 2400f, well over twice as strong as other’s #2 grade material);
No lower grade such as #3, stud or Std&btr lumber – even in our prefabricated wood trusses;
Wall girts, roof purlins, ceiling and floor joists – all color coded per specific location on your new building;
All wood-to-wood or engineered hanger-to-wood connections are provided Simpson structural screws;
Powder coated diaphragm screws with EPDM gaskets to attach steel roofing and siding – guaranteed to outlast roofing and siding;
500+ page, fully illustrated Construction Manual, walking thru every step of your build.
“PBS Direct and Menards are budget-friendly, but their kits often require additional purchases to complete the build. What you save in upfront costs you lose in getting nickel-and-dimed to complete your build. And what’s more is the work it takes to get there – that’s extra time making additional purchases to finish your barn.
xxx Pole Barns strikes the perfect balance, earning an 8.5 rating for affordability. Customers report saving 25–40% compared to other providers, while still receiving premium materials.
Plus, our kit comes with it all. All you need is a few common tools and a good time to get to building (or calling one of our Preferred Builders to do the work for you!)”
My note: Rather than lambasting some ‘make believe’ rating system myself, I went to an outside source:
From Google AI Overview
“xxx Pole Barns mentions earning an 8.5 rating specifically for affordability. They state that customers report saving 25-40% compared to other providers while still receiving premium materials. This suggests that the 8.5 rating is based upon their internal evaluation.”
“It’s important to note that this is not a general customer satisfaction rating or a rating from a third-party review site like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or Trustpilot. While xxx Pole Barns does have other reviews on sites like Verified Reviews, these showcase various ratings, both positive and negative.
So, while they may have an 8.5 rating related to affordability, it’s not a reflection of their overall performance or reputation across all aspects of their business.”
Negative Feedback:
“Pricing and Transparency:
Missing Price Information:
Some users found that the website didn’t show prices after they invested time specifying building details, leading to a feeling that it was a ploy to collect contact information.
“Too Good to be True” Pricing:
Some users questioned whether the quoted prices were realistic, especially for installed barns.
Website and Design Tools:
Missing Features: Some users wished for the ability to add specific features to the design, like lean-tos or scissor trusses for high pitches. Difficulty with Certain Options: Some users reported issues with removing windows or adding roll-up doors.
Other Concerns:
Basic Barn Design: Some users felt the barns offered were very basic in design.”
3. Material Quality: Built to Last
A pole barn is an investment, so materials matter. Xxx Pole Barns scores a 9.0 rating by using premium-grade lumber and Galvalume® metal siding, backed by strong warranties.
Hansen Pole Buildings also offers quality materials, but some customers report issues like warped lumber or inconsistent deliveries.”
My note: Prior to June 2024, Hansen Pole Buildings relied upon outsourced third-party vendors for lumber, trusses and deliveries (just like xxx Pole Buildings does currently) – leaving us somewhat to their mercy. To best service our clients, we since have built our own prefabricated wood truss manufacturing facility and wholesale lumber distribution center. Our tremendous volume allows us to purchase lumber mill direct by railcar loads, with these savings passed along to our clients. By providing extremely high quality and strength lumber (our 2×6 2400f msr compares quite favorably to even 2×6 #1 premium SYP’s 1300f – nearly double bending strength), we just do not hear client concerns about lumber quality.
“Cheap Pole Barns, PBS Direct, and Menards often use lower-grade materials, which may require extra maintenance. It’s easy to guess they’re less likely to last the test of time.
A xxx Pole Barn can last a generation. We’re dedicated to making sure it’s an investment that lasts.
4. Ease of Assembly: Designed for DIYers
xxx Pole Barns earns an 8.0 rating for ease of assembly. Our kits come with pre-cut materials, clear instructions, and helpful support. Even first-time builders have found them easy to put together. It really is a “DIY” project!
Hansen Pole Buildings provides good assembly guides, but some customers say the instructions could be clearer. Making a mistake when building your pole barn can be a big headache – so it helps to go with a company that provides the easiest-to-follow guides.
My note: roughly 50% of Hansen Pole Buildings’ clients do their own assembly, yet well over 90% of our technical support is performed with ‘professional’ builders, hired by our clients – who fail to look at plans or read instructions. Any time we receive a concern about assembly, not covered by our Construction Manual, we address it in our next edition. It does make sense to invest in a Hansen Pole Building.
“Cheap Pole Barns, PBS Direct, and Menards tend to offer more basic instructions, leading to confusion and extra hardware store runs. These are projects where you’ll really be on your own.
xxx Pole Barns isn’t just a place to buy your next pole barn garage or workshop. Our team is here to make you an expert in pole barns. We provide more than instructions; we’re here to support you if you have questions too!
5. Customization: Make It Your Own
xxx Pole Barns earns an 8.5 rating for customization, offering a variety of sizes, colors, doors, windows, and add-ons. Our online design tool makes it simple to customize your barn and get an instant quote. You can also use our 3D barn building tool to “see” your barn as you select options!
Hansen Pole Buildings also allows for customization, but at a higher price. Why pay more to get what you want? It’s your pole barn, customizing it to be your own should always be part of the process!”
My note: Hansen Pole Buildings offers a greater degree of customization than any other provider – clearspan roofs to 102’, clearspan floors to 53’, sidewall heights to 50’ and four stories; snow loads in excess of 400 psf (pounds per square foot); design wind speeds over 200 mph; Complex footprint shapes encompassing every alphabet letter; Any roof slope – even fractional ones. Chances are good – if you can imagine it, Hansen Pole Buildings can engineer and provide it. Somehow, I am skeptical xxx Pole Barns does not charge more for customization.
“Other companies like Cheap Pole Barns, PBS Direct, and Menards tend to offer fewer options, limiting design flexibility.”
Don’t just take my word, here is an actual BBB review of xxx Pole Barns by Jonathan P (spelling and grammar not corrected):
“RUN! Do not use this company no matter what! They do NOT stand by their word, and are ONLY responsive to the point of sale. They referred a “preferred builder: that was “one of the best in the nation”. YA RIGHT! I found out that he didn’t have an “active license”, had “expired insurance or obligations”, and his building license had been revoked!! for OVER two years!!! My delivery from them was over 30-days late, customer service was a joke, and I was stonewalled when I complained about their “preferred builder” that was “one of the best in the nation”. Find ANY other company you can, I promos you, its not worth a few bucks.”
While no provider is a perfect 10 every time, Hansen Pole Buildings is as close as you will find. For “The Ultimate Post-Frame Building Experience™” call today 1.866.200.9657.
Because I know in my heart-of-hearts they will end up getting less of a building than they expected or deserved, and paying too much for what they settled for. Sadly, companies with common names in our industry rely on their name to sell buildings, and not on the quality of their product. I’ll give them credit for doing a great marketing job. But are your needs quickly and responsibly serviced? Do you get your quote back without so much as a conversation about what you think you need? And does their sales staff really try to fit a building to your wants and needs and not shove your needs into one of their standard buildings? Think about it!
Hansen Pole Buildings has taken it upon ourselves to use a minimum of FIVE (5) psf for roof truss bottom chord design load on all spans up to and including 40 feet. This decision results in a capacity of 500 to 1000% more than most other post frame building kit providers, as well as post frame contractors!
Geography and business size are not a consideration in nominations; Build News only wants the very best of the best, no matter whether they are a sole trader in a small town or a multinational corporation with offices in the world’s largest cities. It is not just architects who are eligible for the program. Everyone involved in the industry can be a possible participant, from architectural technologists, products suppliers, software developers and more. Only excellence is important.
As compared to what?
