7 things you should consider when building pole barn homes

Barn style homes are becoming increasingly popular. They are an ideal option for those who want that rustic country look. Pole barn homes don’t have load-bearing walls, which adds to their unique appeal.

In addition to being cost-effective, they are incredibly versatile and can be customized to have a more modern interior or open multipurpose feel. Here are seven things you should consider when building a barn style home.

1. Site Planning

Site planning is the first step after deciding on the type of barn you want. It involves deciding on the location, layout, and the size of the house.

All these decisions are made when drawing the plan. A good plan should take account of drainage, sunlight, and ease of access.

For instance, livestock barns should be angled to make sure air flows throughout the barn. Site planning also determines the size of the barn.

If it’s big, you risk encroaching on your neighbor’s property. Other factors, such as the gradient of the land, should also be considered during site planning.

2. The Type of Foundation

Traditional pole barn homes are built without foundations. The poles are placed directly into holes dug in the ground. The depth of the holes depends on the winds, thickness of the wall, weather, and the local building codes.

However, a barn built without foundation is susceptible to vertical movement. In other words, the building will sink over time.

Today this problem is overcome by placing concrete disks in each hole. In modern construction, the poles are anchored to a metal bracket attached to a concrete column with holes.

Alternatively, the poles can be anchored to precast concrete posts. Concrete foundations eliminate both settling and rotting of the post. However, expect to spend more.

3. Type of post

Post can either solid sawn or laminates. Solid sawn poles are logs cut sawn from a single piece of lumber. Logs are the traditional type of poles that have been used for hundreds of years.

On the other hand, Laminates refer to engineered building poles. They are made by bonding layers of wood together to form one post.

Laminates can either be cross-laminated or glue-laminated. The difference between the two is the orientation of the layers of wood. Laminated timber is more durable than solid longs.

In addition to the superior structural strength, laminates are rot-resistant. Solid sawn logs are more cost efficient, especially when building a small barn…
 
 
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