There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about the benefits of pole barns or pole buildings. Property owners across the country love these alternatives to conventional stick frame buildings on standard concrete foundations because they’re affordable, durable, and beautiful. Property owners who are still investigating options for new construction may be wondering what, exactly, a pole barn is. Before hiring Pole Building Contractors, they can read on to get an overview of this unique building classification.
What Are Pole Buildings?
Pole buildings are constructed using a technique known as post-frame construction. They feature wood posts buried in the earth or set into concrete bases to support the load of the roof instead of stick-framed walls set on a concrete foundation. The roof is supported by trusses, which transfer the weight to the poles.
The walls are non-load-bearing, which means contractors can leave significantly more space between the poles than they would between studs in traditional buildings. These larger spaces are much easier to insulate, and since none of the walls hold the weight of the roof, property owners have nearly unlimited options when it comes to floor plans.
The Humble Origins of Modern Pole Buildings
Today, it’s very common to see pole buildings functioning as garages, commercial shops, and even beautiful residential homes. However, pole buildings come from a humble background.
During the 1930s, farmers were looking for cheap ways to build barns that could house livestock, farm equipment, and crops. They started recycling telephone poles to cut down on costs, leading to the development of post-frame construction as a means of affordable barn building. From there, specialized contractors honed the craft, finding ways to use it as an affordable building method for just about any type of structure.
Modern Uses for Pole Buildings
Today, it’s just as common to see pole buildings functioning as residential homes, garages, or even fully detached man-caves as it is to see actual pole barns. Property owners use them as large sheds, on-site storage facilities for RVs and boats, workshops, stables, and more. Once the construction process is completed, these buildings don’t look any different from traditional stick-frame structures from the outside, and the possibilities afforded by an open floor plan mean the sky’s the limit when it comes to applications.
Advantages of Post-Frame Construction
There’s a reason pole building has become so popular in recent years. They offer all the same benefits as post-frame construction, plus some. The benefits of post-frame construction include:
- Lower foundation costs
- Ease of constructing additions after the fact
- Faster construction process
- Open floor plans
- Greater structural integrity
- More affordable construction
- Incredible versatility
Property owners who want to build new homes or outbuildings without breaking their budgets would do well to consider post-frame construction. There’s really no downside.
The Bottom Line
Pole buildings may have started out as agricultural fixtures, but today, post-frame construction has come into its own in both the residential and commercial sectors. Property owners who want to learn more about this amazing construction method can get started by contacting a contractor who specializes in post-frame construction to discuss details or request a quote today.
