Pole Barns are unique structures. The construction method used to build them, called post-frame construction, dates back to the Great Depression when farmers began to develop less expensive techniques for building barns and other agricultural outbuildings. Since then, the building process has been infinitely refined and expanded upon, and pole buildings can now be used as everything from commercial establishments to beautiful, modern homes.

These days, landowners don’t build their own structures. Instead, they hire pole barn contractors to help with everything from design to finishing the build. Read on to find out what to expect during this process.

Step One: Clearing the Land

The first step in constructing a pole barn is to clear away trees, shrubs, and other plants and remove the top layer of soil to create a flat, stable area for the foundation. The structure can be situated on either a pier foundation or a floating slab foundation, with no need for a basement. Pole buildings set in-ground on pier foundations have less stringent site requirements and cost less than those built on slab foundations.

Step Two: Laying the Foundation

Next, the crew will get to work laying the foundation. The cheapest, easiest way to go about it is to use pre-engineered concrete footings. However, larger buildings or those built on unstable soil may need poured concrete foundations that reach below the frost line for added stability.

Step Three: Erecting the Frame

The poles for the wall should already be set in place, so erecting the rest of the frame generally consists only of installing the roof trusses. If the pole barn will be used as a house, a workshop, or another space that requires ample windows, they can usually be framed using standard two-by-fours.

Step Four: Installing the Roof

The best material for roofing a pole barn is generally accepted to be metal. However, landowners that want to use their new structures as permanent homes sometimes want a more traditional look, in which case asphalt shingles, wood shakes, or any other type of roofing material can also be used.

Step Five: Adding the Walls

As with pole barn roofing, the sides of these structures can also be made out of metal. Not only is it highly weather-proof, but it’s also inexpensive to install and looks great once the building is finished. If there will be extra windows or doors installed in the pole barn, the metal walls should arrive pre-cut to accommodate them.

Step Six: Finishing the Structure

Now that the basic structure is in place, contractors can get to work on finishing it, or property owners can do it themselves. The steps required to finish a pole barn properly vary depending on its intended use. Many property owners add insulation, and some even have their post-and-beam buildings tied to the electrical grid and water lines.

What to Expect During the Final Walkthrough?

Once pole barn contractors have finished their work, the construction supervisor will perform a final walkthrough with the property owner. At this point, everything should be in place and any mess created during the building process should be cleaned up. The property owner can expect to see a beautiful, well-crafted pole barn ready to be put to good use.

Tom Gardner