Welcome to Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays. With many questions to answer, please be patient to watch for yours to come up on a future Monday segment. If you want a quick answer, please be sure to answer with a “reply-able” email address.
Email all questions to: PoleBarnGuru@HansenPoleBuildings.com
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: We’re looking for an open air pole barn for our community gardens. We need somewhere for our gardeners to get out of the hot sun and cool off. Approx 16′ X 20′. We have someone who can build this. Any suggestions where to start? Thanks in advance. GIGI IN CLEARWATER
DEAR GIGI: As our pole building kit packages are designed for the average weekend warrior, if you have an experienced builder, construction should prove relatively pain free as long as they will look at the plans and follow the instructions.
The best place to start is to dial (866)200-9657 and one of the experienced Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designers can assist you in getting a building which will best meet your needs and fit within your budget.
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Do you one treated 25 foot pole that would used as a utility pole near Honey Brook, PA TOM IN HONEY BROOK
DEAR TOM: It would be impractical for us to get a single treated pole to you. Suggestion number one – if you can get by with a 24 foot long pole, it will be far less expensive. Suggestion number two – go to the contractor desk at your closest The Home Depot (probably Parkesburg), Monday through Friday usually between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. or so. They can get the pole you need ordered in, usually bot reasonably priced and fairly expediently.
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Can I just purchase a 45×30 foot roof kit? I have a flat roofed home I would like to cover. What would you advise? DAWN
DEAR DAWN: Chances are your roof is actually slightly sloping, not actually perfectly flat. This also means it is probably what is known as “stick framed”, it does not use prefabricated roof trusses to support the roof. Instead, it relies upon rafters, which will bear upon one or more interior walls.
To do this right (which is the only way to do it), I recommend hiring a RDP (Registered Design Professional – engineer or architect) to assess your home for the adequacy of adding a pitched roof on top of the existing structure.
Your idea is sound, however the cost may be ultimately beyond the investment you are willing to put in. I’ve seen similarly sized projects run from $20-50,000 depending upon complexity and the final design solution.
