This Wednesday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about pouring a monolithic slab in Iowa, a question about columns spacing and girts sizing, and what the costs to build a garage with living quarters above might be.
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I’m building a barndominium in Iowa and I wonder if I can do a monolithic slab in a freezing area where the typical frost footing is 42″? Thank you. DAVID in KALONA
DEAR DAVID: Yes you can, by attaching rigid insulation boards vertically to inside of pressure preservative treated splash plank, with top of insulation at top of slab. Extend insulation boards down 42 inches, or down and then out to follow Frost-Protected Shallow Foundation requirements. Read more about Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations here: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2016/11/frost-protected-shallow-foundations/
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I’m looking at a pole barn design that I’d like to do, but I’m considering 10′ OC or 9′ OC post spacing rather than 8′ I’ve run the numbers for the roof and the posts, but I wanted to know if the wall girts could handle that span? Looking at 2×6 girts, any advice on how to make sure they stayed within reasonable deflection limits? Also this pole barn has interior walls, as it’s a “barndominium” so we’re looking at doing residential grade, pulling permits etc. on this project. ALAN in ST. GEORGE
DEAR ALAN: We actually provide enclosed buildings with columns as distant as every 16 foot on center. Our 3000f glulaminated columns allow us to minimize worst part of post frame construction – having to dig holes. By use of bookshelf wall girts, we can engineer to handle wind loads of 140 miles per hour or greater and wind Exposure C (far greater than most locations will ever require). We provide a plethora of residential post frame buildings every year, so are well versed with IRC structural requirements. Read more about bookshelf girts here: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2011/09/commercial-girts-what-are-they/
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: How much does it cost to get a pole barn one car garage with living quarters above fully finished out on my own property. JENNIFER in GRANDVIEW
DEAR JENNIFER: Fully engineered post frame, modest tastes, DIY, budget roughly $75-85 per square foot for conditioned spaces, $35 for all others. Does not include land, site prep, utilities, permits.
