This Wednesday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about whether or not a 30 year old building correct snow load, the possibility of clear spanning scissor trusses to eighty feet, and assistance with the replacement (or repair) of a window in a Hansen Building from 2014. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: How do I figure […]

Rubble Trench Foundations for Post Frame Homes? My social media friend and loyal reader TRENT in NAMPA writes: “Hi Mike, Ii would like your thoughts on some foundation ideas I have for post frame homes. The main purpose I am trying to achieve is to have perimeter concrete at the base of the building while […]

Post Frame on a Rock Pile? Reader MIKE in MAINE writes: “Hello , I am looking to purchase a Post and Beam Barn kit, but I have been advised by my excavator guy that I won’t be able to set the sonotubes in the ground due to the mixture of rocks sizes at my location A […]

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about weather resistant barriers, a caution to not attempt to notch LVL rafters, and a recommended design solution for a new build. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: We are in process of designing our barndominium with hoping to start building next spring. Do you have a recommendation […]

Full Frost Wall Foundation? Reader AARON in ROSEVILLE writes: “Assuming (not yet verified) that I don’t need a full frost wall foundation for my barndo, wondering about the pros/cons for full frost wall vs pier footings in southern MN. Obviously there is the cost difference, but when it comes to building performance(in the winter), would […]

Benefits of Adding Solar To Your Barndominium Solar energy is taking off in a big way, both here and worldwide. There are around 2.7 million residential solar panels installed in the United States, and solar trends continue to grow as people become more interested in energy alternatives. If you’re considering building a post frame barndominium […]

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about the “least expensive” option for porches, the performance or ground contact poles when using a “Postsaver” and discussion of options for an airplane hangar. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Which is least expensive: house and porches under one roof or house under one roof and porches […]

Information on Codes and Shouses I have to admit it was rather flattering to have Southwest Iowa’s Planning Council reach out to me regarding information on Codes and Shouses recently. “Hello. My name is Ashley and I’m a community development specialist with Southwest Iowa Planning Council out of Atlantic, IA. I am currently working on […]

Can no Longer Afford Spray Foam for a PEMB Loyal reader CINDY in TYLER writes: “I had a steel building (20×18)  built with steel frame and metal exterior. This is going to be my house. It will have a loft that is half the size of the building. Originally the builder talked me into spray […]

This Wednesday the Pole Barn Guru discusses foundation for a uneven ground with 4-5′ “fall” in the back, granting three wishes, and recommendations for building/footing/slab. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hey thank you for time. I am wanting to build a 50×100′ shop. I have uneven ground and about a 4-5′ fall in the back. What […]

Can I Turn an Existing Pole Barn into a Barndominium? Reader MICHELLE in GALLATIN writes: “Hi Mike, my name is Michelle and I live in Nashville Tennessee. I am under contract on an existing pole barn (30′ x 60′) that I am going to turn into a Barndominium. (Picture attached) Today we had the structural […]

My 22 Year-Old Morton Building Roof Leaks Reader TERRY in EVANSVILLE writes: “Dear Pole Barn Guru, we have a 1989 Morton building. The roof was replaced in 2000 due to flaking and peeling paint. Since then, the headers over our large north and south doors have deteriorated, and the barn is leaking on the entire […]

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about the use of a hard-sided (polycarbonate) frame, how thick a concrete pads has to be to house an RV, and insulation options for a vacation home. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Can a pole structure be built as a hard-sided (polycarbonate) frame 20 feet wide, without […]

Tube Framed Metal Buildings Tube framed metal buildings are framed with hollow metal tubes. Most tubes are square, but round and rectangular are also options. They typically have steel siding mounted horizontally as they do not have wall girts to allow for vertical siding installations. Tube framed metal buildings do have some advantages. They are […]

Polesaver™ Sleeves Premature decay of pressure preservative treated wood columns is a frequent source of discussion in social media. In all reality, properly pressure preservative treated wood is likely to outlast anyone alive on this planet. For extended reading, please see https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2020/09/pressure-treated-post-frame-building-poles-rot/ Author’s note: I have not personally used this particular product and this article […]

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about building a house on a hill lakeside, building a slab on grade instead or embedded posts due to rocky soil, and use of dry set brackets. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hey. We have a lot on the lake that is on a hill (not super […]

Installation Guidance on Truss-to-Post Connections Originally Published by Frame Building News May 24. 2022 This article series has been focused on installation best practices as it pertains to long-span metal-plate connected wood trusses in post-frame buildings. We’ve explored the reasoning behind why truss handling on the jobsite should be minimized, and how proper jobsite storage […]

The following article first appeared in JLC (jlconline.com) Q: Recently I needed structural design values (E, Fb, Fv) for treated southern yellow pine.  According to the Southern Pine Council’s (southernpine.com) latest design values, SYP’s E (modulus of elasticity) and Fv (allowable shear stress) remain constant, while F (bending strength) values grow smaller as the lumber […]

Today’s Ask the Guru blog answers reader questions about building on a slope, a recommendation for gable end exhaust fans, and setting trusses into columns. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I always see pole barns being built on level ground. is there any reason my concrete slab, perimeter board, and exterior grade can’t slope 1/4″ per […]

Fireblocking and Firestops Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designer Rachel was recently quoting a project for a governmental entity where the contractor requested her to include all provisions for fireblocking and firestops. This led to my deep dive into International Building and Residential Codes (IBC and IRC respectively). Both have established a means to control fire spread […]

Do You, or Anyone Else You Trust, Build In or Near (fill in the blank)? This question was put forth by reader TARILYNN in FREEDOM. It (or a similar variant) also gets posted roughly 10 to 20 times daily in various social media groups. I spent most of a decade as a registered General Contractor […]

An Innovation to Attach Tops of Interior Walls Roof and/or floor trusses should not be fixed attached to tops of non-load bearing interior walls. In a previous article, I discussed a possible solution to this challenge (please read: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2016/01/attaching-interior-walls-to-trusses/). Those brilliant engineering type folks at Simpson may just have invented a better mouse trap for […]

This Wednesday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about the use of radiant floor heat for a post frame building, post treatment that will not rot, and whether or not button staples can be used for housewrap on a post frame house. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am researching my build. I wanted to […]

A Truss Raising Challenge STEVE in ST. MARIES writes: “My question is about raising my trusses. I bought my building package when prices were rapidly rising, not knowing how high they would go. I was only able to afford a third of the building I wanted, but I had the engineer design it so I […]

Inspecting an Existing Barndominium Reader STEPHANIE in BATES CITY writes: “We are in the process of buying an existing barndo and will be finishing it out with additional living space. The barndo was built by the current owner, along with his dad, 13 years ago.my question comes from a discovery during inspection on Monday. The […]