Gross Misrepresentation? Okay, so the title is a play on words – which you shall come to see shortly. Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designer Dave Gross (get it) has been discussing a post frame building kit package with a client in Washington state. The client has also gotten a quote from a company from San Antonio, […]

Why I Truly Love Competitor’s Websites When my bride and I were first married, we did the bulk of our grocery shopping at the closest supermarket – an Albertson’s. Not long afterwards, a Safeway was built across the street. My wife commented upon how this must have upset Albertson’s. To the contrary, I replied, healthy […]

One of the most surprising things about steel is that it has an expansion coefficient nearly equal to that of modern concrete. If this were not so, it would cause problems because of additional longitudinal and perpendicular stresses as the temperature changed following setting. Although rebar has ribs which bind it mechanically to the concrete, it […]

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” […]

Welcome to Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays & Saturdays.  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 […]

Hansen Pole Buildings has seen a dramatic increase in the number of post frame buildings which utilize either a partial or full second or third floor, or bonus space within attic trusses. Seemingly the average pole builder, or pole building supplier, has a limit knowledge of what is involved in the proper structural loading of […]

They say the church is not a building. It’s the people. Here is an article which addresses this very subject: https://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2015/12/after_their_church_closed_pari.html Over the years, Hansen Pole Buildings has designed and provided numerous buildings for church communities across the country. These are buildings which were purposefully designed to meet the needs of the particular congregation, from […]

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” My long time readers recognize my ability to tie seemingly […]

This is a real life message from one of our clients: “So I went to put in my foam closures today and I don’t have enough. There is a gap on both the top and bottom of the wainscoting. The building dimensions are 24’x24′. So 4 sides at 24′ is 96′ – 12′ garage door […]

Welcome to Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays & Saturdays.  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 […]

Welcome to Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays & Saturdays.  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 […]

My friend Domenick Buonamici is an American expat who lives in Ecuador. He also writes about his experiences in Ecuador. When this one passed by me, I couldn’t help but relate it to common similar mistakes we see here in the United States. I see it all the time here on the coast of Ecuador. […]

In my career, I’ve designed a plethora of wood floors for post fame buildings. I’ve never yet has a client question me about one of the things which may later seem very important – how much will my floor deflect? Post frame building buyers naturally take for granted wood floor system in a new pole […]

While it is impossible to get around the fact lumber is an organic substance, and therefore has inherent variability, it has always been used as the primary raw material of the residential construction industry. In fact, the growing reliance on the structural design properties of lumber by the US housing industry led to the development […]

I have to thank those readers who contribute questions so good, it is impossible not to share them as articles. Remodeling and repurposing  of pole barns is becoming a popular subject, as the buildings will, in all likelihood, outlive their original owners. Here is one meritorious recent submission: “Hello, I love all the information on […]

Welcome to Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays & Saturdays.  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 […]

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” […]

There are some occasions when I get asked questions which are best if shared to a wider audience than just, “Ask the Pole Barn Guru”. Here is one: DEAR POLE BARN GURU:    How important is it to have the post straight across from each other when they are on the same truss?  Is there […]

One thousand – it can be a very large or very small number, depending upon one’s perspective. For me, this marks the 1,000th blog article I have written. To put this into perspective, Tolstoy’s epic, “War and Peace” (which I confess to having never read) has about 560,000 words, in English. The blog articles total […]

This is a two part blog so if you have not yet had a chance please read yesterdays blog titled ‘The Apprentice‘. “What does have a major affect on the plans is the entire left side elevation.  I already own steel horse stall wall sections that measure approximately 11’ 11” wide by 7’6” tall so […]

A dozen years ago Donald Trump became executive producer and host of the NBC hit reality show, The Apprentice. In the show, a group of competitors battled for management positions at one of Trump’s businesses. Contestants were successively “fired” by Trump and eliminated from the game. I considered the use of Donald Trump’s catchphrase to […]

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” […]

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” […]

On a Major League Baseball team, the 25th man on the roster is the last guy on the bench. He’s usually a rah-rah guy, who is a fan favorite due to his obscurity. Generally he can play multiple positions, not very well. But when the team needs him, they need him. Inside Closures for steel […]

Flame On As a youngster Marvel Comics Johnny Storm (aka The Human Torch) of The Fantastic Four always captivated me with his, “Flame On”! In today’s world, the average person with internet access can literally “Flame On!” any business or individual. I believe in being straight upfront and honest, so I will share today. I […]