A single slope shed is the simplest kind of pole barn design, but it can serve a wide variety of functions. From a loafing shed for animals to a lean-to garage for your car to a commercial building and even a multilevel home, a single slope pole barn can be just about anything you need.
Lean-to shed kits are a popular choice for DIY builders looking for something cost-effective and easy to erect. Although construction is relatively simple compared to other designs, you’ll still need to put some thought into your plans to make sure the process goes smoothly and results in a sturdy building you’ll be satisfied with for years.
Width, Rafters, and Your Lean-To Pole Barn
Width is arguably the most important factor in the overall design of your single slope building. Since this type of building usually uses rafters instead of trusses for the roof framing, the width will determine how many materials you need and what size they’ll need to be.
If your building’s width is greater than 30’, your rafters will need to support a much larger load. As a result, your rafters or laminated veneer lumber beams (LVLs) will be longer, larger, and heavier, and therefore, more expensive. There are light LVLs that are still strong enough to hold large roof loads, but they come at a greater cost too.
Your rafters will need to span longer distances the wider your building is, especially if the roof is clearspan, meaning it has no interior supporting poles. Single slope buildings require rafters to carry the entire roof load without the extra support from webbing that trusses would have, but this won’t be an issue if the width is less than 30’. If you go up to or beyond 36’, however, you’ll need to add interior posts to your design to support the roof, which may interfere with your building’s intended purpose.
Make Sure You Have Enough Loft Space
If you’re using your single slope building for a loafing shed and want to build stalls with the poles, width may not be a deciding factor. You can easily hide poles in the walls between rooms. You may also have a sidewall with open bays that create separate spaces to store boats, tractors, lawnmowers, or other equipment.
Single slope buildings can have more than one level, but the second story won’t necessarily have a lot of storage or living space. Consider the relationship between the building’s width, the eave height, and the slope of the roof itself. If you choose a wide building with a fairly flat roof and low eave height, the space on the upper story will be limited.
The roof slope indicates how high the roof goes for every 12’ of width. Many people want a 12’-wide building with a 4/12 slope and wonder why they can’t stand up on the top level. A building with these dimensions would only slope upward 4’ at the highest point. Your building would need to be at least 16’ tall on the low side to make any loft space practical with this width and slope.
To figure out the right dimensions for your ideal loafing shed kit, draw your floor plan on a piece of paper and apply the roof slope in relation to the width and eave height. By code, you’re required to have a minimum of 7’8” space for a loft. Don’t forget stairs, either! You need adequate room for them to reach the upper level without taking up too much downstairs space, with additional room on top to enter your loft without hitting your head on the ceiling.
Get Help from Hansen Pole Buildings
If you need help designing your single slope building, call us at 1-866-200-9657. One of our design experts will listen to what you want and talk you through your options, and they can even draw you a few sketches before you get a quote on the final plans. We’ll give you as many free quotes as it takes for you to be satisfied with your next lean-to shed kit.
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