Concrete Slab Larger in Footprint Than Building Reader JAMES in SOUTHWICK writes: “I built my floor wider than the building. A mistake I know! So now I was going to screw a piece of PVC into the bottom of my bottom girt to rest on floor. Then I was going to silicon around PVC to […]

This Wednesday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about the pitfalls of trying to build a stand alone building within a steel building, drip stop use in high dust environments, and the replacement of two sliding doors in Lester Prairie. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Good evening, I’m at my wits end. We have had […]

Condensation on Inside of New Vinyl Windows Is it a bad sign if you notice condensation forms on your new vinyl windows inside? is condensation on windows bad? It isn’t a bad sign if you notice water collecting on window’s inside. But, there are a few things you can do to minimize window condensation and […]

Can Trees Cause Uneven Floors in My Post Frame Building? Tree roots can extend to soil beneath your post frame building and cause shifting leading to uneven flooring. A tree is far larger than what you can see. There is an entire extensive root system below grade, one extending for yards. Though roots are out […]

Today’s Ask the Guru answers reader questions about sue of beams for an implement storage building, a question stumps the Guru so he asks readers for help, and if a post frame building could be built with a walk-out basement. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I want to build a Implement Storage 60’ x 24’ pole […]

This Tuesday’s blog is a Bonus Ask the Guru discussing some mixed use ideas for a gallery and apartment, attaching a deck, and a flat roof design. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I’m looking for a mixed used building, Large open plan space ground floor for an art gallery and two two bedroom apartments on second […]

a BONUS PBG for Monday, May 27th — Store Front Windows, Tornados, and Texas DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I have a customer who is going to have 2×8 and 4×8 store front windows. These window frames need to be as close to the ground as possible. How do I need to build the bottom of […]

A BONUS PBG for Friday May, 17th– Roof Insulation, Column Sizing, and a Moisture Issue. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hi Mike. I built a post and beam shop and am trying to figure out how to insulate the roof on the second floor. The bents are true sawn 6×6 on ten foot centers (building is […]

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about any added features for “rain country” like western Washington, use of UC-4B pressure preservative treated columns in a high water table area, and the options of a sliding door vs a sectional overhead door in an RV storage building. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Do many […]

One End of My Pole Shed is Moving Up Reader JOEL in GULLY writes: “I have a question for you, I built a 24 x 30 foot pole shed with ten foot side walls about 30 years ago, I dug the poles down 60 inches and the building sat perfect for 25 years, then a […]

Best Residential Pole Barn Foundation with Clay Soil and High Water Table Reader BOB in MOUNT PLEASANT writes: “What would be the best type of pole barn foundation for ground that is primarily clay, and has a water table that is generally as shallow as 24″? We are looking to build a residential pole barn […]

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about insulating around outside of post piers, the hold-up distance of any non-treated lumber or wall sheathing, and if laying gravel prior to drilling and setting columns would be best order of building. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Kind of a 2 parter. I am trenching 4′ […]

Long time readers know I learn brand new things every single day. Here is today’s learning experience for me. Client JASON in LAWLER wrote to Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designer Mason: “Mason the project number that I was looking at is 20-1006F the only thing is that I want a lean to on both sides and […]

This Wednesday the Pole Barn Guru tackles reader questions about the potential wide and tall a pole building can be designed, if a pole building can be building on a slope, and how to mitigate condensation in an existing ‘horse barn’ with an open metal roof. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: How wide and tall can […]

This week the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about the removal of knee bracing to install interior ceiling and wall steel, a question about a special rake trim for a flying gable, and the possibility of adding ceiling liner panels to a structure and the need for a vapor barrier and proper ventilation. DEAR […]

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 […]

Being a Fan Fan Reader TOM in MACOMB writes: “Hello, I have a 24 x 40  pole barn built last summer. It has a base layer of 10” of sand and 4’ of crushed concrete on top. This sat exposed for several months until the building was erected,it was a wet summer. The building was […]

Today the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about building a “conventional” foundation, drainage between steel and shiplap siding, and potential moisture issues of stick built vs post frame foundations. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am building a 24X48 pole barn, but instead of using a slab, I would like to have a conventional foundation. […]

This Monday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about post frame with a raised floor use in a flood area, framing for drywall in a post frame house, and post holes full of water could be bigger soil issue. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Do you have a kit that can be used in a […]

Horizontal exterior sidings like wood clapboards, vinyl, and fiber cement have traditionally been nailed directly to underlying sheathing, typically over a water-resistant underlayment of asphalt felt or some sort of housewrap. This is still common practice, but over the past few decades, a more labor-intensive technique known as rain-screen siding has been steadily gaining ground. […]

Post Frame Home Zero Barrier Entry Over a Crawl Space Reader MARC in AUBURN writes: “I am asking what might be an odd question, but I need to ask it to see if it is even an option. Is it possible to build a post frame home with part of it having a concrete floor […]

Barndominium Building on Expansive Soils Expansive soils in many United States areas pose a significant hazard to foundations for barndominiums. Swelling clays derived from residual soils can exert uplift pressures of as much as 5,500 PSF (pounds per square foot) and can do considerable damage to barndominiums, shouses and post frame homes. Insurance companies pay […]

For many readers, you might be considering your new barndominium to be constructed in a jurisdiction without state energy requirements such as those in Washington State. Granted, Washington is a state either on the forefront, or totally out of control, when it comes to mandated energy efficiency, however fuels are not going to get any […]

A shouse (shop/house), barndominium or post frame house project may seem daunting, however by doing lots of reading, research and asking questions, an average individual can craft for themselves a home they love, tailored to meet their family’s wants and needs. Loyal reader ROBERT in OLYMPIA writes: “Hello to the Pole Barn Guru or whoever […]

In our last episode, we were escaping odors produced by mushroom people – now let us move forward to getting a clearer vision and a view from your new post frame barndominium’s windows! Once you have narrowed your choices down to a handful, ideally you can watch each site over a year’s time – as […]

Today’s Pole Barn Guru answers questions regarding Use Categories, water leaks, and matching a house due to HOA rules. DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Hi! I am trying to turn my existing barn into a wedding venue. Why am I being classified as A-2 instead of A-3? Our special use permit says we cannot exceed 300 […]

I have written previously about post frame design involving concrete slabs on grade in areas of permafrost: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2018/04/post-frame-permafrost/. Today we will venture into a land where “stilts” are a design solution. Permafrost is loosely defined as soil and/or rock remaining frozen for more than two years. Big trees do not guarantee an absence of permafrost; […]

Allow me to preface this post about a frost heaved porch with a reference to Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Holmes and Watson solved fictional criminal dilemmas with deductive reasoning. In my cases, nearly 40 years of experience (plus knowing and relying upon input from many brilliant engineers) allows me to recommend solutions with […]

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I love your site and have used your detailed instructions to start my pole building. I wish I had found your site before I started.  I was wondering if you sell partial pole building kits? I have been going back and forth to the lumber store several times a week and […]

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I have home plans for a stick build but, am interested in the savings of a Pole Home. I was wondering if you can help me incorporate our design into a pole design. Thanks ROGER DEAR ROGER: In a word – YES. Keep in mind, what we do is the structural […]

Grade is at… ANSI/ASABE S618 Post Frame Building System Nomenclature has the definition of grade as, “10.1 Grade line (grade level): The line of intersection between the building exterior and the finished ground surface and/or top of the pavement in contact with the building exterior”. On Hansen Pole Buildings’ Engineered Building Plans, grade is denoted […]

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Is concrete included in price? TRACEY in SUMTER DEAR TRACEY: No, we do not include concrete in the price and here is why: Most familiar, as well as most available is the Sakrete® general purpose High Strength Concrete Mix. When mixed per the manufacturer’s instructions, this mix affords a compressive strength of […]

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am considering using pole barn construction to add on to an existing metal building I have I also already have a 24×34 foundation were I want to put the add on. This will be a residential building. Would you recommend using drill in slab brackets to connect the post to […]

Another great and well thought out question, which is best answered at length. Dear Pole Barn Guru: The construction manual states that concrete slab floors should be poured so there is 3-3/4” of skirt board left exposed above the slab. What do you do if you want or need to have a typical slab slope toward […]

Welcome to part three of our three part series on determining the most effective building weather resistant barriers. Let’s take a look at the best weather resistant barrier choices: BETTER CHOICES While the textured housewraps listed above do a good job of keeping water off the sheathing and from entering the house, if you want more […]

Welcome to part two of our three part series on determining the most effective building weather resistant barriers. Let’s take a look at a few weather resistant barrier choices: WHAT NOT TO USE Don’t skimp on the weather resistant barrier “WRB”—either the product you use or the care you take to install it. Any WRB […]

How to Determine the Most Effective Weather Resistant Barrier for a Building With more and more post frame (pole) buildings being used for residences, offices and other conditioned buildings – weather barriers (think Housewraps) have become a hot topic. Matt Risinger wrote the article below for the Journal of Light Construction, and whilst it is […]

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” […]

It didn’t take me long to figure out a building is basically just a structural framework with control layers. Yeah, there’s also electrical, plumbing, mechanical systems, and finishes, but the heart of a building is the stuff which holds it up and which moderates the flows of heat, air, and moisture between in and out. […]

New!  The Pole Barn Guru’s mailbox is overflowing with questions.  Due to high demand, he is answering questions on Saturdays as well as Mondays. 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 […]

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” […]

Whether the backyard is large, or small, it often ends up being the target landing zone for the pole building which needs a place to be. Usually, those with large lots are at an advantage, unless huge setbacks, weird easements, or strange zoning laws mess up ideas, before they can be brought to fruition. Before […]

Decked Out Pole Buildings A fair number of post frame buildings end up with decks attached to them. We’ve designed some unique ones over the years, including a building which had a ten foot cantilevered deck across the entire end of a 36 foot wide building. My own pole building at home, has a five […]

Welcome to our newest feature: 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 blog. Email all questions to: PoleBarnGuru@HansenPoleBuildings.com DEAR POLE BARN GURU:  I have […]

Call me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the […]