Category Archives: Pole Barn Planning

Pole Building Quotes: I Didn’t Fall of the Turnip Truck Yesterday

Those of you, who have gotten pole building quotes from Hansen Pole Buildings, have recognized while our prices are not always they lowest, they are very competitive. We like to believe we always offer the best possible building value, every time.  And my words of caution when folks say we are “not the lowest” are, […]

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Pole Barn Package on Ebay

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/30/2012
Pole Barn Package on Ebay

eBay I’ve purchased things on eBay before, as have many Americans. Sometimes there are some great buys to be found, other times, not so great. While browsing today I came across, “Pole Barn Package – 36×48 – 2’ OC Rafter Placement Horse Barn Garage”. Condition is listed as new and the starting bid is listed […]

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Happy Horse Barn Ventilation

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/29/2012
Happy Horse Barn Ventilation

If common sense was common, then articles like this one would not have to be written. One of the least expensive in upfront cost is also the most cost saving, when it comes to horse health and veterinary bills. Sadly, it is most often either an afterthought, or a “never even thought of” for horse […]

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Horse Barn Blues…in the Key of E

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/28/2012
Horse Barn Blues…in the Key of E

When it comes to barns, horse owners know exactly what they want. However what they want, and what will best meet the needs of the horses and the pocketbook, are often not the same. In over three decades, I had literally thousands of requests for horse barns with living quarters incorporated. These pose a myriad […]

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Tap…Tap…Tap…Nail Guns!

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/26/2012
Tap…Tap…Tap…Nail Guns!

Tap…tap…tap…OUCH! Growing up as the son (and nephew) of six framing contractor brothers, I drove probably a few more nails by hand than the average teenager. My Dad was big on any technological improvements which allowed for more efficient use of time. As such, we were probably one of the first framing companies to use […]

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How Long Will Utility Poles Last?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/21/2012
How Long Will Utility Poles Last?

If I had a dime for every time, over the last three plus decades, I have had a potential client even bring up using old telephone (utility) poles for constructing a new pole barn, I would be retired and sitting on the beach in Ecuador now! Pole buildings are designed with the thought of being […]

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PCP Treated Poles

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/20/2012
PCP Treated Poles

I first became involved in the post frame (pole) building industry over three decades ago, in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. At the time, many of the region’s pole barn builders were buying the lumber for the pole buildings they were selling to consumers from Withers Lumber in Brooks, Oregon. The “special” thing about this […]

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Be on the Lookout for More Pole Buildings!

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/19/2012
Be on the Lookout for More Pole Buildings!

The post-frame construction market has the potential to grow to $8.9 billion by 2016, up from $6.4 billion in 2011, finds a new report by FMI Corporation, a management consulting firm in Raleigh, NC. The report predicts the residential/suburban and light-commercial markets will be the fastest growing segments of the post-frame market in the next […]

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What House Wrap is Good For

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/12/2012
What House Wrap is Good For

Over the past three decades, house wrap has become a staple feature on millions of buildings. Wrapping a wood framed building in a protective envelope is a good building practice which helps combat a building’s worst enemies: water, moisture and air infiltration. House wrap behind a building’s siding is an excellent secondary defense against the […]

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Contractor License Check: When Truth is Stranger than Fiction

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/02/2012
Contractor License Check: When Truth is Stranger than Fiction

The following includes a compilation of stories from numerous news sources. Bear with me as I share this accounting, which will come to a point by the end…of my story. Hang in here…it’s longer than usual, but well worth the read. An Oregon fugitive was arrested north of Valley City, North Dakota early morning Wednesday, […]

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Pressure Treated Posts: 1807.3.1

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/31/2012
Pressure Treated Posts: 1807.3.1

Not near as exciting as 867-5309, but this one Section of the International Building Code (IBC) is one of the most important and least understood sections. The American Wood Preservers Association (AWPA) addresses in, Section UC4 wood, which is pressure preservative treated for “Ground Contact”. The “UC” is short for “Use Class”. UC4A is for […]

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Pole Barn Security: Plan to Zombie Proof

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/29/2012
Pole Barn Security: Plan to Zombie Proof

Or how to keep the undead minions at bay…..and yes, Halloween is upon us… Prepared for a zombie apocalypse? Sure it sounds silly, but even the US Center For Disease Control (CDC) now has a page devoted to preparing for a zombie apocalypse https://www.bt.cdc.gov/socialmedia/zombies_Blog.asp  The CDC’s page mainly covers items one should have on hand […]

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Pole Building Planning: Details, Details!

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/23/2012
Pole Building Planning:  Details, Details!

When it comes to constructing a new pole building, the building owner has many details to consider. For instance, how large should their pole building be to meet the needs not only today, but in the future? What doors will best solve access and egress considerations? There is a plethora of choices for siding and […]

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Can a Pole Barn Garage be Built onto an Existing House?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/22/2012
Can a Pole Barn Garage be Built onto an Existing House?

A reader writes: “I’m thinking of building an attached garage. I know the pole barn type garages seem to be a bit cheaper and quicker to install. My question is can you attach these to the house or can you only build these separately? I live in northeast Tennessee. I am just asking if this […]

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Pole Barns: The Luck of the Irish!

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/19/2012
Pole Barns: The Luck of the Irish!

Sometimes it amazes me as to the inquiries we get. Here is just an example: “Thought I’d ask here as you guys seem to have a fair bit of experience with pole barns. I’m looking to roof an area 20 yards by 10 yards with a roof high enough to take the CR250 (his boat) […]

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Your New Pole Building…You Want it When?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/18/2012
Your New Pole Building…You Want it When?

Hansen Buildings Designer Rick shared this with me today: “Had a client call this morning almost in tears. She has decided she wants to order a building from us, however has had a hard time getting the construction quoted. All of the builders in her area, who normally construct our buildings, are too busy. She […]

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Lumber for Lunch; Why Horses Chew Wood

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/17/2012
Lumber for Lunch; Why Horses Chew Wood

Hansen Buildings Designer Randy had a client concerned about his horses chewing on the wood posts of his new pole building. My daughter, Bailey, is a professional horse trainer, so over the years we have seen more than our share of horse stalls and barns which look as though they have been mauled by an […]

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Last Chance for Farm Building Accelerated Write Off

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/16/2012
Last Chance for Farm Building Accelerated Write Off

The end of 2011 was nothing short of a “mad dash” as farmers scrambled to take advantage of the 100% “bonus depreciation” write off allowed under the 2010 Tax Relief Act. For farmers, the last chance to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime tax incentive is now! For 2012, new agricultural buildings such as pole barns, […]

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Building Valuation Data

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/15/2012
Building Valuation Data

Every six months the International Code Council (ICC) provides updated Building Valuation Data (BVD) to its members. The BVD table provides the “average” construction costs per square foot, which can be used in determining permit fees for a jurisdiction. The following building valuation data represents average valuations for most buildings.  Again it should be noted, […]

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How Does Vapor Barrier Prevent Condensation with Steel Roofing?

Condensation will occur on any surface when the surface air temperature is at or below the “dew point temperature” for an air-water (vapor) mixture. The dew point temperature is the temperature at which the air can no longer “hold” all of the water vapor which is mixed with it, and some of the water vapor […]

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The Triple Whammy: Hay Storage in a Pole Barn

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/05/2012
The Triple Whammy: Hay Storage in a Pole Barn

This story from FOX 47 News in Lansing, Michigan on September 20: “Strong winds spread a fire from a burning trash pit to a pole barn in Stockbridge Township Wednesday evening. The Stockbridge Deputy Fire Chief tells us the pit was about 40 feet from the barn. The owner called 911 around 5:45pm when he […]

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And Now…Insulation Crime!

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/04/2012
And Now…Insulation Crime!

If you didn’t read yesterday’s blog – is good to catch up as a lead-in for today – well worth the time.  In it I discussed a problem a reader had asked for tech support about an insulation issue. So today – yet another reader has written…. “I am in the process of finishing a […]

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Insulation Dilemma

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/03/2012
Insulation Dilemma

A reader writes (spelling, grammar errors included): “When I built my barn I had 2″ insulation bats put between the outside framing and the tin. The side toward the tin is just open insulation. The inside is that heavy with plastic or whatever it is. I built with books shelve perlins on 2′ centers. Thinking […]

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Building on a Sand Dune

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/28/2012
Building on a Sand Dune

The nice thing about being in the post frame building industry, is whenever one begins to believe they have heard it all….someone comes along with a scenario which had not previously be considered. Recently we were contacted by a client who wanted to construct a new post frame building – on a sand dune. My […]

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Seamless in Seattle: Rain Gutters

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/18/2012
Seamless in Seattle: Rain Gutters

I just could not resist this title. This article is not a plug for the business which actually uses this name in Seattle, it just caused a chuckle. Rather like the hair stylists, Curl Up and Dye. The main purpose of rain gutters is to protect a building’s foundation by channeling water away from its base. […]

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Entry Door: Let Me Out!

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/13/2012
Entry Door: Let Me Out!

Let Me Out The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City March 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city of New York and resulted in the fourth highest loss of life from an industrial accident in U.S. history. The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers, who […]

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Pole Buildings: Buy Local?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/05/2012
Pole Buildings: Buy Local?

Pole Buildings: Buy Local? My friend Janine recently posted this on Facebook: “I have always been big on shopping local, and when I recently was in the market for a new Garmin 910X, and intended to buy it at xxxxxx, I had several friends tell me “You can get it cheaper online”. Maybe so, but […]

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We Ran Out of Insulation

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/04/2012
We Ran Out of Insulation

Most of the steel roofed pole buildings supplied by Hansen Buildings include a reflective radiant barrier between the roof purlins and the roof steel to prevent condensation issues. Interested in more information on this product? Visit our page on the reflective radiant barrier difference. Surprisingly (or not surprisingly) very few DIY building owners ever run short of […]

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All Steel Riding Arenas

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/29/2012
All Steel Riding Arenas

A client posed this question: “We are planning to build a horse riding arena. We’ve talked with several all steel building companies. They say their buildings are going to be far less expensive than a pole building. Is this true?” Maybe, but probably not. If a very large clearspan (say 100 feet or wider) is […]

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B2 Bomber and…Overhangs?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/28/2012
B2 Bomber and…Overhangs?

Hansen Pole Buildings Designer Bob always is keeping me on my toes. He loves to propose topics for blog discussion. Today it started with: “Real rough blog topic idea… What’s the difference between this pole barn with side sheds and a B2 Bomber?” “In this case… not much. After a couple laughs, the client seems […]

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Pole, Steel or Stud Framed…What’s the Difference?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/27/2012
Pole, Steel or Stud Framed…What’s the Difference?

When it comes to low rise structures (loosely defined as having sidewall heights of 50 feet or less), most people consider one of three options – pole buildings, stud wall framed, or all steel. Stud framed (or stick built) structures are how most homes are typically built. Generally they require a great deal of excavation […]

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Pole Barn vs. Post Frame Building

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/24/2012
Pole Barn vs. Post Frame Building

Just like Olympic boxing, in one corner is “pole barn” and in the other “post frame building”. Nothing too amazing about this….until one delves in and finds out they are actually two terms commonly used for the same thing. The original pole barns, utilized round posts – basically trees, old power poles or similar. As […]

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Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/21/2012
Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating

When planning the administrative offices of Hansen Pole Buildings, we looked at the most efficient method to heat and cool a building which would have 8000 square feet of finished space. After weighing all of the options, it was determined the answer would be hydronic radiant floor heating, poured within the concrete floor. Our particular […]

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Pole and Raftered Grid Stall Barns

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/20/2012
Pole and Raftered Grid Stall Barns

So many considerations go into the proper design of horse stall barns. Having a family expert (my professional horse trainer daughter Bailey) keeps me on my toes when it comes to giving advice. One crucial component of good horse health is air-flow and circulation. Besides designing stall barns for good ventilation with air intakes (such […]

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Parallel Chord Scissor Trusses

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/15/2012
Parallel Chord Scissor Trusses

As always, I enjoy finding real life solutions to client’s challenges. One of the Building Designers, Rick, of Hansen Pole Buildings posed this to me today: “Another thing came up yesterday, got a guy that wants everything, and is on a cost crunch, nothing new there, but one item that he wants is parallel chord […]

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Construction Time: Checking into Reality

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/27/2012
Construction Time: Checking into Reality

While most Hansen Buildings clients are looking to construct their own buildings, a fair number don’t want to do the dirty work themselves. They are looking for a builder who can at least construct the building shell for them. I haven’t been a building contractor personally in over a decade. Over the past few years […]

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Concrete Guarantee

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/16/2012
Concrete Guarantee

When I was a general contractor constructing pole buildings, we provided a fair number of concrete slabs in buildings. We always guaranteed one thing – the floor will crack! Not the answer people wanted to hear, but it was the truth. Concrete may be the longest lasting and most economical building material of all time. […]

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Hiring for Concrete Finishing

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/12/2012
Hiring for Concrete Finishing

Yesterday I was having an ongoing discussion with a client about concrete finishing and his budget. From Elko, Nevada, the client was weighing whether he should hire a contractor to “turnkey” his new 30’ x 40’ pole building, or to construct it himself. In this instance, turnkey would include providing the design and materials, constructing […]

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Heels Aren’t Just for Dancing: Raised Heel Trusses

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/11/2012
Heels Aren’t Just for Dancing: Raised Heel Trusses

A raised heel truss is much like it sounds: the heel of a conventional metal plated roof truss, where the bottom chord intersects with (and bears on) the perimeter pole building wall columns and is fitted with a vertical member which literally raises the top chord of the truss. Now this is nothing new. Back […]

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Ice and Water Shield

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/10/2012
Ice and Water Shield

Steel roofed post frame buildings are not required to have ice and water shields installed beneath them (International Building Code – Section 1507.4).  However for most other types of roofing it is definitely a consideration, or even a requirement. IBC Section 1507.2.8.2 requires ice dam protection in areas where the average daily temperature in January […]

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The Perfect Indoor Riding Arena

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/05/2012
The Perfect Indoor Riding Arena

I’ve designed probably a thousand indoor riding arenas in the past three decades. One thing I have never heard from a client is – my riding arena is just too big! As I have heard my lovely bride tell hundreds of people – the cost of building is having four corners, once you have them, […]

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Indoor Riding Arena

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/02/2012
Indoor Riding Arena

My daughter Bailey is a professional horse trainer in Canby, Oregon (blatant plug for her here – https://www.baileymombtraining.com). Last weekend I watched her, and horses and riders she trains, at the TWHEAO (Tennessee Walking Horse Exhibitor’s Association of Oregon) Summer Extravaganza in McMinnville, Oregon. Own a horse or horses, ride frequently and don’t have an […]

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Engineer – It Ain’t Amtrack

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/29/2012
Engineer – It Ain’t Amtrack

I once heard an anecdotal story about a man who had a choice to stand in one of two lines – for brains, or trains. He had always wanted to be an engineer, so he picked the line for trains…. OK, so it wasn’t necessarily funny. If you’ve ever been involved with a commercial building, […]

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Woodworking Shop Planning Part III

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/28/2012
Woodworking Shop Planning Part III

If you didn’t read the last two days’ blogs, Part I and II of a three part series on how to design a woodworking shop, I’d advise you to back up a day or two and read them. To finish up on how to best design your woodworking shop… Design your building with adequate electric […]

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Woodworking Shops Part II

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/27/2012
Woodworking Shops Part II

If you didn’t read yesterday’s blog, Part I of a three part series on woodworking shops, I’d advise you to back up a day and read it, as it’s the “start” in terms of figuring out how to design your new shop. To continue… Think in terms of “workflow.” Can some of the infeed/outfeed spaces […]

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Designing a Woodworking Shop

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/26/2012
Designing a Woodworking Shop

A popular use for many of our pole buildings is for woodworking. Bob, one of our Building Designers, suggested some hints as to how to set up a woodworking shop might be a good idea for a blog. Some of our clients have the space and budget to be able to construct elaborate workspaces in […]

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Interior Walls

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/22/2012
Interior Walls

We get frequent requests from clients to not only design interior non-structural stud walls, but to also provide the materials for these walls. In a word – no. But why not? From a design standpoint, the most likely walls to be moved around are interior ones. Chances are good where the walls are planned, and […]

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Windows: Fill Them up with Gas!

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/21/2012
Windows: Fill Them up with Gas!

Recently I wrote a blog post about Low-E windows. So Mrs. Guru, being an inquiring soul, read it, and wanted to know if our windows were gas filled. Why would anyone want to fill the space between panes of window glass to begin with? Well, as air transfers heat quickly, specific gases are used between […]

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Cool Roofs

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/19/2012
Cool Roofs

I’m not talking about roofs that look “cool”. Cool roofs are the roofs which deliver both high solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Solar reflectance is the ability to reflect the visible, infrared and ultraviolet wave lengths of the sun, reducing heat transfer to the building. Thermal emittance is the ability to radiate absorbed, or non-reflected solar energy. […]

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Fibonacci does Gambrel Pole Buildings

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/18/2012
Fibonacci does Gambrel Pole Buildings

Any time my readers get to thinking I have linked every possible subject beyond reason to pole buildings; I try to one up myself. Which brings us to Fibonacci…. Leonardo Fibonacci was an Italian mathematician who lived from about 1170 to 1250. He is best known for a number sequence named the Fibonacci numbers, which […]

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Pole Barn Protection with a Rat Wall

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/11/2012
Pole Barn Protection with a Rat Wall

Several months ago one of our clients posed an interesting question to us. Her building site was to be in a small township in Michigan. When she contacted her Building Department, in regards to building, she was told all buildings required a concrete wall around the perimeter. She was concerned about the cost involved in […]

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Low E Windows

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/05/2012
Low E Windows

Being a Seattle Mariners fan (yes I know it is a scary concept), my first real introduction to Low e, was then Seattle Mariners (now Texas Rangers) relief pitcher Mark Lowe. OK, not so funny, but it does illustrate how little most people know or understand about low e windows. Traditionally most post frame buildings […]

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A New Pole Building: The World it be a Changing

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/18/2012
A New Pole Building: The World it be a Changing

You’ve shopped for a new pole building from several vendors, negotiated features and pricing and have finally ordered. Everything is clicking right along until…..you decide to change something. In the case of Hansen Buildings, we strive for quick deliveries, so we begin processing your order as soon as our client’s press the submit button on […]

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Fruit and Pole Building Comparisons

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/17/2012
Fruit and Pole Building Comparisons

Fruit…Comparing Apples to Bananas…. I received an Email this morning from a client I had been working with for some time, after he apparently did some “homework” on pole building comparisons: “First I want to thank you for your time, quotes and for clarifying several things for me. I ended up selecting xxx out of […]

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Tents are Temporary…Pole Buildings are Permanent

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/16/2012
Tents are Temporary…Pole Buildings are Permanent

I was recently researching fabric covered structures and came across an interesting article regarding tents. Now tents are expensive, not permanent and require a fair amount of maintenance. This story is from St. Louis, where officials are expected to more closely scrutinize the large tents commonly set up near downtown stadiums after one of the temporary […]

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Structural Building Design: I want….

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/15/2012
Structural Building Design: I want….

  Probably every day a client will request a specific structural feature or deviation, which is outside of what would be considered the most practical structural building design solution. These requests can range from larger poles, heavier gauge steel, to closer truss or column spacing. Today I actually had a client ask for ½” thick […]

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Fabric Buildings and Snow

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/11/2012
Fabric Buildings and Snow

The research for yesterday’s blog really got me searching on the ‘net for more information on fabric covered buildings. Having no real personal experience with them, it was time for me to be educated. Articles copyrighted by the Associated Press proved to be very informative. The company who had manufactured the collapsed Dallas Cowboy’s training […]

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Materials List: Scary Disclaimer

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/09/2012
Materials List: Scary Disclaimer

From time-to-time our potential clients will send us a quote from another provider to compare.  Often it includes a materials list. Typically this happens when Brand X is “thousands” of dollars less expensive for what is supposed to be (but rarely is) the same building size, quality and features. One such company, provides only a […]

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Small Yards, Big Building Design

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/08/2012
Small Yards, Big Building Design

As new homes have shrunk in size, so have the lots the homes are constructed on. With this the space available for detached accessory buildings (primarily garages and workshops) has shrunk with them.  When you have a 40-foot wide lot, there’s only so much room for another building. But this doesn’t mean homeowners are willing […]

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The Late Steve Jobs on Design

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/07/2012
The Late Steve Jobs on Design

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs When it comes to creating breakthrough products and services, corporate innovators can be great at designing ideas because in many ways, the creation process is the more exciting part of innovation. But a lot of hard […]

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Hiring a Necessary Evil: Wetlands Part III

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/03/2012
Hiring a Necessary Evil: Wetlands Part III

If you are knee deep in water with wetlands issues, there is one more avenue to explore before you give up your building plans, or move to dryer land.  My blogs of the past two days explore the background of wetlands, which might be good to review before reading my final thoughts on wetlands, and […]

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Help! I Have Wetlands! Part II

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/02/2012
Help!  I Have Wetlands! Part II

I know of some who have taken some drastic measures to avoid having their property classified as wetlands. This includes those who have done things such as soaking up mud puddles, after a heavy rainstorm, with towels so as to not have an inspection adversely affect how their property was used. If you have not […]

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Why Wetlands are Important

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/01/2012
Why Wetlands are Important

In the past year I have written about some fairly diverse construction issues. Today I will be discussing one which frankly, my prior knowledge of, was limited. Having provided thousands of buildings in Western Washington, I have listened to decades of prospective clients singing the blues about “wetlands” issues. Washington seems to be extremely sensitive […]

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Building Foundation Problems

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/30/2012
Building Foundation Problems

The NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) recently published an article to provide advice on the causes of structural issues. The article, “Lessons Learned From 10,000 Structural Claims”, was developed from a presentation given to the NAHB Building Product Issues Committee last September by its author, Walt Keaveny. There was some information in the article which […]

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Verifying Design Wind Speed

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/27/2012
Verifying Design Wind Speed

A client from Florida and I have been discussing wind speeds. The data we show in our system for his county was for the design wind speed to be 120 mph. Now where do we get our data? In many cases, direct from Building Departments. In other cases, we use the wind speed maps published […]

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Rigid Insulation Boards

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/19/2012
Rigid Insulation Boards

Foam boards—rigid insulation boards—can be used to insulate almost any part of your pole barn, from the roof down to the foundation. They provide good thermal resistance. Foam board insulation sheathing reduces heat conduction through structural elements, such as wood wall girts and roof purlins. There are some who would feel the best application of […]

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Climate Control and Sliding Barn Doors

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/18/2012
Climate Control and Sliding Barn Doors

One of my favorites is when new clients want to climate control their building and also choose to use sliding barn doors. If you are unfamiliar with sliding doors, they are typically made from 1-1/2” thick steel or aluminum members which are screwed together at joints and then sheathed with steel siding. The doors are […]

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Thermodynamics and Reflective Radiant Barriers Part I

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/16/2012
Thermodynamics and Reflective Radiant Barriers Part I

A reflective radiant barrier inhibits heat transfer by thermal radiation. It does not necessarily protect against heat transfer by conduction or convection.  Why do you need to know about reflective radiant barriers?  It could mean thousands of dollars saved over the years for heating/cooling, in what you choose for not only roofing materials, but more […]

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How to Design a Climate Controlled Pole Building

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/12/2012
How to Design a Climate Controlled Pole Building

When I first entered the post frame industry over three decades ago, most pole buildings were barns. Having a climate controlled building  (heating and cooling) was rarely a consideration. Modern pole buildings, serve a plethora of purposes from homes to offices, retail space to churches and everything in between. HVAC (heating, ventilating and air condition) […]

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Lofty Aspirations Part II: Bonus Room

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/11/2012
Lofty Aspirations Part II: Bonus Room

Bonus Points Steep roof slopes on many homes of the past decade have brought about a resurgence in designing for a bonus room. With a steep enough roof slope, a “room” can be created in the middle of the attic.  The height must be tall enough to be able to make the minimum ceiling height […]

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Lofty Aspirations Part I: Attics and Lofts

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/10/2012
Lofty Aspirations Part I: Attics and Lofts

Strive for a higher standing in life? For many people the way to stand taller is to include a loft in their new building. What exactly is a loft? It is a building upper story or floor directly under the roof. In many cases it is roughly synonymous with “attic”, however an attic typically constitutes […]

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Why Won’t You Check Design Criteria for Me?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/09/2012
Why Won’t You Check Design Criteria for Me?

If you had a chance to think over the weekend of why we don’t check Design Criteria for you (see Friday’s Blog), the obvious reason would be “we just don’t know where your building site is”.  This is the “down and dirty” answer. Ultimately the more specific question clients ask me is, “will you pull […]

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Why Design Criteria are Important

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/06/2012
Why Design Criteria are Important

Last October Mr. W of Park County Colorado ordered a new pole building kit package from Hansen Buildings. Just like every quotation or Invoice we prepare, it lists specifically the “Design Criteria” for his specific building. Included in this were: The Building Code and edition (every three years a new edition of the code is […]

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I Like Building Officials

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/03/2012
I Like Building Officials

For those of you who are not Building Officials, stop laughing, I am serious. Building Officials have a job – to protect those who use structures (which include buildings). In Chapter 1 of the IBC (International Building Code), under Purpose of the code, it states, “This code is intended to provide minimum requirements to safeguard […]

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Reasons for Drying Wood

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/02/2012
Reasons for Drying Wood

Yesterday I talked a bit about wood species, and hinted a more pertinent issue than which species lumber is used on a building, is that wood used should be kiln dried. For both technical and performance reasons, drying or seasoning wood is required when making glued wood products such as laminated beams, plywood, particleboard, furniture […]

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Pole Building Detailed Quote

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/29/2012
Pole Building Detailed Quote

I’m a member of several discussion groups on LinkedIn. One of them involves lumber dealers and one of the other group members posed the question, “What do other dealers do when a customer demands a detailed quote, then price-shops the quote to competing lumber dealers?” The best response I read was from Pat Smith, “I […]

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Use and Occupancy Group Classification Part II

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/28/2012
Use and Occupancy Group Classification Part II

As I said yesterday, in life, most everything is given some type classification whether it’s objective, such as motor vehicle operators’ licenses (automobile, commercial, motorcycle, etc.), or subjective, such as social status (wealthy, middle class, poor). Then there are those who are in “a class all by themselves.” My wife seems to think I fit […]

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Use and Occupancy Group Classification Part I

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/27/2012
Use and Occupancy Group Classification Part I

In life, most everything is given some type classification whether it’s objective, such as motor vehicle operators’ licenses (automobile, commercial, motorcycle, etc.), or subjective, such as social status (wealthy, middle class, poor). Then there are those who are in “a class all by themselves.” Buildings, like much of everything else, are classified, as well. There […]

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Why a Materials List is Usually Not a Good Thing

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/26/2012
Why a Materials List is Usually Not a Good Thing

One thing we have always done at Hansen Buildings, is to guarantee we have the best price, every day on any complete building kit package with equal or better features. We don’t sell materials; we provide complete buildings – all the pieces necessary to construct the building, per our plans, unless otherwise noted. Pretty straight […]

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Myth Busters and All Steel Buildings

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/19/2012
Myth Busters and All Steel Buildings

As mentioned in a recent post (last Wednesday), recently while ‘net surfing, I stumbled across some interesting reading on a website for a hybrid steel frame – wood girts and purlins building. The same website also had the benefits and/or disadvantages of all steel buildings. Again, I’ll present their information and then either agree or […]

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Construction Costs: It is Not Getting Any Cheaper

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/16/2012
Construction Costs: It is Not Getting Any Cheaper

We’ve seen prices of materials creeping up fairly steadily for the past year, and according to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the era of cheap construction materials may be slipping away. The price index for construction costs input — a weighted average of all materials used in construction, plus items consumed by contractors, […]

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The 3 Hour Post Frame Firewall Test: Part II

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/15/2012
The 3 Hour Post Frame Firewall Test: Part II

By guest blogger J.A.Hansen, owner of Hansen Buildings Where I left you yesterday was watching an inferno blazing away at 1800 degrees, 3 feet from a wood framed firewall.  This carefully monitored firewall test was carried out in a UL testing facility under strict conditions to see if a structurally independent wall made of wood […]

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The 3 Hour Firewall for Pole Buildings

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/14/2012
The 3 Hour Firewall for Pole Buildings

Guest blog by J.A.Hansen, owner of Hansen Buildings… There were several concurrent conferences with great speakers at the NFBA expo Mike the Pole Barn Guru, Eric (my business partner and President of Hansen Buildings) and myself recently attended in St. Louis, MO. The National Frame Builders’ Association website: www.nfba.org gives this description:  “NFBA is the […]

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Pole Building Price: It’s $8000 Less!

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/12/2012
Pole Building Price: It’s $8000 Less!

Saturday night….nearly 9 p.m. I know what you are thinking, it is after beer:30 and if anything I should be out listening to my step-son Adam’s band Skyline from Fargo (yes….a blatant plug for his band) play. Nope – we’re working! And the office phone rings. Now I am not certain who is playing with […]

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Hutyaharapast Szorevel: Overhangs, yes!

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/06/2012
Hutyaharapast Szorevel: Overhangs, yes!

Had you going with the title, didn’t I? Kutyaharapást szőrével is Hungarian for “The hair of the dog”. The English saying “the hair of the dog” dates back to the days of Shakespeare, and deals with curing a hangover with even more alcohol!  Similarly, I want to cure the lack of building overhangs, with information […]

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Stairway to Heaven

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/01/2012
Stairway to Heaven

Stair design and location seems to be fairly baffling. There are some general rules which, if followed, make things much easier. These are based upon the International Building Codes and there do exist some localized code exceptions (always check with your Building Official prior to building stairs). In order to keep things simple, spiral stairs […]

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Spray Foam Insulation: What’s the Stink?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/27/2012
Spray Foam Insulation: What’s the Stink?

What’s the Stink? One popular, although expensive, method of insulating pole buildings is with spray foam insulation. Besides cost, spray foam can also bring with it problems in the form of lingering odors.  These odors are coming from a catalyst in the foam, or from foam which is off-ratio, not mixed well or sprayed too […]

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The 3 Largest Non-Construction Mistakes: Pole Barn Planning

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/23/2012
The 3 Largest Non-Construction Mistakes: Pole Barn Planning

Many people have literally built their own pole buildings – from digging the holes, until the last screw is driven. Some do portions of the work themselves and hire a builder to drive the nails, while others employ a general contractor to do everything for them. Most adore their new buildings. Some are deeply disillusioned. […]

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Dial 9-1-1 for Pole Building Contractor!

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/22/2012
Dial 9-1-1 for Pole Building Contractor!

When I opened my first business, back in 1981 (yes, I am dating myself), my first regular repeat client was a fireman from Woodburn, Oregon. He was a great person to deal with, always paid his bills on time, and never complained. I’d nearly forgotten about him, until I heard the following saga from a […]

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Love, It Includes the Pole Barn

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/21/2012
Love, It Includes the Pole Barn

It may not be possible to put a price on love, but the square footage and location of where the love story takes place is a different story. Many couples take their potential partner’s “digs” (which includes the garage/shop and any other pole building) into account before entering into a relationship, according to a new study, […]

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Wood vs All Steel Buildings and Fire

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/20/2012
Wood vs All Steel Buildings and Fire

Wood. It Doesn’t Melt The steel/wood steel/wood debate, as far as building structure, seems never ending. The “all steel” building manufacturers highly tout the resistance of their heavy steel frames against fire. But just maybe, the all steel buildings are not everything they are promoted to be. I’m a member of several discussion groups on […]

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Pole Building Footings and Frost Depth

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/17/2012
Pole Building Footings and Frost Depth

“Except where erected on solid rock or otherwise protected from frost, foundation walls, piers and other permanent supports of buildings and structures larger than 400 square feet in area or 10 feet in height shall extend below the frost line of the locality, and spread footings of adequate size shall be provided where necessary to […]

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Pole Building Prescriptive Requirements

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/16/2012
Pole Building Prescriptive Requirements

In a misguided effort to make things “easier” for potential building owners and builders, some Building Departments have prescriptive requirements for non-engineered pole buildings. This means if someone walks in the Building Department door and wants to construct a pole building, as long as the building owner (or builder) agrees to build to match the […]

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Should You Invest in Pole Building Engineering…or Not?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/15/2012
Should You Invest in Pole Building Engineering…or Not?

Clients ask me, “What is the difference between your engineered and non-engineered buildings”? In the case of Hansen Buildings, the only difference is the engineered buildings have been reviewed by a professional engineer, who is registered in the state where the building is to be constructed. This review is for structural adequacy.  And, following the […]

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Rigid Foam Plastic Insulation

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/13/2012
Rigid Foam Plastic Insulation

One of the joys of what I do is I get to learn new things every day. I’ve often thought to myself, the day I stop learning, is the day I am dead. In today’s lesson….one of our clients has taken his engineer sealed plans to his Building Department to obtain a building permit. The […]

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Concrete Slab Calculations

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/10/2012
Concrete Slab Calculations

One of our Building Designers asked me the other day if a 10% “shrink factor” should be used when advising how much concrete it takes to pour a concrete slab on grade. This particular Building Designer “in a previous life” had been a building contractor.  It had been his practice to always order 10% more […]

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Fiberglass Insulation is Boring

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/09/2012
Fiberglass Insulation is Boring

Fiberglass insulation is difficult to write about. In my opinion just about everyone knows about this topic or how the product works. There just isn’t much sizzle to the topic. I would hate to work for an advertising agency or public relations firm having to write about this stuff on a weekly or monthly basis! […]

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Where is the Top of the Concrete Slab?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/08/2012
Where is the Top of the Concrete Slab?

This is not like Where’s Waldo?, or Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? The relationship of the top of a concrete slab inside your new pole building, to the grade surrounding the building is critical not only during construction, but also in the lifetime of performance of your building. Hansen Pole Buildings services […]

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Collateral Loads and Why They Matter

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/06/2012
Collateral Loads and Why They Matter

Collateral loads are additional dead loads hung from the building, such as sprinkler systems; drop ceilings, HVAC equipment, lighting etc. These are the loads which are most often overlooked or neglected in the design of a new pole building. Many times, it is just no one having made the client aware. Most building sales people […]

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Solar Panels & Shingles: Not a Marriage Made in Heaven

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/31/2012
Solar Panels & Shingles: Not a Marriage Made in Heaven

An increasing number of new pole building owners consider installing solar roofing panels in order to harness solar energy and generate electricity for their new buildings. The traditional approach was based on installing heavy crystalline solar panels on top of an asphalt shingle roof. Shingles are an oil based roofing system with a relatively short […]

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