Category Archives: Pole Barn Planning

Waste Farmland or Pole Barn Variance?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/12/2013
Waste Farmland or Pole Barn Variance?

Let’s Waste More Good Farmland It has been awhile since I got off on a good rant. My belief is a person should be able to do whatever they want with their property, as long as the value of your neighbor’s property is not degraded by it. The less government interference, the better. I live […]

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Pole Building Kit Packages: Part 4 of Cycle Series

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/18/2013
Pole Building Kit Packages: Part 4 of Cycle Series

Further Down the Highway Author’s Note: This is part 4 of a series of blogs written from a 6500+ motorcycle trip from WA to Ohio and back.  See Blog from Oct. 15th for the beginning…and hang on for the ride! I am the curious sort. I enjoy finding out how other people do things, as […]

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Solar Panels and Fire Fighting

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/10/2013
Solar Panels and Fire Fighting

We receive more and more requests from clients who want their pole building roofs designed to support the weight of solar panels. While solar panels are a favorite of those who are trying to “exit the grid” and the “green” folks, they pose never before found threats to fire fighters. Fire fighters may suffer electrical […]

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Paying It Forward: 1 Day Ranch

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/26/2013
Paying It Forward: 1 Day Ranch

As many of you readers know, Hansen Pole Buildings has a policy of assisting 501(c) (3) organizations. If you are not aware, here is an earlier post which explains how we can assist: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/blog/2013/08/charitable-organizations/ Most of North America was touched by the tragic tornados which devastated the Moore, OK area earlier this year. Companies such […]

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Nested T Hangars

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/24/2013
Nested T Hangars

For those of you who have been following my blogs the past 2 days on T hangars, there is a variant of them known as the nested T.  By nesting the tail sections into the center of the structure, the over-all length of the hangar is reduced enabling the same amount of aircraft to be […]

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Comfortable Bonus Rooms

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/11/2013
Comfortable Bonus Rooms

More and more we have clients asking for their new pole buildings to be designed with bonus space above which can be later turned into a finished “bonus room” (my home office is in exactly one of these spaces). Done right, this bonus room can be a cozy addition; done wrong, it can be chronically […]

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Larger Aircraft Hangars

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/10/2013
Larger Aircraft Hangars

Not everyone wants to conform to the rigid (and in some cases minimalistic) requirements of a “residential” (according to the Building Codes) airplane hangar. While a bit more work, a Building Permit can often still be obtained. Some permit issuing jurisdictions are tougher than others. In the case of an aircraft hangar which does not […]

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Residential Airplane Hangars

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/06/2013
Residential Airplane Hangars

My departed ex-father-in-law Carl was a successful hop farmer in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. He and his brother each owned four-passenger Cessna aircraft, and had them in individual hangars on Carl’s farm. Carl’s well-manicured grass strip was one of over 14,000 private airstrips in the United States. While many of these are ancillary to […]

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Composite Grade Board

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/28/2013
Composite Grade Board

Typically post frame (pole) buildings have a pressure treated board at the base of all enclosed walls. Known also as a Bottom Girt, Grade Girt, Skirt Board or Splash Plank, it is a decay and corrosion resistant girt which is in soil contact or located near the soil surface. It remains visible from the building […]

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The Hole Enchilada: Electrical Holes

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/27/2013
The Hole Enchilada: Electrical Holes

One of our clients purchased two pole building kits from Hansen Pole Buildings last year. He has the first one completed (he constructed it himself), and decided to hire a contractor to complete the second one for him. The Hansen Pole Buildings Designer, Rachel, contacted him recently, to see how it was progressing. The client […]

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Pole Barns & Politics

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/14/2013
Pole Barns & Politics

I’ve been in the post frame (pole barn) industry for over three decades now, and I’ve never seen the “pole barn” used as a metaphor for anything by the mainstream media. Well, knock me over with a feather, here it is!! Now IMHO (in my humble opinion), the author doesn’t have a true grasp of […]

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IndepenDance at the Pole Barn

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/13/2013
IndepenDance at the Pole Barn

I ran across the title of this event on the ‘net and being the pole barn curious guy I am, had to find out more. This event combines several all-American things – Independence Day, a fireworks show, dancing and of course – the pole barn! Luckily very few people (as my lovely bride will attest […]

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4-H Barn

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/08/2013
4-H Barn

While the inspiration for this posting came from an article written about a 4-H Barn at a Minnesota county fairgrounds, it could speak for hundreds, or even thousands of similar livestock barns scattered in fairgrounds across America. “The century-old red wood barn stood bent with age, its rotted walls crumbling and its fractured roof ready […]

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Buildings for Charitable Organizations: 501(c)(3)

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/07/2013
Buildings for Charitable Organizations: 501(c)(3)

From time to time Hansen Pole Buildings is contacted by individuals who are looking for a “price break” for being charitable organizations. Popular examples are for helping military veterans, terminally ill children or animal rescue shelters. While the great majority of these requests seemingly are for good causes, there are so many requests and, in […]

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Engineer Designed Pole Buildings

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/31/2013
Engineer Designed Pole Buildings

Thanks to a High School Student My eldest step-son Jake, started a Facebook Group for students where he taught Physics at Lenore City in Tennessee. One of his students shared this with the group: “Three professionals, a mathematician, a physicist and an engineer, took their final test for their job. The sole question in the […]

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Eave Lights

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/19/2013
Eave Lights

For decades, the least expensive solution to bringing natural light into post frame buildings has been what is known as “eave lights”. Eave lights are typically short portions of translucent material installed usually in the upper portion of one or both eave sidewalls. Back in “the day”, opaque fiberglass (actually fiberglass reinforced plastic or FRP) […]

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Post Frame Building Purchase: Local or Global?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/21/2013
Post Frame Building Purchase: Local or Global?

Very few post frame building kit package providers service more than a very small geographic area. While this may give them an intimate knowledge of a local marketplace, how buildings are most often constructed in their area, and expectations from Building Officials – it does come with some risks. In the event their local economy […]

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Contractor Contracts

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/18/2013
Contractor Contracts

Contractor Contracts Good fences make for good neighbors. Good contracts make for good relationships between a builder and the building owner. Think about it – a contractor without a contract is just a worker and his or her word. Even the most honest person would be hard-pressed to keep track of all the conversations which […]

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Ask the Pole Barn Guru: Can I Build on Bedrock?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/17/2013
Ask the Pole Barn Guru: Can I Build on Bedrock?

Can I Build on Bedrock? Email all questions to: PoleBarnGuru@HansenPoleBuildings.com DEAR POLE BARN GURU: It looks like on two of my pole footings (24 x 36 barn) I’m going to hit bedrock about 2.5 feet down into my 4′ footing.  Is my only option to rent a jack hammer and keep chunking away at the […]

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Garage Mahal

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 06/11/2013
Garage Mahal

True confessions time (yes, I know people love it when I confess)…..I do not watch television. Gasp. When apparently popular series’ such as “Friends” and “Seinfeld” ended, I truthfully went, “Huh”? Having never seen an episode of either, the events were meaningless to me. It appears I may have been missing out on something…..the DIY […]

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Pole Building Bar: A Road Runs Through It

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/29/2013
Pole Building Bar: A Road Runs Through It

I always appreciate unique uses for a pole building. In this particular case, the building is not even one which I had any involvement in either the design or providing of, but it IS unique. Back in 2005, my friends Sheri and Larry Herberholz had an idea – it involved a pole building, alcohol and […]

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Marketing Basics: DIY Pole Building Kits

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/23/2013
Marketing Basics: DIY Pole Building Kits

The basics of marketing teach us (as suppliers of pole building kit packages) to focus our efforts on those most likely to be a customer. If implemented (which most do) the problem becomes the focus is on direct competitors rather than enlarging the pool of potential clients. Everyone becomes more worried about losing a sale […]

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Are Engineering Fees Expensive?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/21/2013
Are Engineering Fees Expensive?

Are Engineering Fees Expensive? Although many people call themselves engineers, frequently illegally, a professional engineer is someone who has demonstrated sufficient education and experience to a state licensing board through written examination. Having gone to school in an engineering discipline, graduated from an engineering program or worked for an engineer, does not qualify an individual […]

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Fire Resistance: Floor Trusses vs. Floor Joists

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 05/01/2013
Fire Resistance: Floor Trusses vs. Floor Joists

While I have used metal plate connected pre-fabricated wood floor trusses in pole buildings (including one of my own buildings at home), they are not the norm. In the construction industry, much debate has been ongoing in regards to Section R501.3 of the International Building Code/International Residential Code: “R501.3 Fire protection of floors. Floor assemblies, not […]

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Construction Freedom

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/24/2013
Construction Freedom

Most people who have ever considered construction of  any type of building in the United States have had to deal with their local jurisdiction’s Planning Department. Most of those same people may report this as being less than a fun experience. We Americans are fiercely independent, we value the ability to have the freedom to […]

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Coriolis Affect on Lumber

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 04/02/2013
Coriolis Affect on Lumber

Coriolis Affect on Lumber My oldest step-son, Jake is a very smart lad and teaches high school physics. He does his part to keep students involved, including having created a Facebook page “Mr. Roarks Science Group”. In a recent post he wrote: “One of the science “facts” I always hear is that water spins down […]

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Zip Up Ceiling

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/27/2013
Zip Up Ceiling

Zip-UP Ceiling® is the first ceiling product of its kind which has addressed what consumers want out of a ceiling system; aesthetics partnered with functionality. This is a grid free ceiling made from PVC which saves headroom, has unprecedented access to plumbing and wiring, as well as boasting an impervious to water and moisture warranty. […]

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Preventing Horse Barn Fires Part II

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 03/06/2013
Preventing Horse Barn Fires Part II

Preventing Horse Barn Fires- Part II If you missed my blog yesterday – it would behoove you to go back and pick up Part I on Horse Barn Fires.  As I mentioned –  I get Email alerts when new articles appear on line about pole barns. Sadly, far too many of them involve fires in […]

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Farm Buildings and the Fiscal Cliff

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/07/2013
Farm Buildings and the Fiscal Cliff

First – my disclaimer, I am not a tax professional of any kind. If you feel any of the information in this post may be helpful in your circumstance, please share it with your tax advisor,  The educated advice of a professional may be utilized to make an educated decision if you are planning to […]

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Made in the USA

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 02/06/2013
Made in the USA

Made in the USA? I am a member of a LinkedIn discussion group, where the question was recently posed, “What are the challenges of selling “Made in the USA” products? After three plus decades and around 15,000 pole buildings, I can count on one hand with fingers left over, the number of times I’ve heard […]

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Roof and Gutters Warming up to Ice and Snow

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/30/2013
Roof and Gutters Warming up to Ice and Snow

Warming up to Ice and Snow Ice and snow build up in pole building rain gutters and along eave lines can cause ice dams. Ice building up along roof and gutters can cause water to back up under roofing, causing serious damage to the building’s interior. In some instances, ice buildup along eaves can put […]

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Knox Box

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/25/2013
Knox Box

Before I constructed my first commercial pole building, for myself, I would have had no idea what a Knox Box  was. Prior to then, if I would have had to venture a guess, I would have assumed it was the container for Knox® Brand gelatin. A Knox-Box®, known officially as the Knox-Box® Rapid Entry System, […]

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Pre application Conference

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/24/2013
Pre application Conference

Considering construction a post frame building for commercial use? If so, many jurisdictions offer a pre application conference which will greatly ease the overall permit process, as well as providing a total view as to all of the requirements necessary to be met. Why should I go through a PAC? In my humble opinion, if […]

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Pole Buildings and Extreme Weather

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/18/2013
Pole Buildings and Extreme Weather

The nation is getting hammered by extreme weather beyond what builders imagined, leaving states and cities searching for ways to brace for more catastrophes like Superstorm Sandy. Even as they prepare for a new normal of intense rain, historic floods and record heat waves, some planners find it too politically sensitive to say aloud the […]

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Pole Barn Remodel: Bulldoze It?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/15/2013
Pole Barn Remodel: Bulldoze It?

I live in a 103 year old home most frequently referred to as, “Our Home of Perpetual Remodel”. Between this and my inherent Norwegian frugality, I’m usually the last one to recommend knocking something to the ground and starting from scratch again. When I started working on “the house” back in 1990, the first order […]

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Pole Barn Flood Insurance

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/11/2013
Pole Barn Flood Insurance

The Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 requires flood insurance to be purchased for properties in SFHA (Special Flood Hazard Areas) prior to the owners receiving any type of direct or indirect federal financing assistance. According to the insurance industry, the term “improved real estate” would be defined as a building with walls and a […]

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Planning Department Requirements

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/04/2013
Planning Department Requirements

In most parts of the United States, it will be a necessity to acquire a building permit in order to construct a new pole barn. The easy way to find out is to contact the local authorities to find out if indeed this is the case. Whether a structural building permit will be required or […]

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Round Tuit Pole Building

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/03/2013
Round Tuit Pole Building

According to Procrastinators Anonymous (www.procrastinaors-anonymous.org), procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried. Round Tuit! On the third day of 2013, among the New Year’s Resolutions of many, are to get a round tuit! Now the round tuit, is actually a fairly recent invention, arriving on the scene at the 1964 World’s Fair in […]

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Why is a Pole Building the Perfect Urban Garage?

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/02/2013
Why is a Pole Building the Perfect Urban Garage?

This reminds me of, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways….”? With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, there are so many reasons pole buildings are the solution to urban garage needs. Most urban lots in the United States are very narrow and of small footprint. More often than not, the typical lot […]

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Truss Repair? Don’t Skip this Step

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/18/2012
Truss Repair? Don’t Skip this Step

A client writes: “I recently purchased one of your pole barn kits to use as my home garage.  We have begun construction and have all the framing and the roof on.  I recently contacted my building designer about potentially getting the metal lining material for the ceiling and walls.  My designer told me that I […]

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Pole Building Using 2″ Oil Pipe

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/14/2012
Pole Building Using 2″ Oil Pipe

I recently read this in an online forum and felt compelled to share (misspellings uncorrected from original posts): “Anybody seen this done before? Have more pipe than money. I like the idea of steel poles for longevity, but not sure if they are rigid enough. Planning on 8′ spacing on the poles. 16′ walls. 20′ […]

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Pole Barn Guru Takes Issue

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/12/2012
Pole Barn Guru Takes Issue

A Nice News Story and Why I Take Issue With It From the Associated Press: “CORINTH, Miss. – A design is in hand for a proposed vegetable shed at the Farmers Market on Fulton Drive. The Daily Corinthian reports Cook Coggin Engineers submitted the design to the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors. Construction bids are […]

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Buying Pole Barn Plans: I Can Buy Lumber at Cost

Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/11/2012
Buying Pole Barn Plans: I Can Buy Lumber at Cost

A client writes: “Thank you for the expeditious quote. I was wondering if you could sell me just pole barn plans including an itemized list of materials and the step by step instructions. I have access to lumber at cost from a local mill here in the northwest. If so, I would like to edit […]

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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 […]

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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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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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