Category Archives: Pole Barn Planning
Solar Panels & Shingles: Not a Marriage Made in Heaven
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/31/2012An 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 […]
Read moreSkylights
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/30/2012A request we receive frequently is for skylights to be installed in the steel covered roofs of our pole buildings. My first thoughts go back to a building I worked inside of over the winter of 1980-81. About 20 years old, the building had a steel roof with numerous fiberglass (actually Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic or […]
Read moreDesigning for a Bonus Room
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/27/2012One of the most asked for and least understood option for a pole building is designing for an attic “bonus room”. A bonus room is exactly what it sounds like – it is extra space, a “bonus”. For sake of simplicity, let’s think about this in the realm of only a gable style roof. A […]
Read more- Categories: Building Styles and Designs, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Attic Space, Attic, Loft Space
- 4 comments
The Foundation Design Game
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/26/2012Often our clients are comparing the costs of a post frame building against those of an all steel building. Pole (post frame) buildings with pressure preservative treated wood columns embedded in the ground include the design of the foundation in the building plans. Provided engineered building plans have been ordered, no other engineering is needed […]
Read moreCan You Buy Local from Hansen Buildings?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/23/2012We’ve all seen the buy local campaigns, but what does it really mean to buy local and what are the benefits? Hansen Pole Buildings, if anything, are logistical wizards. We source the best available products, at competitive prices, with the least amount of transportation possible. This allows you to get the most pole building for […]
Read moreWhy Steel Roofing?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/19/2012My grandparent’s lake cabin was nearly 75 years old when the cedar shake roof finally gave out in the 1980’s. With the quality of cedar shakes down and the price high (besides the dangers of a wooden roof in a forest) the solution became clear – painted steel. In the woods, the non-combustible feature alone […]
Read moreBuilding with Wood: Do It Now
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/13/2012Brookfield Timberlands of Vancouver, B.C., Canada owns over 3800 square miles of forest land in Canada (larger than the land area of Rhode Island and Connecticut combined). They are one of North America’s largest log exporters. One of Brookfield’s partners feels a timber supply “shock” is fast approaching which will lead to significantly higher prices […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Brookfield Timberlands, Canadian Wood, Wood Markets
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Nail Gun Do’s and Don’ts
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/12/2012As I mentioned yesterday (in case you missed my post), many a person has purchased a nail gun in eager anticipation of using it to save time and effort in construction of their new pole building. Inherent in any tool is the “safety first” concerns it brings along with it. Nail gun work rules and […]
Read moreMy Building Official Wants an ICC-ES Number
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/09/2012Architects, engineers and contractors can select from a plethora of building materials which often incorporate new technology and manufacturing processes. Some of these materials are formulated from substances only barely understood by scientists and chemical engineers. It was not always so. Life used to be much simpler for engineers and building code officials, back when […]
Read moreJust in Time Deliveries
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/06/2012Just in time delivery made Toyota Motors famous two decades ago. The basic premise is to have materials delivered as close to the time needed for assembly. These practices allowed Toyota to more efficiently manage inventories and the costs associated with them. By streamlining processes, they were able to get more work done more efficiently, […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Building Materials Delivery, Inventorying Building Materials
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Your New Building: Can You Build It Yourself?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/04/2012Can you really build your own pole building? In short – of course you can! For those who will look at the plans and read the directions, you will build a far better building than hiring it done. Why? ‘Cause you will follow the instructions and take the time and care with your building! As […]
Read moreOwner Built: Build it Yourself
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/03/2012Build your own garage, shop or barn in this economy? With unemployment remaining in the nine percent range and the economy sputtering along, the last few years have been less than perfect. Real estate has continued on an ugly path with no end in sight. There couldn’t have been any Americans crazy enough to act […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Building Contractor
- Tags: General Contractor, Owner Built Homes, Self-builders
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Let’s Talk Steel Thickness
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 01/02/2012Three decades ago, when I was a newbie in the pole building industry, I was working in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. One of the local roll formers was selling steel roofing and siding as 26 gauge or (as they called it) .018E. To begin with, what is a steel roll former? The process of […]
Read moreSay No to Ring Shank Nails on Steel Roofing and Siding
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/30/2011As we near the end of 2011, I’ve been browsing various websites from the pole building industry. When I first entered the post frame business in 1980, nearly everyone was attaching steel roofing and siding to purlins and girts using ring shank nails with waffle heads, with rubber washers. It only took a couple of […]
Read morePole Building Options and …Jaguars?!
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/29/2011As a youngster, I heard stories about my parents doing road races in my Dad’s Jaguar. I’d seen photos of the two of them and as a result, having a Jaguar of my own became a goal. Early in 1988, I had determined it was time for a new car. I was living in the […]
Read moreEngineered Buildings Part III: Exempt Agricultural Buildings
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/28/2011The International Building Code (IBC) is the primary non-residential United States model building code. Although the code covers all buildings, and has been adopted to varying degrees in all 50 states, most agricultural buildings are not designed in accordance with its provisions. This is because most state and local governments which adopt the IBC exempt […]
Read moreEngineered Buildings Part II: Continuous Lateral Restraint Systems
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/27/2011As I said yesterday, a properly engineered building is a fully engineered building. Either it is engineered, or it is not. I have been appalled to hear what clients feel are reputable companies tell me they sell buildings at a much lesser price if the client does not require sealed plans. My question to them […]
Read moreEngineered Buildings Part I
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/26/2011Some or all of a building collapses in a wind or snow storm. Upon examination, it is determined the building had several major weaknesses due to lacking engineering. The building owner is frustrated and angry as he truly believed he had purchased a properly engineered building. A properly engineered building, in the average client’s mind, […]
Read moreWintertime Pole Building Dreaming
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/22/2011It’s not even December and I’m already tired of pushing/shoveling snow. But strangely, there is something about the wintertime which is somewhat comforting. My wife and I live by a lake in the mountains where most folks around us retreat to the city when the snow flies. Like relatives, we happily welcome our summertime friends […]
Read moreFarm Building Tax Relief
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/21/2011Farmers who are considering building a new barn or storage shed on their property in 2012 can take advantage of a tax relief benefit which can translate into significant savings. For 2012, new agricultural buildings such as pole barns, equipment sheds, hay storage, and livestock facilities are eligible for “bonus depreciation” of up to 50 […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Pole Building, Equipment Shed, Farm Building, Farm Tax Writeoff
- 4 comments
Pole Barn Design: Horse Aisleway
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/20/2011As long as we are on the subject of designing for horses (see yesterday’s blog), we should give a little attention to something which seems “not that big of a deal”, but it really is…size of your horse aisleway. If you start looking on the internet, you will find suggestions for an 8’ aisleway, to […]
Read more- Categories: Building Styles and Designs, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Aisleway Size, Horse Aisleways, Horse Barns, Aisleway
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Horse Stalls: What Size?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/19/2011My 21 year old daughter Bailey is a professional horse trainer. She works at a riding facility in Aumsville, Oregon – near Salem. Now Dad is pretty proud of her, as she has competed with the best in Tennessee and one of her horses was a national grand champion. The road to her dream occupation […]
Read morePole Building Financing: Why it Makes Sense
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/16/2011My lovely bride and I have been putting away money so we can finish our new home – cabinets, trims and floor coverings and we’ve got it made. Now we have been saving for what, five years? At this rate, I will be dead for about forty years before I’ll have saved enough to enjoy […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Borrowing To Build, Pole Building Financing
- 2 comments
Lateral Wind Loads: The Shoebox
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/15/2011Here is an easy home activity, which will give you an idea of how buildings work. Find a discarded shoe box; remove the top and any contents. Now turn upside down on a countertop. With one hand, push gently downward on the inverted box, enough so as to limit the ability of the sides to […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: Pole Building Design, Pole Building Kit, Lateral Windload
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Planning Department Fiasco: Just Say No Part II
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/14/2011Today’s blog is a true story continuation from yesterday – so if you missed it, go back and catch up. The location is masked so as to avoid any possible retribution against the clients who were just trying to do things right. Dealing with your Planning Department can be a hurdle to overcome before you […]
Read morePlanning Department: Just Saying No
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/13/2011Just Saying No: A Planning Department Horror Story The location is masked so as to avoid any possible retribution against the clients who were just trying to do things right. Thankfully this is not how things usually go, but the Planning Department can be a hurdle to overcome before you even consider starting in on […]
Read moreArchitectural Review Board: The Dreaded ARB
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/12/2011I read a fair number of blogs relating to the construction industry. Recently one of them was talking about the proposed removal of an 80 year-old pine tree leaning precariously over their house. This resulted in a call to an arborist (on a sidebar, I have near my home a business “The Affordable Arborists”, which […]
Read moreBuilding Materials: Inventory and Inspection
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/09/2011Like many suppliers of pole buildings kits, whether “standard” or completely “custom” kits, such as ours, I’m sure I am barking up a familiar tree. What does building materials inventory involve? Let me tell you about one of my most frustrating stories first. The one which first comes to mind, in talking about inventory, is […]
Read moreIs Mini-Storage for You?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/02/2011Is Mini-Storage for You? My brother and I were pole building contractors in 1991, when we got a contract to construct 3 self-storage buildings along rural Highway 95 just north of Athol, Idaho. We’d done other work for the same client, and had met with the property owner, who was providing the financing for the […]
Read moreDon’t Get Tired, Get Roofed: Recycled Roofing Materials
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 12/01/2011Most alternative eco-friendly roofing materials, such as those which contain a high recycled content, are about three to four times the installed cost of asphalt shingles. This is a hard sell for anyone, no matter how green you want to be. There may be a reason to be optimistic for the future, however. Euroshiled Roofing’s […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: Euroshiled, Green Roofing, Recycled Roofing, Roofing Materials
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Building Site Prep: Soil Compaction How-To
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/30/2011The desired level of soil compaction is best achieved by matching the soil type with its proper compaction method. Other factors must be considered as well, such as soil compaction specs and job site conditions. Since granular soils are not cohesive and the particles require a shaking or vibratory action to move them, vibratory plates […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Building Department
- Tags: Soil Compaction, Granular Soil, Vibratory Equipment
- 2 comments
Site Prepartion Part IV: Soil Density
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/29/2011Ready to get your head deeper into the dirt? Stick with me here and I’ll explain at the end why this is so important. Here we go…. The Proctor, or Modified Proctor Test, determines the maximum density of a soil needed for a specific job site. The test first determines the maximum density achievable for […]
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Site Preparation Part III: Soil Moisture Content
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/28/2011When I think of water and soil, I can’t help but think of the Tower of Suurhusen in Germany. This one leans even more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. But it’s why it leans which interests me. Built in 1450, it probably would have never leaned, if not for changing the moisture […]
Read more- Categories: Building Department, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Soil Compaction, Proctor Test, Soil Hand Test
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Building Site Preparation Part II: Soil Compaction
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/25/2011This is day two in several where I am discussing all kinds of issues with site preparation, mostly what to do with the…dirt. So what actually is soil? Soil is formed in place or deposited by various forces of nature – such as glaciers, wind, lakes and rivers – residually or organically. The important elements […]
Read more- Categories: Building Department, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Soil Compaction, Site Preparation, Soil Settlement
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Building Site Preparation: Talking Dirty Part I
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/23/2011Caught your attention, didn’t I? Every building project starts from the same place – the dirt. In order to achieve a quality outcome, it takes a quality beginning. It’s hard to believe, but there is a lot of “stuff” to cover about dirt. Stick with me here for the next several blogs and we’ll take […]
Read moreFiberglass insulation in pole buildings
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/22/2011The best time to insulate your new pole building…is at the time of construction. There are many building features which are more easily done at time of construction, but sometimes the old pocketbook only stretches so far. At the very least, if you can prepare your building for future “additions” of features such as additional […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: Fiberglass Insulation, Batt Insulation, Fiberglass Batts
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What is BIBS® Insulation?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/21/2011I’ve personally used and experienced wonderful results with a product referred to by the trade name BIBS®. You can read more about it on the internet: www.bibs.com I know I’m going to sound like a commercial talking about how great this stuff is, but I honestly have no affiliation with the company producing it. I […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: BIBS Insulation, Blow In Insulation
- 5 comments
Metal Building Insulation in Pole Building Part II
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/18/2011If you didn’t read my yesterday’s blog – you may want to prior to reading today’s, which is the “rest of the story” on metal building insulation, commonly known as “MBI”. My first experience installing MBI was not a fun one, in any sense of the word “fun”. What no one warned us about were […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: Fiberglass Insulation, Metal Building Insulation, Steel Roof
- 2 comments
Metal Building Insulation in Pole Buildings Part I
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/17/2011It was a cold morning….and I was working on one of the first pole barns I had ever built. With the roof all framed up, it was time to install the roof steel, or so I thought. In a pile, on the ground, were bags of something white, about as large as an oversized water […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: Vinyl Vapor Barrier, MBI, Metal Building Insulation
- 4 comments
Building Insulation: Vapor Barrier
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/15/2011Insulation is one of the topics, once brought into conversation, seems to make most folks’ eyes glaze over. Many know enough to ask about R Value, and understand “the higher the better”. Or so they think. Sometimes you need to stop a minute and go back to the source of what I call “the need”. […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Insulation, Vapor Barrier, Fiberglass Insulation, Reflective Radiant Barrier
- 3 comments
Attic Access: Let me in!
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/14/2011Let me in…Let me in! A fair number of pole buildings end up with enclosed attic spaces. An enclosed attic is one where the bottom chord (lowest horizontal or in the case of a vaulted ceiling – slightly sloping) has a ceiling attached or suspended from it. In the event this is going to happen […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Attic Access, Enclosed Attic, Attic Space
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Building Colors: Unlimited Choices!
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/11/2011Yesterday I started talking a little bit about one of the hardest things to choose on a building – colors. This is one of those subjects where I feel totally out of my element, but because we get so many folks asking “what color should I choose for….?”, I feel I can share some of […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Building Colors
- Tags: Siding Colors, Pole Building Colors, Roofing Colors, Wainscot
- 2 comments
Pole Buildings: Colorize it!
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/10/2011If we are going out for an evening on the town, my wife won’t let me pick the clothes I am going to wear. While I am sure it has something to do with my inability to match colors, even I sometimes wonder about colors people choose for their pole buildings. Several years ago we […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Building Colors
- Tags: Building Colors, Siding Colors, Steel Roofing
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ACH – What is It?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/09/2011Ten years ago when we first started our internet based business, we set up an ACH option for customers to make payments on their pole building kits. I can still remember the first gal we offered payment by ACH to. From memory in talking to her son, the elderly lady who was actually paying for […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: ACH, Automated Clearing House, Check By Phone, Wire Transfer
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Pole Building Insurance
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/08/2011Today‘s guest blog is written by a fellow Rotarian of mine, Rich Wilson, who is an Insurance and Financial Services Agent for Farmers Insurance out of Coeur d ‘Alene, ID. So you want to build a pole building structure behind your home. So how does pole building insurance work? It’s always best to check with your […]
Read moreBuilding Codes: Wind Exposure C
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 11/07/2011We all know what Assume Means… Bob is a builder in Northern California. He made a request for a quote on a building recently, via the Hansen Pole Buildings website. The building he had in mind was to be 30’ wide x 80’ long. Bob told me the roof snow load was 100 pounds per […]
Read more- Categories: Building Department, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Design Criteria, Building Codes, Wind Exposure
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Extra Building Pieces: Which ones?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/21/2011One thing I’d really like to discuss is… over the years, every now and then we get folks who ask, “Why don’t you send extra?” They mean extra lumber? Steel? Extra posts? How about trusses?! Which parts of what may be over a hundred different pieces do you want me to send “extra”? How many […]
Read moreWhy Sign Up for Pole Building Newsletters?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/20/2011“So you have pole building newsletters, why should I read an online ad to BUY BUY BUY from you?” asked a client recently when I suggested he sign up. “You are exactly right, and I wouldn’t either”, I replied. “Really?” he dubiously answered. I went on to explain our newsletters are purposely designed to NOT […]
Read moreBarn Conversion: Million Dollar Homes
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/19/2011When I read this CNBC.com article, written by Colleen Kane, I immediately thought – why is it these folks aren’t just doing it the easy way? Here is a brief overview of one of the homes – a barn located in Dallas, Texas: This structure existed for its first 150 years or so as a […]
Read morePole Building Prices: There is Always Someone Who Will Do It for Less!
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/06/2011There is Always Someone Who Will Do It for Less! Over the past few days, one of the Building Designers for Hansen Buildings has been negotiating with a client on the design and materials for a building 80’ x 250’ x 20’ interior clear. This is a project with a price tag approaching $150,000 – […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Building Comparisons, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Pole Barn Prices, Pole Building Comparisons
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Pole Building Prices: How Much Per Square Foot Is It?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/05/2011I once overheard my lovely bride responding to this question with – if you make the building large enough, short enough, take off the walls, doors, and roof insulation – it is almost free! While it doesn’t quite work this simply, she does have a point. Pole buildings come with an inherent economy of scale. […]
Read moreGreen Pole Barns
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/04/2011Green building is one of the most dynamic market forces in construction today. Pole buildings are considered sustainable, but until very recently little documentation existed on the energy efficiency and the reduced impact on the environment created by pole barns. “Green building” is based on producing more sustainable buildings and is the basis for green […]
Read moreBuilding Design Solutions
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 10/03/2011Next thing you know…. One of our Building Designers, Bob, and I were sharing stories about our client’s favorite objections. You know, why they are procrastinating moving forward with their new building projects. Keep in mind, our clients usually contact us because they have a problem. Something like, “My wife/husband wants to be able to […]
Read moreMike the Pole Barn Guru: Back to Designing Pole Buildings
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/30/2011Back in the day….over a decade ago, I had a good friend who had created a website and was making a good living selling one single aftermarket engine part for Dodge pickups. Now this was back when most people did not have internet service, and those who did, got it at the crawling speed of […]
Read moreMike the Pole Barn Guru: Unemployment Line?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/28/2011I don’t think so…. Back in 2002, this was just a fledgling business. Sure, I had over 20 years of experience, but this new business meant starting over from nowhere. I had never before sold buildings primarily through the internet. Our building plans – two pages (granted they were full blueprint size at 24” x […]
Read moreUngraded lumber: Using Home Milled Timber
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/27/2011Private wood lots and portable sawmills exist in nearly every state in the United States. Over the years I have had more than one of the owners of these ask me about using rough sawn ungraded lumber in their pole barns. My recommendation, every time is…NO! If you are a private wood lot owner, I […]
Read moreBid Jobs: How Do Contractors Blow Budgets and Still Get Paid?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/23/2011How do Contractors Blow Budgets and Still Get Paid? Bid jobs are a miracle all in themselves. Usually they begin from an interested party at an organization realizing, “Hey, we need a new building”. Eventually they will get enough of their cohorts involved to reach a critical mass. One of them will then go forth […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Building Contractor
- Tags: Bid Job, Building Contractor, Change Orders, General Contractor
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Building Design: The Greatest Buildings Never Built
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/22/2011My mother used to have a saying, (watching my brother and I bandy about with many a sharp object), “it’s all fun until someone gets their eye poked out”. In her stern voice, she was simply trying to make things safe for my bro’ and me. You might have a totally sweet concept for your […]
Read moreTips for Installing Vinyl Siding
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/21/2011Considering using vinyl siding on your new pole building? Whether doing the work yourself, or hiring it done here are three helpful tips to keep in mind. Tip #1 Each piece of siding has nailing slots along the top edge. Every fastener needs to be placed in the center of a slot. Nailing on either […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Pole Building Siding
- Tags: Vinyl Siding, Face Nailing, Vinyl Siding Installation
- 7 comments
Bookshelf Girts aka Commercial Girts: What Are They?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/20/2011Bookshelf Girts aka Commercial Girts: What are they? I do a lot of blogging, not because I enjoy it (which I do) but because I am always “listening” and learning. And if there is anyone out there who I can help along the way, my fun increases exponentially. I recently came across this posting on […]
Read morePolycarbonate eavelights: Light up my Life
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/19/2011One of our Building Designers, Alan, is a former general contractor who, prior to becoming a Building Designer, had constructed about 200 Hansen Buildings in several Pacific Northwest states. This morning, he sent me an Instant Message as a client had asked if they, “could have eave lights in the roof of their building”? Traditional […]
Read moreCold Rolled Steel: Look like the Old West
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/15/2011Look like the Old West In the past week, we had two clients specifically request “rusted” steel roofing. If you have ever been to a theme park which had an “Old West” section (think Knott’s Berry Farm or portions of Disneyland), you’ve seen buildings and facades which have rusted steel roofs. Well – they did […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure, Steel Roofing & Siding
- Tags: Cold Rolled Steel, Corten, Rusted Steel Roofing
- 2 comments
Pole Buildings: D.I.Y. and Save!
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/14/2011There are few things which define American home ownership better than having a good backyard accessory pole building. Whether at your primary residence, or at the mountain or lake cabin, having the ideal space for your needs is what takes your home from “pretty good”…to ideal. While the weather is warm, having a barbeque under […]
Read more- Categories: Constructing a Pole Building, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: D.I.Y. Pole Buildings, Shop Building, Garage
- No comments
Car Hail Damage: Hitting on Hail for the Last Time
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/13/2011Spending two weeks in TN in August gave me plenty of time on my daily morning run to see all kinds of damage from hail (in April) described by my son and daughter-in-law who live there, as “the biggest we’ve ever seen”. I couldn’t help noticing the beat up siding, holes the size of baseballs […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure, Steel Roofing & Siding
- Tags: Hail Damage, Car Hail Damage, Garage, Vehicle Damage
- 1 comments
Steel Roofing: Hail, Hail the Gang’s all Here
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/12/2011A couple weeks ago I posted about vinyl siding damage due to hail storms in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. Vinyl siding was not the only thing damaged – on my four mile running loop are numerous yard signs from roofers. The roofers are replacing shingles which were damaged by the same storm. When I first […]
Read morePole Building Installation…Why my forehead is flat
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/09/2011On LinkedIn, I am a member of a builder discussion group. Recently this question was posed: “Do you use inferior products to get your bid down low or use the right product knowing you will lose the job on price?” Anthony LoCoco, owner of Traditions Home Improvement Service, LLC in Illinois responded with this answer, […]
Read morePole Building Design: Do It Right
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/08/2011Pole Building Design: Do It Right The photos above and quote below are an actual posting on a discussion website I belong to: “i got this late 60’s 102’x56′ pole barn/shelter. The poles are set 11’center squire. The purlins(nailed with 3 spikes each end)to the poles. rafters are 2×6,4′ apart,then 1×8 boards across and metal roofing […]
Read moreBuilding Codes: Constructing over minimum standards
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/06/2011‘I want to see people build past minimum (code) standards’: Mike Holmes In a June 29, 2011 copyrighted article in Postmedia News, Mike Holmes says, “Anyone who knows me knows I talk an awful lot about building code. The code is a minimum acceptable standard for the construction of a building. It’s also a living, […]
Read moreBuilding Site Access: Getting it There
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/05/2011After what has seemed like eons of planning, changes and more changes, interviewing prospective suppliers, dealing with planning and building departments…..it is done. You’ve ordered your new pole building. Time to kick back and relax until it is time to build. Think again…. Your RV, fifth-wheel, a logging truck or a manufactured home could easily […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Building Site Access, Pole Building Kit Delivery
- 1 comments
Green Lumber vs. Dry Lumber
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 09/01/2011Need a piece of lumber? In most of the United States, you get one from your local lumber yard or “big box” store and do not have a choice as to whether the lumber is “green” (moisture content of over 19%) or dry. For the most part, what is available at the retail level is […]
Read more- Categories: Lumber, Pole Building Comparisons, Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: Dry Lumber, Mold Growth, Green Lumber
- 22 comments
Construction Specifications: How do Spec Writers Decide What Products to Specify?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/31/2011Construction specifications are generally produced by architects or engineers, for governmental or NGO construction projects which are to be let out for competitive bids. Our experience shows us many of these project specifiers write in requirements for products which are either commercially not readily available, or are not practical for the intended use of the […]
Read moreWood: The Number One Green Building Material
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/29/2011There is a strong case to be made that wood is the greenest building material. But for it to really earn that title, we have to rethink how we build with it. In North America, wood construction has dominated single-family and low-rise housing; steel and concrete have dominated commercial and mid-rise residential construction. This usage […]
Read moreThe Pole Barn Guru: I Really Love What I Do
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/26/2011I Really Love What I Do How many of you can say you have been blessed to be in a career you truly love? One where you wake up every morning, excited to get to do it again? Call it luck, call it being blessed, call it anything you want….I love what I do. And […]
Read more- Categories: About The Pole Barn Guru, Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: Pole Barn Guru, Pole Barn
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What the Hail? Protecting against hail damage
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/22/2011What the Hail? I’ve been visiting my son and his wife in Maryville, TN. I used to be a competitive long-distance runner, and while I absolutely hate running, I enjoy eating whatever I want even more, so I run to eat. My lovely daughter-in-law set me up on a four mile loop to run. Those […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Structure, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Hail Damage, Homeowner's Insurance, Vinyl Siding
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ACH: You want me to Tell You What?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/19/2011You want me to Tell You What? Several years ago, we wanted to make a direct payment to one of our vendors by ACH (Automated Clearing House) direct deposit to their checking account. We explained the process to them, as well as letting them know we needed to have their bank routing information and account […]
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- Tags: ACH, Federally Regulated, Pole Building Purchase
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Buyer’s Remorse: Why We Won’t Sell You Anything
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/18/2011A New Pole Building: Why We Won’t Sell You Anything…. Have you ever purchased something, and then after the purchase wondered how it is you ended up owning it? We are not talking here about the package of Chiclets from an adorable child on a sunny beach – those types of small dollar purchases are […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Building Comparisons, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Pole Building Kit, Building Buyer's Remorse
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Buy Pole Barn Plans
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/17/2011Let’s Buy Pole Barn Plans… As I browse about the ‘net, checking out what is available in our industry, I find lots of folks who are selling plans for barns and pole buildings. Some of these are remarkably inexpensive. Now, why might buying a set of pole barn plans off the internet not be a […]
Read morePole Barns: Blazing Pole Building Prices…Honestly
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/12/2011Blazing Building Prices…Honestly You’ve been talking with someone about a new pole barn. You like the salesperson, and feel like you have built a good relationship with them. You feel they offer a good design solution, can deliver within your time frame….just one question remains. Is their price right? Here is the secret to honestly […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Building Comparisons, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Pole Barn, Building Prices, Quote Comparison
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Mega Building Clearspans; Just Put a Post in It
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/10/2011Mega Clearspan Buildings…Just Put a Post in It In my first managerial position in the roof truss industry, we worked out of an 80 foot wide by 120 foot long concrete tilt up building. This building had a row of interior columns down the middle, 30 feet on center. These three columns posed no challenge […]
Read moreBuilding Permits; Stick ‘Em Up
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/09/2011Stick ‘em Up Kim Fahey was recently convicted of a dozen misdemeanor building code infractions last month, in Los Angeles County. He faces several years in prison unless he tears down his “Phonehenge West”. Fahey said his constitutional right to do what he wants on his property is being trampled, calling that the real issue […]
Read moreNo SCUBA gear; Sit Tight Raising a Pole Barn Garage
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/08/2011No SCUBA gear; Sit Tight and Raise a New Pole Barn Garage The headline was, “Why We’re Pumped About Our Underwater Home”. It had nothing to do with physically watching the waves roll over their home – but the headline did catch my attention. Writer Laura Cone purchased her new home in 2005 for $180,000 […]
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- Tags: Add Home Equity, Pole Barn Garage
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Are We Addicted to Bad News?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/05/2011As they say in journalism, “If it bleeds, it leads”. It is important to remember the media’s goal is to capture eyeballs and all too often we are unable to turn our heads away from a train wreck. Patti Domm, CNBC Executive News Editor, recently wrote: “June’s miserable jobs report has put the fear of […]
Read more- Categories: About The Pole Barn Guru, Pole Barn Planning
- Tags: Pole Building, Investments
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Building Codes…And You
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/04/2011We as a public don’t like “being told what to do” and often balk at agencies which regulate important parts of our lives, such as how we want to design a building. However, there is a good reason they get involved. The building code is to protect public health, safety and general welfare as relating […]
Read moreWhen Less is More – Economical Buildings
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/03/2011When Less is More – Economical Buildings The beauty of pole building construction includes being very affordable and being relatively easy to build. In the affordability area – a common misconception is to construct the building as “just a roof”, with the idea of walls being installed at a later date. And this will result […]
Read moreWhy a Trained Building Designer is Your Best Teammate
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/02/2011A Perfect Throw is Useless without a Successful Catch How important is having a Team mentality? Maybe you are on a winning team now – whether it be sports, business or a personal relationship. When you are on a Winning Team, you can pretty well attribute the success to Effective Teamwork. Individual achievement is critical […]
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- Tags: Effective Teamwork, Pole Building Value, Winning Team
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Pole Barn Plans – Goin’ For A Plans Check
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 08/01/2011Pole Barn Plans – Goin’ For A Plans Check You did your homework….you have been through the hoops of your local planning department, and they have told you the dream pole building you want can indeed be constructed on your property, where you want it. After their blessing, you have stopped in at the building […]
Read moreYugo or You Go! – Making A Quality Building Investment
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/29/2011Why you can’t afford to not make a quality building investment. I am a member of a builder forum on LinkedIn. This morning, a new topic post was, “Do you use inferior products to get your bid down low or use the right product knowing you will lose the work on price?” As a professional […]
Read moreVerify, Verify and….Verify! Confirm Local Building Codes
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/28/2011Did I happen to mention verify? So, you have a problem, or are trying to reach a goal – with the solution being a new building. Now, with the solution in mind, what to do first? Call around or shop online to get a price? Wrong answer. The correct answer is to visit your planning […]
Read moreChasing Your Building Dream
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/27/2011There are lots of folks just like you who are out there chasing the steel covered building dream. You have a problem or are trying to reach a goal, which involves a new pole or steel building. Am I right? Now there are also a lot of people out there telling you it’s easy. In […]
Read moreQuonset Huts
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/26/2011You may have heard them advertised on television, radio, online and in the back of Popular Mechanics. I came across a query from a gentleman from Wake Forest, NC which included, “I have found some really good deals on the local craigslist from private individuals who have bought them and never put them up for […]
Read moreIs It Sprinkling? Benefits Of A Sprinklered Building
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/25/2011Those of you who know me well are very aware I am willing to change my mind, when sufficient evidence is provided to prove a case. Recently a fair amount of brouhaha has been generated around legislation to require fire suppression sprinkler systems in new residential construction. The International Code Council (an organization of building […]
Read moreToday’s Gambrel Barn – A Feel Good Story
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/22/2011Back in the middle of March, Darlene T. made an inquiry to us about investing in a new pole barn. Now Darlene and her husband are newlyweds, having been married for just a year. Initially, she had considered a gambrel roof style, with a loft so the kids would have a place to stay when […]
Read moreSay What? Find A Professional Contractor
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/21/2011One of the things I make myself available for is weekly individual coaching sessions with our Building Designers. In these sessions, the Building Designers can ask for advice on pole building design or features, discuss particular ongoing projects or share ideas on how to best serve our pole barn clients. Every once in a while, […]
Read moreCruising Forums: It’s Just a Pole Barn!
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/20/2011As a voracious reader, and someone who always wants to make sure they have their finger on the “pulse” of the pole building industry, I am always scouring for information and misinformation on the ‘net. I recently read the post below. I’d like to have you read through it, and then I will give you […]
Read moreThe Truth About Setting A Pole Building Budget
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/18/2011Shhhh….somebody might hear you. We want to know what your budget is for your new pole building. You know, how much do you have set aside for the building (or are planning to borrow to pay for it)? This dollar amount should be cash on hand (which you are willing to invest into your new […]
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- Tags: Pole Building Budget, New Pole Building, Pole Barn
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A Silly Extreme Example
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/14/2011I’m a voracious reader. A large portion of my daily reading is devoted to learning as much as I can about my industry and expanding my knowledge base. On LinkedIn, I am a member of the “Truss, Panel & Building Components” discussion group. One of the members, Gene Marcoux, from Florida, had postulated, “If we […]
Read moreMoving Pole Buildings – Tinker Toys or Lincoln Logs
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/13/2011“I’ve got a GREAT deal on a pole building for you. All you have to do is take it down, move it and reassemble”. Even if the price is FREE, is it a bargain or not? Let’s take a look at why this might not be such a great deal. Better check out the building […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Pole Barn Structure
- Tags: Pole Buildings, Building Framework, Building Labor Costs
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What is Steel Offloading?
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/12/2011You can save some money or save some effort…… Assuming you order a building with steel roofing and/or steel siding, these materials will most usually be delivered to your building site by the steel company. The truck which will be making the delivery is what is known as a “route” truck. A route truck is […]
Read more- Categories: Pole Barn Planning, Steel Roofing & Siding
- Tags: Steel Delivery Truck, Steel Siding Offloading
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Don’t Take a Fall
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/11/2011The night of July 26, 1988 will always stick in my mind. My cousin Amy called my home, to tell me my Dad had been killed in a construction accident. Dead at 57, my contractor father and his brothers had spent their entire lives working on buildings. In this case, my Dad was working with […]
Read moreThe Biggest Fear of Building Pole Barns – Setting Posts
Posted by The Pole Barn Guru on 07/08/2011Come on now, be honest, we all have our fears and phobias. One of the most interesting ones I have found over the years with clients is “postsetaphobia”, or fear of setting posts. This particular phobia is defined as, “the fear of being able to properly set posts for a pole building”. Fear is False […]
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