In the early 1980s steel covered pole buildings started to make the move from the steel panels being fastened with nails, to being fastened with screws. At the time I owned M&W Building Supply Company, in Oregon and Farmland Structures (owned by Jim Betonte) provided erection services for the clients of ours who needed to […]

Back in the day I spent a year working for the now defunct Mac Truss Company in McMinnville, Oregon. Not long after I began working with them, they decided to relocate their manufacturing facilities across town to an old machine shop. All was fine and good with the move, until the fall rains began. The […]

My lovely bride and I have been married for heading on 15 years. To some, this may seem like a lot, to my grandparents and great-grandparents (who were together for 50 years and more) – hardly a drop in the bucket. In most relationships, success (or lack thereof) is created by communication. Lots of clear, […]

Ondura® We’re always looking for new and different products to solve unique situations. One of those interesting challenges has been roofing which has Florida approvals, as most steel roofing has not been tested, so does not have approval numbers. Attractive and affordable, the Ondura® Corrugated Asphalt Roofing System is ideal for a variety of applications, including […]

After working on Eric’s self-storage pole building – I looked like I had brought a child’s play Star Wars lightsaber to a sword fight…..blood dripping down my face from being attacked by the blunt end of a flying 2×4 smacking me in my right eyebrow! Yes, safety is important, and although my hat was not […]

Eric’s storage building has 5040 square feet of enclosed area. This made for a big roof. A big insulated roof which had a reflective radiant barrier applied between the roof purlins and the steel roofing. Whatever type of insulation is chosen for this type of installation, if it is windy – it isn’t going to […]

Inside Foam Closure Strips to be exact. There are lots of little pieces involved when it comes to the assembly of a pole building, which the average lay person would have little or no knowledge of. Some of them don’t make a difference until the lack of them (or their failure to perform) becomes apparent. […]

CHALK, CHALK, CHALK As kids, we grew up as the last house before the street surface changed from asphalt paving to dirt. Unlike today’s children, whose parents can buy “sidewalk chalk” in a myriad of colors, we improvised. Whenever a new home was being drywalled near us, we would scrounge for scraps of sheetrock. As […]

Welcome to Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays.  With many questions to answer, please be patient to watch for yours to come up on a future Monday or Saturday segment.  If you want a quick answer, please be sure to answer with […]

New!  The Pole Barn Guru’s mailbox is overflowing with questions.  Due to high demand, he is answering questions on Saturdays as well as Mondays. Welcome to Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays.  With many questions to answer, please be patient to watch […]

When I was a “newbie” to the pole building industry, pretty much everyone was nailing steel roofing and siding using ring shank nails with a neoprene washer beneath the head. In theory it was all great and wonderful. In reality there were some issues: No matter how expert the hammer swinger was, there is no […]

Kynar® One word says it all – Kynar®. I could extol the aesthetic reasons to use Kynar® painted steel for longer than anyone would be willing to listen. Polyvinylidene fluoride is acknowledged as the premium resin for coil coatings. Popularly known by its original trade name Kynar®, is a PVDF resin-based coating or finish, a […]

Red, white, blue, green, gold, beige and brown. When I was first in the pole building industry, these were the color choices. While they may sound rather limited, given the palette of availabilities today – it was a huge improvement over the original color – bare galvanized! These early colors had a commonality – they […]

Every once in a while I surprise people and actually pass out some worthwhile real life scenario information. Today it is going to be a “how-to”: trimming an overhead door. Here is the picture – the client hired a contractor to construct their building and ended up completing the building themselves. The new pole building […]

In researching the paint systems applied to steel roofing and siding used on pole buildings, I came up with some interesting information. From an August 2003 story in Metal Roofing Magazine: “There are dozens of criteria and tests paints are subject to, including falling sand erosion tests, acid tests, adhesion after impact and bending, and […]

When I went off to architecture school at the University of Idaho in 1975, I needed a vehicle which would be a little better suited to the weekly commute from Post Falls to Moscow. My 1964 Datsun pickup (they were really tiny then) had been OK for motoring around town in high school – but […]

Several years ago, I had the experience of touring a steel coil coating facility in the Midwest. For folks like me who love a magic show, coil coating ranks right up there for entertainment value. Steel coil coating is a continuous and highly automated process for coating steel before fabrication. As a coil of steel […]

Before Steel Coil Can Be Coated  I think far too often we take for granted the many processes companies spend lots of time and resources (not to mention money) to give us products with features we come to take for granted.  Like making sure metal such as steel does not rust and corrode after years […]

Where Pre-painted Steel Coil Comes From At the National Frame Building Association (NFBA) 2014 Frame Building Expo were several exhibitors who paint steel coil. These coils are used by steel roll formers to create siding and roofing panels, as well as trims for pole buildings. Among these companies were AkzoNobel, Dura Coat Products, Precoat Metals, […]

Galvanization refers to the coating of steel with zinc.  This is done to prevent rusting of the steel. The value of galvanizing stems from the corrosion resistance of zinc, which, under most service conditions, is considerably greater than steel. The zinc serves as a sacrificial anode, so it cathodically protects exposed steel. This means even if […]

Don’t Itch the Scratch Back in the day (July 1988 to be more precise) I had purchased a brand new black Jaguar XJ6. This was one seriously beautiful car. The first night I took it home, it had to be parked in the driveway, as the garage space had not been rearranged to allow room […]

To a property and casualty insurance company, the roof is the most important part of your pole building. Why? Because it’s the gateway to far greater damage claims once it’s breached. “The roof is the first layer that wind, hail, wildfire and other hazards really begin to act on,” says Tim Reinhold, chief engineer at the […]

Like many things, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I recently saw a photo of a McMansion in Florida, valued at eight figures, with a galvanized steel roof. Personally, I thought it looked pretty darn nice (as did the architect, builder and home owner apparently). What got me going on this subject was […]

Oil canning is the perceived waviness in the flat areas of steel trims. Generally the “period” and “amplitude” (in layperson’s terms – the frequency and size) of the wave depends upon the continuous width of the flat part of the trim. Oil canning is an inherent part of light gauge cold formed metal products, particularly […]

The Rumors One Hears Author’s Note: This is part 8 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 suppose not every customer walks into a lumberyard fully dressed in leathers. I have […]

Dear Pole Barn Guru is normally my Monday Feature, but lately I’ve gotten backed up on questions – so in honor of Friday the 13th, am hosting an additional segment.  This is why I encourage those with questions to provide email addresses, which are used for nothing other than answering your questions. We don’t SPAM […]

In many parts of the country, a popular ceiling is to use steel liner panels. Generally the liner panels are the same rib configuration as steel roofing and siding, the difference being the panels themselves generally have little or no warranty on either the paint, or the steel themselves. As the paint is not exposed […]

There was a time when all barns were sided with wood. A drive around any rural countryside will confirm this; old wood covered barns are seemingly everywhere (although not necessarily in great condition, as wood requires maintenance). As galvanized corrugated steel became more readily available, as well as affordable, the pendulum swung away from the […]

Eric, one of the owners of Hansen Buildings, was chattering with me today about the number of interesting telephone calls he fields. Many of these are probably due to this blog, as well as “Ask the Pole Barn Guru” – the weekly advice column for those with pole building questions, concerns, or who just are […]

What Type of Screws Should I Use? Email all questions to: PoleBarnGuru@HansenPoleBuildings.com DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Screws.  I have used the common hex-head with steel/neoprene washer many times in the past.  I have had some of them rust, and over the 16 years one building has stood many of them now appear loose, washers not […]

How to Clean a Steel Roof Welcome to our newest feature: Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays.  With many questions to answer, please be patient to watch for yours to come up on a future Monday segment.  Email all questions to: PoleBarnGuru@HansenPoleBuildings.com […]

Roof Replacement – Steel Roofing Insured thunderstorm losses are much higher than they have ever been, and there is no sign they will return to lower levels any time soon.  Moreover, the current state of the insurance industry—from the focus on heavy marketing to standard replacement cost coverage on roofs—exacerbates these losses, creating a real […]

The questions, comments and concerns never seem to end in my profession. Part of what helps to keep things interesting for me after more than three decades. Today a client asks: “I would like to see what the credit would be to omit the steel siding. the red rust really bothers me so I am […]

Welcome to our newest feature: Ask the Pole Barn Guru – where you can ask questions about building topics, with answers posted on Mondays.  With many questions to answer, please be patient to watch for yours to come up on a future Monday segment.  Email all questions to: PoleBarnGuru@HansenPoleBuildings.com   DEAR POLE BARN GURU:  Will […]

Largely excerpted from an article in “Metal Roofing” on March 13, 2013 by Jim Austin Roofing battles Mother Nature’s most physical and visual weapon    Metal roofing stands up to the forces of nature as well as or better than any type of roofing material. When it comes to roofing, Mother Nature doesn’t play favorites when she unleashes […]

My first exposure to Galvalume ® was when ASC Pacific introduced “twice-the-life” Zincalume in the 1980s. They were marketing the product in its bare (unpainted) form as an alternative to the more familiar bare galvanized sheet steel. It looks similar to galvanized steel, but the visible crystals (or spangle) are smaller and close together, giving it […]

Hansen Pole Buildings Designer Rick recently asked me this question about overhangs and F Channel: “A question came up about soffit support.  The client is a builder trying to close a garage for his client.  He asked about soffit/enclosed overhangs.  He asked why we do not use an F channel trim to hold the soffit […]

For those of you just joining Mike the Pole Barn Guru’s Blog – Mondays are now “Ask the Guru” where you can submit construction and building product questions for Mike to answer in upcoming Monday segments of this blog.  If it is a topic Mike is not well versed in, or a new product he […]

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 […]

Thanks to Google, I get Email alerts when new articles appear on line about pole barns. Sadly, far too many of them are from online versions of newspapers and involve fires in horse barns. Usually, but not always, these fires were entirely preventable. My daughter Bailey (https://www.baileymombtraining.com/) is a professional horse trainer and she would […]

In 2005, Hansen Pole Buildings supplied a new pole building kit to a client in Hernando, Mississippi. He opted not to construct his own building, instead hiring a builder who had constructed several of our buildings. Recently, the client called to ask some questions about his building – specifically who the manufacturer of the steel […]

When the problem isn’t the problem…. Two recent fires in Chautauqua County, New York involving steel roofs have raised a potential problem for firefighters. Fire officials say the durable material used in roofing is becoming more common as building owners turn to alternative options. However, as highlighted with recent blazes in Sinclairville and Westfield, N.Y., […]

Considering repainting steel panels? Steel roofing and siding is designed to provide decades of maintenance free use. There are cases where clients feel the need to change colors, which can be done, following the process outlined below for repainting steel panels. Any building panel surface to be repainted must be prepared and treated properly to […]

I read lots of online forums where people discuss issues with their pole buildings. One all too common complaint is their roofs “drip”. For these people, they saved a few dollars when their buildings were built, by making no provision to control condensation from forming on the underside of the building’s roof steel, only to […]

There are some days when I feel as if I have become the “Dear Abby” for everyone else’s pole barn problems. So many of these problems could have been easily avoided, and at a relatively low cost, at time of construction. A reader writes: “I have a Morton pole barn that really sweats this time […]

One of the beauties of post frame (pole barn) construction, is they are very forgiving during construction. A virtual plethora of errors can be made, and overcome, leaving a fine looking and well-functioning building. There is one error, which is one of advance planning rather than installation skill, which is not so easy to rectify. […]

As Holidays are for family – today I am spending it with….my lovely bride in Ecuador! Sometimes you just gotta get away – and relax!  As is my habit, I take holidays “off” from writing, so today is a “rerun” of a blog…usually one which had a high readership.  This one had over 10,000- so […]

When the temperature and humidity conditions reach the dew point, moisture can condense on the underside of steel roofing. This condensation has the potential to cause water damage and other problems inside of pole buildings. Some of the Hansen Pole Buildings steel suppliers are now offering an internationally patented CCM (Condensation Control Membrane) which can […]

One of the Hansen Buildings team members happens to have more than some expertise in the lumber industry. Recently, he had a client ask him about T1-11 as siding, and he shared his response with me. What he wrote was so well done, I felt compelled to share it. Here it is: “I will share […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Steel roofing has many benefits, some obvious, some not so obvious – until faced with a potential disaster! Besides the ease of installation, it is durable, attractive, energy efficient, lightweight, recyclable and versatile. It will withstand deep snows, high winds and…it is fire resistant. The relevance and importance of fire resistance was recently spotlighted on […]

Just in case I have never mentioned how much I appreciate the questions posed to me by Bob, one of the Hansen Pole Buildings’ Designers, I will do so here. Bob writes, “I got into a discussion with a gentleman in Kansas that liked our design approach (post spacing, double interior trusses, purlins on edge, […]

Once again, we hop in the “Way Back Machine” and visit what to some might be viewed as ancient history. Sometimes in life – to know where we are, it is important to know where we came from. After selling my first post frame building business, M & W Building Supply, to Jim Betonte in […]

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. […]

Rachel is one of the Building Designers at Hansen Buildings. This afternoon she sends me an Instant Message.  Here is how it went: Rachel: “Want to hear a new one?” Me: “Always” Rachel: “This customer talked to a local builder about 29 gauge steel and the builder said… Me: “Drum roll please” Rachel: …..”Miller makes […]

 Yesterday’s blog featured a discussion of the various foam board products with application for your new pole building.  Used correctly, they provide good thermal resistance. Applied incorrectly can create a huge structural problem with pole buildings, along with safety issues. Protect all types of foam  insulation from direct sunlight. Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet rays […]

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

If I had a nickel for every time a client has asked me the question, “Can I walk on my steel roof”? I would have several rolls of nickels! My initial thought is always one of, why would anyone want to walk on their roof to begin with? But the answer to the question is […]

Yesterday, I was contacted by one of our clients who invested in a new Hansen Pole Building back in 2008. While his inquiry was about re-roofing his building using shingles, the real issue is – his steel roof is leaking! Properly installed, a threw-screwed steel roof should never, ever leak. So, what exactly would be […]

My 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 […]

Three 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 […]

As 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 […]

Seeing as it’s Friday, I’ll give you a “shorty” today.  At the beginning of this year my bride and I visited a horse barn facility in Florida we sold fall of 2010.  This was a huge building and although our programs calculate just over a 5% overage cushion for screws, we really went heavy on […]

Look 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 […]

Spending 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 […]

A 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 […]

Roof Leaks: Where does condensation come from? When the weather turns cool in the fall, we get calls from customers with “roof leaks”, even when it has not been raining. These “leaks” are actually from condensation and are often reported as, “My steel roof is sweating”. Steel roofing does not sweat. Having no sweat glands, […]

You 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 […]