pole barn homes

[lauersix6]

does anyone have any experience with pole barn homes.  i have some ideas,  but is hard for my wife to envison my thoughts.  also,  since you still have to frame walls for inside finish.  is this cost effective over other types of building.  thanks.  great forum.

[Redoverfarm]

I do recall someone doing just that but for the life of me I can't remember who it was.  You might "search" the forum for "Pole Barn" and check on the post concerning that I am sure you will get some great ideas or solutions.

[Minicup28]

I am currently getting quotes from Morton Buildings on some of their stock designs:  http://www.mortonbuildings.com/cabin.aspx
I've seen many of their horse and farm shop buildings in my area and they look nice in a rural area.

[Sherry]

Minicup28, would you mind sharing in a general way the kind of quotes you end up getting for pole barn bldgs., and what the main things are that those prices include?  Something along the lines of, say, "20 x 20 one-and-a-half story bldg. with or without foundation, with or w/o labor, x amt. of $".

I have been wondering how much polebarns run, but don't want to have to give out personal information and then be contacted by a salesperson who quickly loses interest in talking to me anyway b/c he realizes I'm not yet close to building.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Woodswalker]

Redoverfarm is perhaps recalling my postings from a couple years back about building my cabin.  You can do a search to find it, the title is "Cabin Build in N-Central WA by 1 person."  It was based on a 1-page plan I downloaded free from the agricultural extension service of a land-grant university in the Midwest.  I believe the plan was originally done in the '40's, and called for use of rough-sawn lumber.  Had to make a few adjustments to use current materials.  After reading the post, let me know if you have questions or would like further information.  This coming summer I will be finishing the interior and adding a porch.

[Redoverfarm]

Redoverfarm is perhaps recalling my postings from a couple years back about building my cabin.  You can do a search to find it, the title is "Cabin Build in N-Central WA by 1 person."  It was based on a 1-page plan I downloaded free from the agricultural extension service of a land-grant university in the Midwest.  I believe the plan was originally done in the '40's, and called for use of rough-sawn lumber.  Had to make a few adjustments to use current materials.  After reading the post, let me know if you have questions or would like further information.  This coming summer I will be finishing the interior and adding a porch.

Don't think it was you.   I remember that the husband & wife both had sign on names and showed pictures of the progress.  Actually showed it as a two story.  Might have even been a Post and beam set up.  Darn I wish I could remember who that was. Maybe Glenn or Don would remember.  

[glenn kangiser]

Stinky started on one but I don't think she got to the interior.  It would have worked out to quite a bargain though.

[StinkerBell]

Yup, we have the well in, septic and power. We also have a two story pole building in. But alas, glenn is right we have not finsihed the interior.


www.wehavea.name click on "kettle falls"

[Redoverfarm]

Stink what was the tread that it was posted under?

[RainDog]

Yup, we have the well in, septic and power. We also have a two story pole building in. But alas, glenn is right we have not finsihed the interior.


www.wehavea.name click on "kettle falls"

That is really cool, StinkerBell. Would you happen to have a ballpark notion of what your building expenses were to that point?

[StinkerBell]

Sure....

I am conjuring this from memory, so I might be off.

the Well was 12K  (we had have someone come and do that)
Septic, which we desigened and did ourself, the  inspector was great and really worked with us. We designed a Pump to Gravity system...about 5k for us to do. We also did our main pole for electric and placed a 400 amp box on it. that was about  5k (the cost to run the electric in was the most expensive)
The building cost was around 45K (priced at 38k but if you add tax a few odd ball things that came up).
The property cost was 12K its on an acre with 120' of the Kettle River on it.

We just ran out of money, we are broke and not sure when we can finish it. We may even sell it cause we ended moving to Texas.

[RainDog]

Sure....

I am conjuring this from memory, so I might be off.

the Well was 12K  (we had have someone come and do that)
Septic, which we desigened and did ourself, the  inspector was great and really worked with us. We designed a Pump to Gravity system...about 5k for us to do. We also did our main pole for electric and placed a 400 amp box on it. that was about  5k (the cost to run the electric in was the most expensive)
The building cost was around 45K (priced at 38k but if you add tax a few odd ball things that came up).
The property cost was 12K its on an acre with 120' of the Kettle River on it.

We just ran out of money, we are broke and not sure when we can finish it. We may even sell it cause we ended moving to Texas.

Thanks. 

[lauersix6]

thanks,  that was real helpful.  answered some questions on framing the inside.  using a 2x6 between poles, makes it easy to finish in and out.  if i wanted to put on cedar siding on one side i could just run the 2x6's like normal framing?  correct?  if anyone has anymore pics or info that would be great.  wanting to start on this in the fall 2010.  thanks again. 

[glenn kangiser]

Don't forget to use poles that are treated with something that is semi-compatible with life - creosote treated poles can smell bad when they get hot.   I would suggest a barrier between the living space and any kind of treated pole - maybe a layer of 6 mil polyethylene under the sheetrock or other interior finish.  Seems it is always twenty years or so before studies come out as to treatments killing people or winding up in their bloodstream.

[StinkerBell]

Forgot to add that the pole structure is two levels and is 36x36

[lauersix6]

thanks glenn,

i'll be using 2x6's,  laminated together,  and then finish the poles with some 1xs cedar.  to give them a more finished, but rustic look.  do you think framing between poles with 2x6's would eliminate the use for purlins on the outside?  thanks.

[RainDog]

Plenty of nailing surface in that scenario without purlins. Only reason to use them would be to increase available space for insulation and to reduce thermal bridging.

[HomeschoolMom]

I would search "barndominium" ...I remember how clever I thought the name was 

[lauersix6]

just read a thread about someone wanting to get a loan on building a pole barn house.  they were having a tough time, because it was a "pole barn".  i am wondering if you build it without the purlins on walls and instead frame between the posts, wouldn't this be considered a post frame house.  sometimes semantics changes everything.

[RainDog]

 A pole barn is built on poles set in the earth. I believe that to be the defining factor.

Now, that said, companies that build pole barns often utilize brackets set into existing slabs that accommodate the 6x6 lumber if the slab is already poured. At that point is it still a pole barn, or is it post and beam, which is simply a type of wall construction using posts instead of studs?

A pole barn builder would know.

I doubt the purlins and stud framing between the posts has much if anything to do with how the building type is defined.

[MountainDon]

I am sure RainDog's first line defines a pole barn correctly; poles set in the ground are the defining feature.

Poles/posts attached to a foundation would be more of a post and beam type of construction.

[Don_P]

sometimes semantics changes everything

Bingo.
A "pole barn" is a non engineered agricultural building, basically it's a building and term heading into obsolescence. In the '80's agricultural schools developed a good engineering understanding of these buildings and the modern "post frame" construction industry was the result. They are accepted by code when designed according to several EP's, engineering practices. The foundation/wall construction can be an embedded post, a post attached to a stemwall or a post attached to a slab...these are all post frame options. It can use lightweight or heavy timber components

Post and beam is metal connected heavy timber construction, mill construction would be one example.

Timberframe is wood connected heavy timber construction.

There is an excellent online course on post frame construction here. It might be over the top for most, Mt Don you would enjoy it I think
http://www.training.postframeadvantage.com/

edit;
Their expo is in Louisville next week

[MountainDon]

Thanks. I'm having a look right now.

FYI, in case anyone else signs up, I had difficulty. There's a space for an AIA# and the instructions state" enter none of you don't have one". I tried that and their system came up with an error message stating that "none" was not allowed. So I made up a number and the registration worked. 

[lauersix6]

if i build a pole barn, pour a 4 in. slab for the floor,  and frame between the posts,  will i have to worry about the slab heaving?  i'm in iowa, so the winters can be from one extreme to the other.  my thoughts are that building a pole barn home and framing between the posts on 24" centers.  osb the outside and being able to side with cedar siding,  that this would be a good sound structure and not look like a pole building.  also,  keeping cost down is a factor too.  need some advice.  thanks.

[RainDog]

 I believe that if you build a pole barn, and then turn around and frame conventionally between each post, that your costs will run higher than if you simply stick built on your slab.