Building a Pole Barn

Basic Pole Barn Construction guide

Building a pole barn from scratch can be quite a big task depending on the size of the structure required and the experience of those involved. Pole buildings rely on posts to support a vast network of members that make up the frame of the structure and hold the roof up. Design entails careful engineering to make sure all components are in the right place and are the right size. Posts and roof trusses need to be able to bear the load of the building and the elements while bracing is required to resist lateral pressures such as wind.

Lumberyards provide design services for those who with some experience of construction and pre-designed building kits for those with limited experience. Many consumers opt for building kits as these come with construction drawings as well as all the necessary components and hardware for building a pole barn. Typical pole building kits include the following:

Pre-Engineered Wood Trusses
Treated Posts
Treated Skirt Boards
Wall Girts and Roof Purlins
Siding and Roof panels
Siding Screws
Trim
Galvanized Steel Nails
Concrete Mix
Building Plans
Doors

Basic steps in construction:

Step One

Clear and level the site where the building is intended to stand. Holes for the posts should then be dug at the appropriate depth and diameter making sure they are correctly spaced. Place the posts into the holes and use temporary braces to keep them in a perfectly vertical position. Pour cement into the holes and allow it to set completely before the next step.

Step Two

Roof trusses can now be installed. Trusses connect opposing posts by spanning the distance between them. Either wood ledgers or metal brackets are used to connect the trusses.

Step Three

Girts make up a secondary wall frame which need to be fixed onto the posts to provide a surface for the attachment of wall sheeting.

Step Four

Wooden members, known as purlins, need to be attached to the trusses to brace them as well as to provide a surface onto which roof sheeting can be fixed.

Step Five

Temporary braces can now be removed. Permanent diagonal braces are normally installed between trusses, and sometimes posts, to steady the structure against lateral and vertical pressures such as wind and snow loads.

Step Six

Wall and roof sheeting/panels can now be safely installed along with doors and windows