What is a “Pole Barn”?

“Pole building” or “Pole barn” refers to an open, high ceiling building with wide open spaces and no basement. Commonly used for farming purposes to store hay, feed, livestock or as garages, sheds and workshops. Pole barns are usually made of wood, with the poles anchored deep in the ground by concrete slabs.

Let’s compare the pros and cons of Steel Buildings to those of Pole Barns:

Steel Barns

  Pros  

  • Super Durable – holds up against elements
  • Can be built and set up much faster
  • Up to 45% savings on insurance
  • Won’t burn like wood
  • Low Maintenance
  • Termites are not an issue
  • No intrusive beams
  • Better energy efficiency

  Cons  

  • More expensive on the front-end
  • Requires foundation

 

Pole Barns

  Pros  

  • Less expensive

  Cons  

  • No wider than 90 feet
  • Slower to build
  • No basement
  • Higher maintenance
  • Termites can wreak havoc on wood
  • Elements warp wood

 

So as you can see there are some clear advantages of opting to go with steel for your next project.  There might be some advantages with wood like the lower cost in the short term, but when you factor the lower maintenance and better energy efficiency, a wood pole barn might end up costing you more time and money than a steel structure in the long run.

 

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