The FBi Blog

The Best of 2025: A Year in Review

Written by Angie Dobson | Dec 29, 2025 6:00:00 PM

2025 has been a year of significant change for the construction industry, from shifting tariffs and economic trends to the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill, which has influenced building costs and project planning nationwide. At FBi Buildings, we’ve kept pace with these changes while evolving our own operations to better serve our customers.


In July, we proudly welcomed Eastern Iowa Building to the FBi family, expanding our reach and enhancing our ability to provide high-quality pole barn and post-frame construction services throughout Eastern Iowa. This fall, we strategically refined our service area, concentrating on a condensed geographic region to deliver more personalized service and efficient project completion.

So, whether you want to build a pole barn in the new year or you're a loyal follower, we look back at our top blogs, videos, resources, and post-frame projects of 2025.

 

Editor's Note: Please feel free to skip ahead to the sections that pique your interest the most.

Table of Contents

Our Top 5 Blogs of 2025

1) How Much Does a 1,500 Square Foot Barndominium Cost?

This blog dives into the cost of a 1,500 square foot Barndominium. It explains the various elements that go into a barndominium and the cost associated with each.

2) How Much Does a 40 x 60 Pole Barn Cost in 2025?

One of the most common sizes in post-frame construction is a 40’ x 60’ building shell. This article breaks down the multiple factors influencing your pole barn cost. These ballpark numbers will help you create a realistic budget.

3) How Much Does a Barndominium With Shop Cost?

This blog helps you understand the true costs of building a barndominium with a shop, including construction, finishes, and hidden expenses like land and site prep. It’s a must-read for planning your budget and making informed design choices.

4) 6 Ways to Finish Your Pole Barn Interior

This blog explains the six most common ways to finish a pole barn interior, from basic plywood or OSB to drywall, steel, and creative custom options. It highlights the pros and cons of each finish, helping you choose the right materials based on durability, cost, aesthetics, and intended use.

 

5) 3 Tips for Selecting Barndominium Floor Plans

This blog helps you understand the different types of floor plans available for a barndominium (single‑story, two‑story, “shouse,” or pole‑barn style home) and how to choose the right layout for your needs — whether you want a compact living space, a big family home, or a house/shop combo.


Check out our Learning Center for 300+ blogs on post-frame construction and repairs. Plus, new blogs are added weekly to help you stay updated with post-frame resources.


Our Top 5 YouTube Videos of 2025

1) Tariffs & Pole Barn Construction Costs

Our VP of Sales, explains how tariffs and material costs impact construction and what to expect for your projects.

2) Barndominium Build for $100K?

Think you can build a pole barn for $100K? In this viral short, we question that logic.

3) Raising a 72’ x 160’ x 18’ Pole Barn

In this viral short, we showcase our QLYFT building system.

4) How Much Does a Barndominum Cost Per Square Foot?

In this episode of the Post Frame Podcast, Blair Neihouser, Vice President of Sales, provides a detailed analysis of the cost per square foot involved in constructing a barndominium.


5) FBi Crew Builder: Skilled Pole Barn Experts You Can Trust

See how FBi Buildings’ skilled crew delivers expert, high-quality post-frame construction with precision, efficiency, and craftsmanship.

 

Our Top 5 Resources of 2025

Our Learning Center is also home to FREE resources guaranteed to make your post-frame project successful.

1) Horse Plan Book
Looking for a new horse barn? Explore 20 popular floor plans in our plan book. Including, but not limited to, stables, stall barns, riding arenas and more. 


2) Pole Barn Virtual Tour

Are you trying to decide what pole barn features would be best for your building? Take a virtual tour of a pole barn built by FBi Buildings, a leader in post frame construction serving ag, commercial, residential, and horse segments.


3) Commercial Buildings Book

See why other businesses have partnered with FBi Buildings for their commercial construction needs. Get the free photo book today.

 

4) Post-Frame Structure Visual Inspection Report 

A pole barn inspection is designed to offer a comprehensive review of your post-frame building and its overall structural integrity.


5) Farm Plan Book

Explore our farm plan book for easy ideas on cold storage, farm shops, and multi-purpose barns for your next pole barn project.

 

Our Top 5 Post-Frame Projects of 2025

Every year, FBi Buildings showcases some of our most impressive post-frame projects on Facebook through What We Build Wednesday and Makeover Monday. In 2025, these builds captured the most attention, earning the highest likes, shares, and comments from our followers. From modern farm shops to stunning renovations, these standout projects highlight the craftsmanship, customization, and creativity that define FBi.

Editor’s Note: Our Pole Barn Gallery offers hundreds of post-frame photos. Whether you're planning your first project or fine-tuning design details, you’re sure to discover a building that matches your needs or sparks new ideas.

1) Ag: Ben Fritz

The 60' × 80' Fritz Farm building is a versatile post-frame, multi-purpose agricultural structure crafted by FBi Buildings. Its bold charcoal-and-black exterior is elevated with decorative cedar trusses and durable stone wainscoting, creating a modern yet rustic look that blends performance with standout curb appeal.


2) Commercial: Brookview Dairy

The Brookview Dairy office commercial building in Kent County, Michigan, was designed and constructed by FBi Buildings as a modern, post-frame office and warehouse. It features a striking charcoal-and-matte-black exterior, complemented by a bright interior with white walls and a black ceiling liner. Twenty-eight strategically placed windows flood the space with natural light, while the interior walls were prepped for drywall, creating a functional, customizable environment for a variety of commercial uses.


3) Suburban: Luxury Barndominium

Experience the perfect fusion of modern luxury and rustic charm with our Luxury Matte Black Barndominium, the most popular suburban project of 2025 across social media. This striking 72′ × 104′ × 20′ residence features a bold matte-black exterior, expansive windows, and premium architectural details that instantly command attention. Inside, the spacious layout offers approximately 4,800 sq ft of refined living space designed for comfort, style, and flexibility. High ceilings, open-concept flow, and customizable interior design make it easy to create a home that fits both everyday living and upscale entertaining.

Complementing the living space is a 4,608 sq ft attached shop. Durable steel construction, low-maintenance materials, and thoughtful touches like cedar gable trusses, stone accents, and a large wrap-around porch elevate both function and curb appeal. Sleek, sophisticated, and built to last, this matte black barndominium stands out as a statement home that blends practicality with high-end, contemporary design.

 


4) Equine: John Hinds

This impressive Will County horse barn and riding arena showcases a spacious 80' x 165' x 19'-6" main structure with additional connected wings, all finished in a striking Autumn Red exterior with Regal White designer roof and wall accents. Designed for both function and comfort, it features a welcoming 6' front porch, elegant cupolas, 12" overhangs, a 4' x 3' flying gable overhang, and 24" eavelite for added natural light. Inside, the ceiling framing package and full interior steel liner create a clean, durable environment for daily use. 

The barn includes (7) 12' x 12' FBi horse stalls, (2) larger 14' x 12' stalls, plus dedicated spaces for feed, wash, and 12' x 12' tack rooms. Center-match walls throughout the barn and arena provide a polished, cohesive finish, making this post-frame equestrian facility both highly functional and beautifully crafted.

 


5) Repair & Renovation: Mary & Patrick Burns

Mary and Patrick Burns’ historic gambrel post-frame barn received extensive wind damage, requiring professional pole barn repair. FBi Buildings’ Repair & Renovation crew restored the 42' x 40' structure by repairing the compromised roof and installing new steel roofing and trims. This project highlights how expert post-frame roof repair can protect a legacy building while enhancing its durability for years to come.

               

 

A New Year, A New Post-Frame Building

Thank you, especially to everyone who supported our business in 2025. We’re looking forward to serving your pole barn needs again in 2026! 

Are you ready to adopt the “new year, new post-frame building” mindset? Submit your custom building design, and a member of our sales team will call you to begin the estimating process. 

Do you have more questions that aren’t covered in this article? If you need help designing and planning, please contact FBi Buildings at 800.552.2981 or click here to email us. If you’re ready for a price, click here to request a quote, and a member of our Customer Engagement Team will help you determine the next steps.