There are many decisions to make when building a pole barn or barndominium. When starting, you will need a site plan to map out where your utilities will be located and when they will be installed. Additionally, consider the concrete or gravel requirements for your building pad and driveway.
Next, after you complete your site preparation and have a level building pad, you will need to decide on your building's foundation. Do you need a foam board with your base board? Will you choose Perma-Columns, brackets, or treated wood columns?
Customers often choose between a stub ahead foundation and a traditional continuous pour, depending on whether they prefer the concrete to be poured before or after the barn's shell is erected.
In this blog, we will break down the difference between stub ahead and traditional pour, cover the pros and cons, explain the best time of year for stub ahead construction, and help you decide what is best for your post-frame building.
In post-frame construction, a "stub ahead" refers to the practice of setting the building's columns into the ground at least three feet deep before the main concrete foundation is poured.
This process entails:
This process allows concrete trucks easier access for the full perimeter pour and places the columns below the future concrete slab to prevent them from being hit and damaged by the trucks during the pour. The columns are then finished and set at their final height after the concrete has cured.
It prevents costly rework or delays if a truck were to hit a column or door opening. In barndominiums with smaller door openings and sometimes more complex design layouts, this method allows the concrete to be poured before the walls are installed.
It also allows for plumbing to be roughed in, water supply lines to be laid, electrical conduit to be placed, gas lines to be run, and internet lines to be installed before the concrete is poured.
While the stub ahead method can be beneficial, it also introduces several potential disadvantages related to project timeline, cost, and coordination.
The stub ahead process inherently adds a slight delay due to its fragmented nature. It requires multiple phases of mobilization and demobilization.
For example, our crew mobilizes to set the stubs, then leaves the project. The concrete contractor then mobilizes to pour the foundation and subsequently leaves the site. Finally, our crew must re-mobilize to construct the building shell. This complex sequencing and scheduling of different contractors typically increases the overall construction timeframe.
These delays can be magnified during certain times of the year. In peak seasons like summer, contractors are extremely busy. By requiring them to visit the site twice, your project may experience delays as they work to fit the return trip in between their other job commitments.
However, depending on the timing, this process can sometimes accelerate the project. If pouring the concrete early avoids a significant weather delay that occurs later in the schedule, the stub-ahead method could prevent a much longer setback.
The requirement for crews and subcontractors to perform partial work before returning to complete the job can add to the project budget. With multiple trips to the same site, crews will have increased driving and setup time, which impacts the overall cost of their services.
Another key disadvantage is the risk of damage to the initial work. Wood stubs set in the ground can be accidentally hit, moved, or damaged by the concrete contractor during the foundation pour.
If this occurs, the stubs will need to be fixed or reset when the building crew returns, resulting in further delays and potential additional repair costs. In addition, the bumped stubs can result in a building that is not built straight.
As mentioned above, stub ahead is a great choice for pole barn homes and post-frame offices. However, you can save yourself time and money by doing a stub ahead in the fall (September to November).
Doing a stub ahead in the fall allows the concrete to be poured before the ground freezes and has time to cure. This allows for much more schedule flexibility, where the building shell can be constructed any time over the winter.When planning your pole barn or post-frame home, one of the most critical decisions you'll make is choosing the right foundation. The two primary options are a "stub ahead" foundation, where support columns are set in the ground before the main concrete slab is poured, or a traditional "continuous pour," where the concrete is poured after the building's shell is erected.
The stub ahead method is often the preferred choice for residential barndominiums and offices because it provides unobstructed access for concrete trucks, protects the building's columns from damage, and facilitates the easier installation of underground utilities.
While the stub ahead process offers significant advantages, it can introduce minor scheduling delays and slightly increased costs due to the need for multiple contractor mobilizations. However, there is a key strategic benefit to this method, especially in late summer and fall. By pouring the concrete before the ground freezes, a stub ahead foundation allows the slab to cure properly. It provides a flexible timeline for constructing the building shell at any time throughout the winter months, thereby avoiding potential weather-related setbacks.