When you hear the word “pole barn,” what do you see? Most people picture a red barn with a white roof, cupolas, and sliding doors for moving heavy machinery. It’s the epitome of a farm building in the rural Midwest. However, the latest construction trend is a pole barn with living quarters. Yes, you read that correctly. You may wonder, “Why would someone want to live in a barn?” Nowadays, building usage goes beyond the realm of agriculture.

Multiple post-frame building components, from the ground up, play a vital role in your pole barn design:

When it’s time for you to start designing your post frame building, what steps do you think you need to take? It’s not uncommon for some customers to sketch their pole barn layout on graph paper because they don’t want to forget their design. Not only does this help them visualize the layout of their building prior to talking to a post frame builder, but it also lets them compare different layouts if they have more than one in mind.

Building a pole barn has always been a goal of yours. When you pull into the driveway, you can envision a 40’ x 80’ tool shed in your spacious backyard. This post frame building will house bikes, four-wheelers, lawnmowers, and other outdoor accessories. But this pole barn isn’t just about storage; it’s about recreation too. A large porch would be an ideal spot to hang out with family and friends.

We can all agree that building a pole barn is a big decision. For some people, it may take weeks, months, or even years to convince your significant other or business partner(s) of this large purchase.

If we told you that the small details take up the most time when planning the perfect post frame building design, would you believe us? Some of you might. Some of you might not. Let’s think about that statement for a minute. Think about all of the small details that go into planning a building. From color selections, window options added features like cupolas and weathervanes to overhangs and mansards. Are those things that you thought about before having a building constructed? Or, are those afterthoughts? My guess is it’s a good mixture of both.