Most midwesterners dream of buying acreage and building a custom home with a large shop. Just like you, I looked into building a barndominium in 2020. My husband and I eventually bought a house in town, but we still dream of buying 10 acres of timber and putting up a pole building. Today, our dream has shifted towards a shouse we would use as a hunting cabin, workshop, and storage. Since working at FBi Buildings, I have learned a lot about pole barns and how they often are not a cheaper solution for residential living when compared to a traditional home.

Post-frame construction is well known for its design flexibility and durability. If built correctly, your pole barn can last 50+ years, ready to be passed down to the next generation. But life happens, and the next thing you know, you’re renovating your existing post-frame building.

Disclaimer: Before we dive deep into the gravel recommendations for your pole barn site prep, we want to clarify that this article is specifically written for those who wish to use gravel for their site pad.

Have you considered building a new farm shop or hobby barn? Or you've already received quotes from post-frame builders and were surprised by the total cost, so you decided to hold off on your project until prices dropped. Our rational thinking tells us that pole barn prices will come down, but we are still determining if costs will return to where they once were; others might doubt if that will ever happen.

You will have to prepare your site at the start of your post-frame project. This includes preparing the building location and where to put the driveway to your pole building. During site preparation, you will also need to consider the materials and equipment that will be arriving and have enough room to access and maneuver the site once they arrive at your pole barn construction site. There are many things to consider when determining your driveway. Just like when selecting your pole barn flooring, the same options are available for your drive. You can go as simple as dirt to as high-end as block paving. Regarding cost, some customers have stated they spent more on their driveway than on their pole barn. Are you planning to leave the entrance as is? Or will you want to add a concrete, asphalt, or gravel driveway? Below you will learn about the six driveway surface options and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

You’ve designed your dream post-frame building, talked to your Project Sales Consultant, and signed a building contract. Then you think, “Hey, let's add a window.” But unfortunately, as you go through the building process, changes, as simple as a window, can become costly and delay your project timeline.