Lately, it’s been incredibly windy here in the Midwest. However, this does not come as a complete surprise to all of us since it’s consistently windy year-round. With our ever-changing temperatures from day to day, it’s windier than not, and we think any Midwesterner can agree to that statement.

If you’re the ultimate “do-it-yourself” builder, chances are you’re always ready for a challenge. Maybe your friends call you the Chip or Joanna Gaines of your circle, and they know they can rely on you for any project—from home renovations to large-scale builds. When it comes to constructing your own pole barn, the good news is there are plenty of resources to help make your vision a reality.

When planning to build a pole barn in a snowy climate, one of the most common questions we receive is simple but important: “Will this post-frame building handle heavy snowfall?” The answer depends on more than just location or weather patterns—it comes down to structural design.

Post frame companies want you to purchase their product over their competitors, and the one way they can convince you to do so is to advertise their product as the best on the market, especially when they’re comparing the structural integrity and pole barn steel warranties of their main competitors.

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

Being located in the Midwest, Mother Nature brings us all types of unpredictable weather, especially when it comes to the winter months. It’s not uncommon for us to receive a couple of inches of snow one day and then the next day it’s sunny with a high of 47 degrees. What’s also true about Midwest living is that we are capable of getting several inches of snow within a matter of hours. Do you remember the blizzard of 2014? That’s a perfect example of a snowstorm that started in the Midwest and worked its way east...dropping over 18” of snow along its way (in some areas it was much worse).