If you’re considering a new pole barn, you know it’s a major investment designed to last for decades. The durability and structural integrity of a post-frame building depend on more than size or appearance—it starts from the ground up with components that support the entire structure.

Each component of a building system is important, no matter if you decide to build a wood structure, steel structure, or a pole building. Have you ever stopped to think about the construction method being used and what all of those details will require? Is that something that even matters to you? Will you be looking over those details before you choose a builder?

Building columns, also known as posts or even poles, are one of the most important elements in post-frame construction because they are the final point of transfer for most building stresses to the foundation. The posts can either be buried to the ground or anchored to an above-ground concrete foundation. Depending on who you choose as your post frame builder will depend on how your columns are installed. Each post frame builder will more than likely have two column options to choose from: a standard column or an upgraded column.

As of January 2004, there was a change in the chemical preservatives used for pressure-treated lumber available for residential use in the United States. Up until that time, almost all pressure-treated Southern pine lumber was preserved with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), which contains arsenic, a known carcinogen.

In post-frame construction, the most common exterior sheathing is pre-painted, corrugated steel panels. These panels help form the walls and roof of the typical post frame building and ultimately make up a large portion of the exterior. Customers also have the option to include an interior steel liner package that can be installed on either the walls or ceiling of your pole barn. This is easily the most popular finishing option that our customers choose. The steel liner package helps enhance the appearance of your building, giving the interior a more finished look.

As an experienced post frame builder, we know firsthand that the weather is unpredictable and uncontrollable. One day, our construction crews are erecting pole barns in the brutal chill. The next day, it’s sunny with temperatures in the mid-50s. Not to mention, the wind is a constant force in the Midwest. Eventually, you become accustomed to the abnormal weather patterns.