You’ve been dreaming of building a pole barn for quite some time, and now you’re ready to finalize the building design and begin all necessary site preparations.
Whether you’re building a garage for extra cars or storage, a cold storage building for your farm equipment, or stables with an indoor riding arena, deciding what to build is one of the easier steps in the post frame construction process.
The hard part is deciding which post frame builder is the best to make your vision a reality.
Some post frame companies are nationwide while others might solely focus on one state.
Some might only specialize in hobby shops or commercial buildings while others might only specialize in post frame homes.
Finding the right fit for your needs is important to build what you truly want to build.
While it may seem like there’s an endless list of post frame builders to choose from, narrowing down your options shouldn’t be a giant headache.
To help make the process less daunting, we’ve taken the liberty of narrowing down the top pole barn builders in Wisconsin.
Continue reading to learn who these pole barn builders are to see which one could be the right fit for you and your post frame building needs.
How Do You Decide Which Post Frame Company is Right For You?
For starters, look for a post frame company that has ample experience in the post frame construction industry.
This is a good sign that they’re competent, trustworthy, and know what they’re doing when it comes to bringing visions to life.
Next, take a close look at their reviews.
If past customers have good things to say about this company, that’s another good sign of someone you can trust to do good work.
However, take any negative reviews with a grain of salt.
Not all bad reviews are an accurate depiction of the company and the scenario being explained.
Finally, don’t forget to read about the history of the company and where the company sees itself heading into the future.
If you like what you read and you get a good vibe from them, give them a call for a quote.
Trust your gut when doing your research. If something feels off about a post frame company, try researching another builder.
Your gut rarely will let you down if you listen well enough.
Top Pole Barn Builders in Wisconsin (Our Recommendations)
In the past, we brought you the top pole barn builders in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa.
Now we’re bringing you the top pole barn builders in Wisconsin.
In no particular order, continue reading to find out our recommendations you can trust to build your new post frame building.
Wick Buildings, Inc.
Headquarters: Mazomanie, WI
Insights: Wick Buildings, Inc. is a privately-held company located in Wisconsin that has constructed over 70,000 buildings since being founded in 1954. They are one of the nation's largest post frame building companies and offer their services in suburban, commercial, and industrial pole barns, horse housing facilities, on-farm livestock and storage facilities, and animal confinement systems.
Cleary Building Corporation
Headquarters: Verona, WI
Insights: Since 1978, Cleary Building Corporation has sold over 114,000 buildings that include cabins, homes, and horse, farm, and commercial structures. They are a national, family-owned company that prides themselves on putting their customers first.
Walters Buildings
Headquarters: Allenton, WI
Insights: In 1958, Jack Walters contacted the Interlocking Fence Company, known today as Morton Buildings, and a relationship was made. After a couple of decades, the two went their separate ways, and Walters Buildings was born. Family-owned and operated, Walters Buildings prides themselves on customer satisfaction and keeping their promises. They believe in keeping America strong and strive to purchase American-made products, thereby supporting American companies and their employees.
FBi Buildings, Inc.
Headquarters: Remington, IN
Insights: FBi Buildings, Inc. is a family-owned company that has been servicing Indiana and Illinois since 1958. Since then, they have built over 20,000 agricultural, equine, commercial, and residential pole barns. They also offer their repair and renovation services with crews specifically for this market.
Morton Buildings
Headquarters: Fairfield, IL
Insights: Morton Buildings has been serving its residential, agricultural, and commercial community since the late 1940s. This employee-owned company has over 100 construction centers throughout the country to assist you with both your building and repair needs. They also have eight manufacturing facilities where many of their building components are produced.
What Questions Can I Ask to Help Me Decide on a Post Frame Builder?
Before you sign a contract with any post frame construction company, it’s crucial to ask an abundance of questions to really get a feel for the company.
Below, we’ve listed some questions you can ask before you get too far into the process.
1) What does the companies building process entail?
Before you finalize the building design, it’s imperative to talk to your post frame builder about what their building process looks like.
No two building processes will be the same between post frame companies, so asking this question upfront will help you understand just what you’re getting yourself into.
Does this builder seem calm, cool, collected, and have everything under control?
Are they working on one or multiple projects at once?
Does the timeline for completion seem reasonable?
It’s crucial to ask as many questions as you can to ensure the answers all add up. The last thing you’ll want is to come across a slew of surprises in the contract that weren’t mentioned before.
2) Do they use quality building materials?
Lumber, metal siding/roofing, columns, paint, windows, and door selections will vary between each post frame company.
You’ll want to verify these options are quality, high-grade materials that ensure your pole barn will withstand the test of time.
If a builder quotes your pole barn on the low-end, there is a good chance they are not using high-quality materials.
Examples of high-quality materials would be 3-Ply columns versus solid columns, stainless steel screws versus Galvalume, and Kynar paint versus Polyester.
While that low bottom line may look appealing, just remember, you get what you pay for.
3) How does the project completion timeline look?
Since the current pandemic, timelines on building completion might look a bit different than before.
Current commodity prices and shortages of materials play a big role in how quickly a building can be finished, so it’s vital to talk to your pole barn builder upfront to see if these factors could affect your building.
Some post frame companies are still feeling the effects of the pandemic, so delays might be inevitable in finishing your post frame project.
With the recent high demand for pole barns, you might also experience delays in getting permits.
You’ll want to make a note to speak with your local permit office as well to see how the global pandemic has affected their timelines, too.
4) Do they directly employ construction crews or outsource them?
If a builder outsources framing carpenters, this opens up the potential for disorganization and delays.
These crews might be working on multiple projects at a time, so trying to manage and keep them accountable could potentially be difficult.
If a builder directly employs their crews, they can manage them more easily and schedule projects how they need them to be scheduled.
5) How do they handle building damage once construction is complete?
Sometimes pole barn damage is inevitable, especially with the summer and winter storms we see here in the Midwest, so knowing how a company takes care of this damage is crucial.
You’ll want to find a post frame company with a knowledgeable repair crew that can repair any damage your pole barn might endure and within a timely fashion.
If a company does not have its own repair crew, you’ll have to find a new construction crew to do the repairs for you.
You’ll end up waiting a long time for repairs which means further damage and headaches can happen.
Speaking of damage, don’t forget to ask your builder what their pole barn warranty includes.
No standard warranty exists in the post frame industry, so it’s important to discuss your options with your builder.
Not sure of what questions to ask your builder? Feel free to utilize these top five warranty essentials for reference.
6) Will this post frame company be around in 20 years?
Last but not least, does it appear that this company will still be constructing pole barns in 20 years?
Someone who has been in the post frame industry for many years should be knowledgeable and competent in their work.
If you get the feeling a builder doesn’t seem passionate about their work or truly care about the difference they’re making, it could be a sign their company might not last.
If you found a builder with a decade or two of experience that’s great, but it’s important to note that someone with less experience can still be just as great at what they do.
What they lack in experience they can make up for in skills and competency.
Do You Know Which Wisconsin Pole Barn Builder You’ll Choose?
Now that we’ve covered the top pole barn builders and provided a list of questions to ask your potential candidates, do you know which builder you’ll choose?
It’s important to remember to trust your gut when deciding on someone to build your post frame building.
Ask the post frame professionals many questions, call around for quotes, and browse their online galleries for pole barn inspiration.
Before you know it, you’ll have found the perfect fit to build your dream pole barn.
No matter whom you decide to hire, just remember to always build with confidence.
Do you have more questions about the top pole barn builders in Wisconsin that are not covered in this article? If you need help designing and planning, please contact FBi Buildings at 800.552.2981 or click here to email us. If you're ready to get a price, click here to request a quote, and a member of our Customer Engagement Team will help you determine the next steps of your project.