Have you ever considered buying a new car? Similar to vehicles, pole buildings come in multiple sizes and have building features that can be added. 

But, due to the customization of pole barns coupled with the variations in building sites, all barns have different project costs.

In this blog, we will discuss the ten elements that affect the cost of a Wisconsin pole barn project.

10 Cost Factor for Building a Pole Barn in Wisconsin

1) Building Location

The first step is securing land on which to build your pole barn. Each location has pros and cons. If you want to start quickly with minimal site prep, look for a more level site. Existing utilities will save you time and money.

When building a pole barn in Wisconsin, we typically find more hilly sites and large rocks when digging. These all can add to the time and money spent preparing the site. That is why site prep and pad prep are critical.

Site Prep

Site prep is the work done on your ground before construction–finalizing location details, gaining access to the site, preparing the ground for drainage, and more. This process allows you to identify and address site complications before post-frame construction begins. 

Costs can vary depending on whether you put the stone down to create a pad versus dirt or sand pads. Additional charges include bringing in dirt to level the pad and the cost of materials to make a driveway for the building, whether stone or concrete. All of these things add to the price. If you plan to pour concrete, adding stone is critical.

Naturally, some projects require more site prep than others, affecting the cost. Below are the typical site costs for the following building types:

*Please note that the information above is averaged to help with your planning. Costs may vary by project size.

Proper site preparation will extend your building's lifetime and reduce construction costs. In addition, you can further lower costs by owning the machinery and performing your excavation.

Note that other contractors in Wisconsin often use a thickened edge slab, more so than in other states. This can create issues with the concrete slab heaving.

2) Pole Barn Snow Loads

Growing up in the Midwest, you know that AWD or 4WD vehicles are king when a blizzard hits. But, just like adding 4WD to your vehicle package, accounting for snow loads on your building will add to the price of your structure.

According to the Wisconsin State Climatology Office, Milwaukee averages 48.7 inches of snow per year. The snow loads generally range from 30 PSF to 35 PSF.

Snow load plays into your pole barn's structural integrity. The steps we take to ensure your storage building or pole barn home is designed to withstand a Wisconsin winter include the following:

1. Smaller trusses (usually 72’) need to be double-ply.
2. Tighter purlins for step-downs/roof peaks
3. Sometimes, the perma-columns can require extender brackets with the higher snow loads on some large buildings. (Usually 80’+)
4. We often encounter other builders who need to go 4’ O.C., but we are almost always able to stay 8’ O.C.

Engineering a more robust building will add more cost than a building in a more southern area. But nothing would be worse than a brand-new pole barn with a collapsed roof, especially during a blizzard.

3) Post-Frame Construction Company

Next, find a pole barn builder near you. We currently serve select counties in Wisconsin. Check our service area to see if we cover your county. 

Pole barn prices may be higher in Wisconsin than in another state due to the transportation costs of materials and labor to your location.

While other pole barn builders might shut down in the winter due to the weather, FBi Buildings builds year-round.

While we would love to build your pole building, we understand that some of you are do-it-yourselfers.  If you want a DIY pole barn, we do sell pole barn kits! 

A pole barn kit is a great option for getting the high-quality materials that FBi Buildings uses on all of our post-frame buildings while reducing the cost of labor.

4) Labor

We know that choosing a pole barn builder in Wisconsin can feel overwhelming. You must select a quality builder when making this large investment. 

What sets FBi apart from our competitors is the following:

1. Our QYLFT Building System. The QLYFT building system is an unprecedented way of erecting post-frame structures. It was created to improve field employee safety while elevating building quality. 
   
   
   
   
2. A sales team with a consultation approach with customers. We want to help answer all your questions so you can build with confidence.
3. We employ the crews and procure your project's materials under one roof. 
4. We have our engineers to ensure your project is structurally sound.
5. Our truss plant builds high-quality trusses.

5) Pole Barn Design

From Pinterest to the latest Instagram reel, we all are captivated by the unique barndominiums and post-frame barns.

It can be overwhelming to decide the right size of pole barn, color combination, and features. 

Our industry-leading free 3D design online tool allows you to bring your ideas to life, add objects for scale, and you can insert your design onto Google Earth.

FBi Buildings offers free resources, including floor plan books and a gallery of hundreds of projects. We also offer free articles to answer all your questions about pole barn construction and building design.

6) Pole Barn Size

Choosing the function(s) of your pole barn will then help you determine the pole barn size.

They say bigger is better, and in pole barn projects, that can be true! But did you know that smaller barns can cost more per square foot?  

Several factors play into the cost per square foot. First, no matter the size of your project, there will always be initial:

• Processing
• Permitting
• Engineering
• Drawing
• Administration expenses
  

These costs are consistent for all projects. 

The next factor that plays into the cost per square foot is the three (3) Ms. Every project requires getting:

• Men
• Materials
• And machines to the construction site

For all projects, we have to factor in the preparation and transportation of materials; whether the semi is a full or a half load plays into the cost. 

Since these costs are consistent, the cost gets divided across the price for square footage. That is why large pole barns are less per square foot. 

7) Building Features

The sky's the limit when it comes to customizing your pole barn, so there's no way for us to give an exact number for what your specific project will cost—but we can give you some examples of how much different options can add up:

• Wrap-around porch - $25-$37 per square foot of porch
• Overhead Doors - $1500-$12000
• Windows - $700-$1500

8) Pole Barn Permits

Just as every post-frame project is as unique, so are the county's permit requirements. You can expect the cost to range from $0 to several thousand dollars. 

Some counties do not require building permits, which can save you time and money. We help customers obtain their permits by doing it for them when they go through the building process.

Commercial buildings have additional fees to cover fire and life safety, review drainage plans, retention water plans, and more. On average, you can expect to pay $200-600 for most projects.

9) Materials

When investing in a post-frame home or pole barn, it is vital to have quality materials so your building will last for years. We have a team that specializes in purchasing wood, metal, and screws to help you get high-quality products at a more affordable cost for your pole barn project. 

Here's our top 5 list of quality materials we include in all FBi Building projects.

Steel

Many builders emphasize low initial cost over building longevity and strength. But, as with most things in life, when it comes to post-frame buildings, we get what we pay for. 

When considering a new pole barn or re-siding your existing building, it’s vital to get the best steel to ensure structural integrity.

We compared our steel to Morton and Menards regarding steel tear, drop dent, and shotgun tests. 

Lumber

Did you know that FBi has its own truss plant? When building our trusses, we build differently than other manufacturers.

For example, others roll the gusset plate (flat metal plate with teeth at the joints on trusses) onto the truss. By doing so, the plate's teeth can go in at an angle. Instead, we machine-stamped ours into the truss. This process takes a little extra time, but it ensures a straight plate. 

Speaking of lumber, we also go with the best! Machine stress-rated (MSR) lumber undergoes testing to measure its ability to perform under stress. It also must meet specific visual grade requirements. 

Wood is graded based on any defects(knots, splits, warping, etc.) and the size of the wood. 

Typically, you will hear wood called #1 or #2 and their species, such as #2 Southern Yellow Pine(SYP). 

The MSR grade we use in every FBi Building trust and SYP for the columns and purlins is specifically selected to ensure the strength of each board exceeds the standards required where it is used.

Screws

Regarding the quality of screws, we don’t screw around! The screws we use have a high and low thread combo on the shank. 

This makes our screws like a steel and wood combo. In addition, the cap on the screw is made out of stainless steel. They are designed to umbrella over the washer, so they do not deteriorate as fast.

Plus, we have a lifetime warranty on our screws! Finally, since the cap is stainless steel, you do not have to worry about future rust streaks down the side of your building from your screws.

Check out this video comparing competitor screws.

Paint

We offer industry leaders such as the Kynar 500 paint system. Nothing says quality like the Kynar 500 paint system. Your metal panels will have that “just painted” freshness for years. 

The result is a durable structure that withstands abrasion, ultraviolet radiation, extreme weather, chemicals, and solvents.

Purlins

In addition, we screw the purlin differently than any other pole barn builders. Check out this video to learn more.

To ensure quality with every project, we precut building materials. For example, the roof purlin material is precut and predrilled to help with straight angles at installation. 

In addition, the wall girts are precut and color coordinated. These are just a few things we do to ensure the building process goes quickly without sacrificing quality.

10) Finishing Touches

While FBi Buildings only builds the shell, finishing costs are at your discretion. Your project is as unique as you are, and no two projects will cost the same. The cost to complete can vary significantly based on the above factors, which can make the total cost of your project differ significantly. 

You could hire a general contractor to build your dream interior with all the bells and whistles. Or perhaps you are more of a DIY person; you could save money, but it may take longer to complete. There are many finish options when it comes to the interior. 

You must consider concrete, insulation, drywall, plywood, steel, and more! 

The finishes go beyond finishing a couple of walls. Finishes also include landscaping, rock or concrete driveway, and more. Since they all vary by building type and project scope, you can spend a wide range of time in this category. 

Ready to Build a Pole Barn in Wisconsin?

The answer to How Much Does it Cost to Build in Wisconsin depends on several factors, including the location, size, and type of pole barn you want. 

However, pole barns are an excellent investment for any homeowner and a good option for farmers in Wisconsin. 

If you are ready to take the next step with building a pole barn in Wisconsin, fill out our request a quote form, and our sales team will be happy to start the partnership with you today!

Do you have more questions about how much it costs to build in Wisconsin that is 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.