Many farmers in the early years relied on pole barn style buildings. They were  economic and in some ways handed down as part of a family legacy. Just as most farm equipment has been innovated so has the structures they are stored in.

 There is a significant difference in the cost from one to the other. A pole barn being on the more affordable side. It’s very important to understand why such a difference in price. A pole barn has wooden post buried in the ground and requires more maintenance than a steel building.  Where a steel frame building is bolted on top of a slab leaving it sheltered from the elements.

Another difference is the concrete foundation. Pole barns are typically poured after the building is built with 4 inches of concrete and wire mesh. A steel building will have grade beams, rebar cages, wire mesh, and then a 4” concrete slab on top of that.

 There are other differences that can be discussed but simply stated, for anything of good quality and long lasting you must have a solid foundation and a great structure!

Insulation is never a bad choice.  If you put insulation on at least the roof I’d say you did good. But keep in mind that metal can become like an oven and the darker the colors the hotter it can feel. 

Now what kind of insulation… you’ve got foil back bubble wrap, fiberglass or spray foam.

I personally am not a fan of spray foam for many reasons that I’d be more than glad to discuss on an individual basis. But for a brief understanding, spray foam is good for enclosed applications. Yes it does it’s job in a 100% perfect scenario.  Bubble wrap is more of a reflective factor and does hold out or in some of the temperatures. If it’s my building it would be fiberglass insulation at a 3  inch minimum. You get your money’s worth.

These can be beautiful homes but there are many misconceptions.

First and foremost the idea of a metal building house being cheaper than a traditional house is not always the case.  Both structures have similar elements of construction (outside finishes and inside finishes) that can effect cost.

You could face an issue with your financing.   Not all financial institutions will finance barndominiums.  Policies seem to be constantly changing but which financial institution your= choose should be considered.

 Another challenge specifically are the window and door installs. Anytime they can be covered that will help prevent them from leakage. Traditional houses have plywood and house wrap. Then after a window is installed it is caulked and taped to give it a water tite seal. This is not the norm for a metal building. There are specific trade secrets we have found to be most helpful in minimizing leaks in these areas. For commercial buildings the window systems used are the most reliable.

This is a tough question to answer since our goal is not to sell you a building but to provide a quality service and pleasant experience. 

 Fact is, it’s difficult to know what is a big enough building until it is occupied. In residential or commercial the best option is to build what you feel you need/want without settling. Often we can add a small amount of square footage to get you more bang for the buck. For example you may ask for a 23 x 45 and a building package may be 25 x 50 and for that slight change in size you may not see any increase in price. 

Any building can be customized to fit your need before or after you build. Maybe your budget allows a particular size and you want bigger or your business is growing and you need bigger then we can definitely accommodate.

We can help you with different price options until you are comfortable with your decision.