Would you Build this 32x64 Pole Barn?

In this video, I tour a pole barn (32x64) that is set in a woods setting in rural Ohio. This barn, with its bold colors, has a lot of presence - and definitely catches your attention when you turn into the driveway.

The black sidewall steel has a fifty year warranty from the manufacturer. (paint, chalk, fade) The textured wainscot- on the bottom panel, helps to deflect sun and provides a good contrast to the black sidewall metal. An eight foot porch with galvalume metal (liner panel) adds more space to its unique design.

3 ply laminated columns were used for the posts - and the product consists of yellow pine - glued, laminated, and fingerjointed together with 2x6’s. Laminated columns can come in 4 ply’s as well if you want to strengthen up the pole building or use around larger overhead or slider door openings.

411 stone is used to backfill the holes as this allows water in the ground to escape and move. If you backfill posts with dirt, the water will stick and clog to the posts. Post rot is always a concern and there are other post options on the market: concrete perma-columns, wet set brackets, green gard posts, etc. If your budget allows - a concrete foundation is always a good option - and you can impale the posts or use brackets on top of the barn wall.

4’ on center truss spacing is how we set up the roof system. Why? We feel 4’ on center truss spacing allows for more wood, more lumber, and you can lay the purlins flat instead instead of on edge. By laying purlins on flat, builders can walk easier on the roof and there is a larger circumference area to fasten screws. We utilize a yellow pine double top beam header to set the trusses - to tie in the building - and this helps the barn avoid “racking.” Also, diagonal or corner bracing in the post frame helps with movement or “racking”.

If you have been following along on these videos, you will notice we use 1650 MSR lumber for the barn girts and purlins. Why 1650 MSR lumber versus #2 grade? Well, the tensil strength on #2 grade lumber specs out between 1000-1150 MSR and the 1650 MSR - we think - strengthens up the post frames.

For condensation control, we utilize a vapor barrier (rex) or we use drip stop metal - which comes pre-assembled to the underneath of the roof metal. From a labor perspective, the drip stop metal is more time efficient. Compared to rex paper - drip stop metal costs a little more per square foot.

A special thanks to the owners for letting me tour this unique post frame.

0:00 Intro
0:05 32x64 Pole barn/Post frame building
0:35 Textured wainscot metal
1:25 8’ porch
1:52 Black 3x4 windows
2:48 Drip stop metal
3:11 3 ply laminated columns

#polebarn #postframe #polebarngarage