Utility Buildings: Barns And Pole Barns

Utility Buildings: Barns And Pole Barns

Barns

A barn was once an indispensable part of the rural, agrarian lifestyle of America, and in many places throughout our nation it still is. Barns served as places to house livestock, livestock feed, and hay, as well as equipment used on farms and ranches. Many modern farms and ranches use several smaller buildings to perform these same tasks.

Pole barns

Barns were often built using “timber frame construction” techniques, or log construction, but these days they are more likely to be constructed using “post frame construction” methods. The common name for post frame constructed buildings is “pole barns”.

Pole barn construction

Pole barns are constructed by using at least 4 poles set deep in the ground, and with a frame built around the top to build a roof upon. If a side or more is to be covered, that area would be framed around with lumber, and siding attached.

Today, most posts used in post frame or pole barn type buildings are treated material, with a sheath of non porous material at the base to provide rot resistance.

Steel sided pole barns

The siding and roofing material most commonly used today for such structures is galvanized and painted sheet steel. Today’s steel siding and roofing are far advanced over many of the materials used in the past, and can be expected to last many years without rusting through.

Pole barn simplicity equals variety

The simple nature of these pole buildings lends itself to a variety of types and shapes. A pole barn can be anything from a simple single sloped roof shed for equipment protection, to a traditional barn or shop, to a far more complicated structure like a home or business building.

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