Pole Barn vs Footings and Stick

[SerenityMidwest]

Okay, I thought this would be an easy decision . I grew up a farm kid, still think of myself a farm kid and living in Iowa probably am still a farm kid. I have been blessed and last summer we moved into a beautiful home on 15 acres in rural Iowa, there is a nice pad already graded that was put in 12 years ago with the house was built.

Here in lies the problem, I always thought I would build a nice pole barn, something from Morton, Wick or Pro-Line.

Both my father and my father in law have had or do construction, my father in law is from the east coast Philadelphia and is having a fit telling us that the pole barn will decrease the value of the home and property, since in his opinion its an “executive home”. I disagree but my mild Midwestern demeanor does not want to hear about this for the next 20 years from my louder father in law (sorry but you all from the area know your loud. )

QUESTION – I would like your opinions on what I should do from the two different looks? I don’t care but from a cost perspective the pole barn will be the best bang for the buck. Ideas guys and gals, any architects would love the input.

 

[Catadj78]

There are some really nice looking pole barns on here that more than likely a loud guy from the east coast would have no idea it was even a pole barn.

 

[kj_mustang]

Post frame construction is just the framing technique. You can finish the exterior and interior anyway you like.

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[astroracer]

Build the pole barn. Finish and shingle it to look like the house (or to compliment it). If it looks nice it doesn't really matter what build style it is.
If the in-laws have a problem with it THEY can pay the difference in cost... Or shut up...
Mark

 

[Catadj78]

Oh yeah. I'd build a pole barn just to piss off the fil but I do what I can to piss mine off when I do take the time to talk to him

 

[SerenityMidwest]

Oh yeah. I'd build a pole barn just to piss off the fil but I do what I can to piss mine off when I do take the time to talk to him

I tried that when we first got married and I lived 6 hours away, now I live 10 minutes away and see them all the time, I am just avoiding.

 

[SerenityMidwest]

Build the pole barn. Finish and shingle it to look like the house (or to compliment it). If it looks nice it doesn't really matter what build style it is.
If the in-laws have a problem with it THEY can pay the difference in cost... Or shut up...
Mark

So then if I put 8.5 lap cement siding on instead of K-Rib, so do I have to stick frame in walls or do I just run plywood on my runners?

 

[Catadj78]

I tried that when we first got married and I lived 6 hours away, now I live 10 minutes away and see them all the time, I am just avoiding.

My fil lives 10 mins away from us too. We rarely see each other but I make the most out of every opportunity I have. Lol.


You can install any siding you want. I went with metal but wish I would have went with something else

 

[GMCGarage]

Okay, I thought this would be an easy decision . I grew up a farm kid, still think of myself a farm kid and living in Iowa probably am still a farm kid. I have been blessed and last summer we moved into a beautiful home on 15 acres in rural Iowa, there is a nice pad already graded that was put in 12 years ago with the house was built.

Here in lies the problem, I always thought I would build a nice pole barn, something from Morton, Wick or Pro-Line.

Both my father and my father in law have had or do construction, my father in law is from the east coast Philadelphia and is having a fit telling us that the pole barn will decrease the value of the home and property, since in his opinion its an “executive home”. I disagree but my mild Midwestern demeanor does not want to hear about this for the next 20 years from my louder father in law (sorry but you all from the area know your loud. )

QUESTION – I would like your opinions on what I should do from the two different looks? I don’t care but from a cost perspective the pole barn will be the best bang for the buck. Ideas guys and gals, any architects would love the input.

You need to build it to his specs. You cannot live your life doing what you want, you need to do what he wants. Chances are he will out live you and he will have to deal with it then!

 

[sublime68charger]

picture of your house and picture of the pad where your building is going?

tell the FIL this is Iowa and things are different than the east coast!

Have him watch field of Dreams!

and then get out the tractor and mow down the corn field decreasing your crop revenue!LOL

 

[SerenityMidwest]

You need to build it to his specs. You cannot live your life doing what you want, you need to do what he wants. Chances are he will out live you and he will have to deal with it then!

There are times I feel he might!!! That would be funny. OH LIFE WHAT A BLAST!!!

 

[SerenityMidwest]

picture of your house and picture of the pad where your building is going?

tell the FIL this is Iowa and things are different than the east coast!

Have him watch field of Dreams!

and then get out the tractor and mow down the corn field decreasing your crop revenue!LOL

OH THE HUMANITY, that has been a topic of conversation many times!! Pics coming.

 

[SerenityMidwest]

Pad is to the West, ********* box.

 

[SerenityMidwest]

few more pics from today

 

[astroracer]

Check out some building styles on the FBI site.
http://www.fbibuildings.com/planning-tools/pole-barn-design-tool
Any good builder will know what to do once you outline the plan to them.
Mark

 

[SerenityMidwest]

Thanks Mark I will check it out.

 

[billspit]

I hate to say it, but your FIL may be correct, based on the appearance of your house. That's not a some farmhouse. But, build what the heck you want. There are some very nice pole barns as you have seen here.

Ask if he wants to pony up the difference in a pole barn and a stick built with brick exterior.

 

[SerenityMidwest]

I hate to say it, but your FIL may be correct, based on the appearance of your house. That's not a some farmhouse. But, build what the heck you want. There are some very nice pole barns as you have seen here.

Ask if he wants to pony up the difference in a pole barn and a stick built with brick exterior.

They are nice, I will keep looking. I am so glad I found the forum, its always nice to bounce the ideas off such a source of combined knowledge.

 

[larry_g]

Personally I have to ask what you intend to do in the building? Restore old cars and surround the building with parts cars? Do you need a show place? How big a building are you building? 30x30 vs 60x100 makes a difference.

I see in the background a couple of sheds and small houses. Is that indicative of the area or is your house more the norm. If your house is the norm then you should consider a nicer looking building. If your going make a nicer looking building with a finished interior then stick built becomes more favorable. If your storing stuff with little to no interior finish then pole starts to looks to be a better choice. I'm guessing that house is way above the community standard and therefore the shed will not make much difference in value.

Look beyond the construction style and understand the strong points of each style of building and which serves you the best.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[SerenityMidwest]

Thanks Larry,

The building will be for lack of a better term, a man cave, I do lots of things, mostly wood working, moderate furniture building, work on vehicles, tractors/mowers, would like to learn welding and machining and I am a Mack truck fanatic and would like to someday get my dream truck.

My vision is a nice metal epoxy floor, nice walls and a porch on the south side, lights under the eaves and the like. I was thinking a Raynor AlumaView Door facing the house.

Current size is 40x30 with a 12' porch on the south side.

The house is the only of its type in the area, most houses are standard ranch or ranch walkouts with a garage or standard pole barn, pole barns being the most popular.

 

[lakeroadster]

If the building was going in the back yard, I'd say Pole Barn based on what you are proposing to do with it.

But with the location you are proposing, I'd say the building needs to be more in line with the look and the construction of the home.

 

[SerenityMidwest]

Someday a Mack truck? 30x40 is not big enough for your endeavors.
40x60, then you will have enough space.

I want just the tractor to sit in this building, I am planning on a cold storage barn with some livestock areas down the road.

 

[pogrelis97]

I vote a pole barn with brick wanescoat, overhangs, gutters, cupola, and some nice windows to make it look a lot nicer than your standard pole barn.

 

[sublime68charger]

nice beautiful looking house!





I'd talk to Morton buildings they can due some great things to make it blend in with the house and not look out of place!

1/2 brick look on front and side to match the house look?

or are you looking to build this yourself or just pay to have it done?

 

[SerenityMidwest]

nice beautiful looking house!





I'd talk to Morton buildings they can due some great things to make it blend in with the house and not look out of place!

1/2 brick look on front and side to match the house look?

or are you looking to build this yourself or just pay to have it done?

Thanks!!

I've built homes and buildings before, I am by no means a professional, and was thinking of doing it myself for cost reasons, I have talked about doing Morton or using the Amish, they built the farm shop and their quality is up there.

I didn't think of the brick wainscot.

 

[kj_mustang]

If you go metal siding, you can dress it up by using a different color as wainscoting or do stone/brick veneer wainscoting with the metal siding. Cupolas and porches definitively make the building look better. Shameless plug for mine.

 

[kwb]

With the way you drive in there - nothing is going to look good to most future buyers.

Looking at the site I would either move it back behind the house or change how the driveway comes up to the house. It is a nice looking place and at 15 acres it is in the gentleman farmer sort of place so a shop isn't unexpected, it just shouldn't be the first thing you see when you come into the buildings on the property.

Your FIL is mostly right on this one.

 

[matt_i]

Putting the overhangs & gutters on it adds a nice touch imo.

I still like the idea of permacolumn post-frame w bookshelf girts, seems like a fast way to build it and get good "hybrid" construction that you could easily insulate later. Also my opinion.

 

[SerenityMidwest]

With the way you drive in there - nothing is going to look good to most future buyers.

Looking at the site I would either move it back behind the house or change how the driveway comes up to the house. It is a nice looking place and at 15 acres it is in the gentleman farmer sort of place so a shop isn't unexpected, it just shouldn't be the first thing you see when you come into the buildings on the property.

Your FIL is mostly right on this one.

I'm thinking of moving the part of the drive way so guests can approach the house to the front with a circle drive, I agree with the first thing they see, but I don't like people parking at the garage and having to walk all the way around.


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[padroo]

My neighbor has a garage he details cars in and it has a high pitched shingles roof, brick front and siding the other sides and the framework is pole construction.

My back garage is concrete block and everyone calls it a pole barn.

So you can build a hybrid version of a pole barn.

 

[finn]

Normall, I'd say it doesn't matter.

Here, I'd go stick built.

Cost will be similar if the goal is to have a man cave when finished.

 

[zigzagfrog]

So then if I put 8.5 lap cement siding on instead of K-Rib, so do I have to stick frame in walls or do I just run plywood on my runners?

Frame the walls to add insulation on the inside and as nailers for sheeting on the outside. Frame for doors and windows working around the girts. Finish the outside to match the house, or do a nice contrasting color scheme. I did mine with beveled cedar siding on the body and sawn shingles in the gables. Good luck

Zzf

 

[kwb]

If it was me and trying to put lap on a pole building I would skip the girts and just frame an infill wall between the posts. Sheeting going over the poles. You want your siding to hit real wood and not be held just by the sheeting.

This also makes it easy if you want to get the roof up through a contractor and finish everything else yourself.

But at that point you might as well just stick frame the thing and get out of the posts in the ground problem.

 

[DCarr2]

just add flowers to the driveway side, and some nice bushes... and a big sign that points to the house

 

[SerenityMidwest]

Thanks all for the great ideas, I'll start a thread once construction begins.

 

[ryan77]

I see pole barns in the distance, go pole barn, your not in a stuck up HOA here, do the wainscoting and overhangs and it will look fine next to the house, it aint like all your neighbors have the same house, and everything is matching, in your area a accessory building can only increase the value.

 

[38Chevy454]

I think your idea is fine since you are in a rural area. As several suggested, you can dress up the outside with some brick or other colors to make it look less like a big uniform color box. The construction technique seems to be more a factor of the size you intend to build. Since you want to have a lot of storage space and working room, think bigger size. You will never regret being bigger, but too small will be an issue. So determine your size first, then work with some costs and figure out what construction technique will work best. The outside can be made to have appearance whatever you want.

 

[Radix2]

If you are doing siding and brick, a pole building makes no sense. You need a foundation under brick in Iowa.

 

[bry@n]

If the pole barn was going to be in the back of your property, I'd agree with you. Being that it will be that close, I'd go stick built. I am really in the same position as you and haven't built anything because I can't find a pole barn design that I like enough to put close to the house.

Most say the cost is the same overall, just a matter if you paying upfront (stick) or later with trying to finish the interior (PB). Who am I to say, I haven't done it yet.

You have a beautiful home, I'd tend to agree with your FIL, but I'm a loud east coaster

 

[SerenityMidwest]

I see pole barns in the distance, go pole barn, your not in a stuck up HOA here, do the wainscoting and overhangs and it will look fine next to the house, it aint like all your neighbors have the same house, and everything is matching, in your area a accessory building can only increase the value.

Yeah there are no darn HOA's here, cant stand em!