Questions about type of building?

[jlansaw]

I'm planning to build a garage/workshop this summer. Something around 36x50 or so with heated floor, finished interior, bathroom, 10' sidewalls, etc. I have been looking into post frame or pole buildings such as Cleary, Morton and Wick. I was wondering what the long term differences between this type of buiding and a stick built building would be? The stick building would have footings, blocks or concrete wall foundation right? Pole building, just laminated posts? Would there be any difference in construction cost, heating efficiency, longevity, etc. or does it just come down to personal preference?

Please help, this is turning into a real sickness! Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[kbs2244]

The biggest difference is the post style buildings do not depend on the concrete work for support.

The posts go below the frost line and depend on the friction along the sides of the hole to keep them from heaving.

“Conventual” foundations depend on spreading the weight of the building out over a wide area with long and wide footings.

Ground conditions can be important in this decision.

From a construction scheduling point of view, one advantage of the post style is that it can be put up before any concrete work is done.
You build the box and then can come back later to put in the floor.

From a long term value point of view, I think more depends on how you finish off the outside.
Many people are turned off on the “pole barn” idea because so many of them are steel sided “tin boxes.”
But there is no reason you cannot use wood or vinyl siding and make it look “conventual”

 

[jlansaw]

I live in a rural setting on 9 acres. The look of a pole shed would blend in fine. I'd just color coordinate to match the house.

 

[kbs2244]

A coat of paint can do wonders.

 

[JOECOOL]

In my opinion the pole barn style will costs less per square foot initially to build. The pole barn will probably cost more to insulate due to the way the wall's are made.
The best buy may be conventional wall framing ,steel siding,steel roofing.The advantage of steel roofing is weight saving's allow trusses every 8 feet instead of 2 feet. 2x4's purlins on edge hold up the roofing ,where shingles require plywood sheathing and tar paper.
The metal roof on purlins WILL BE a lot noiseier in the rain and storms.Pouring a floor will be a lot more trouble after the building is up due to walls in the way of the concrete spout. Most people do not pour the floor of a pole barn all the way to the outside wall's but instead put a pressure treated 2x on the inside of the poles and pour up to that.This gives a small advantage as in makes an air break and stops some (slight )heat loss thru to the outer walls.
A pole barn will be more difficult to hang and run a lot of things such as airlines ,outlets due to the poles being 8-9-or sometimes 10 foot apart. If your going to finish off the building inside like your house you will spend any savings plus doing this.
Check with your insurance man as a pole barn may differ in policy price and coverage.With a 14 foot height a stick built would be out of my experience so I won't comment on that.
You will love when it's done,just plan for everything you can now because changing in mid stream will always cost you more. Best of luck.

 

[harvero]

My father had a 24X24 pole building.

He had a concrete floor put in after the building was put up with road stone under it.

For years after that we had a constant issue with ground hogs getting under the slab and digging out the stone from under it. We had traps out and we gasses a few, but new ones always would return. I believe the fruit trees we had may of been the attraction.


I now believe that that either a real footing is needed to get rid of the ground hogs or perhaps some kind of buried wire mess.