Winter Construction & Pole Sleeve Concerns

[bluetruck]

Hello Everyone,

We have a pole barn garage project in the works. Our company reached out today and they plan to start construction in late December. I am in Philadelphia.

Siding on the structure is bare pine board and batten. Will I be okay to leave this unpainted until Spring? (4-5 months)

The concrete guys obviously wont be pouring until its warm enough.

The project manager also suggested NOT to use pole sleeves. He is under the belief that they may in fact cause the pole to rot. The company provides a lifetime pole replacement warranty. Should I insist they use them anyway?

 

[tsherry]

if the poles have good drainage to well-drained soils below and arent completely encased in concrete, you should be fine. Our contractor used pre-cast concrete posts that extended above the cast-in-place footing--the wood is never in contact with earth or wet conditions. The pre-cast units are reinforced with heavy inverted "U" straps that bolt to the wood columns.

 

[redneckcharlie]

Hello Everyone,

We have a pole barn garage project in the works. Our company reached out today and they plan to start construction in late December. I am in Philadelphia.

Siding on the structure is bare pine board and batten. Will I be okay to leave this unpainted until Spring? (4-5 months)

The concrete guys obviously wont be pouring until its warm enough.

The project manager also suggested NOT to use pole sleeves. He is under the belief that they may in fact cause the pole to rot. The company provides a lifetime pole replacement warranty. Should I insist they use them anyway?

If you insist on them using them expect them to not honor the warranty. If a homeowner changes the spec on what my company warranty’s it is now on them. If they offer a lifetime warranty there is no reason for you to change anything.

 

[chaosracing]

I used the post sleeves when I built mine. I do not see how they will promote rot faster, unless they are installed incorrectly. I supplied mine for the builder since they had not used them before and handed them the instructions, which were very simple to follow.

Now as far as a lifetime warranty on the poles, its only as good as the company that gives you the warranty. Will they still be around in your lifetime? Who knows. I have seen numerous ones go belly up. Are they offering a pole wrap as part of the lifetime warranty? If not, question how they can offer a lifetime warranty with direct burial poles. Thats what the wraps and sleeves are there to prevent, direct soil contact.

As for leaving the wood unpainted till spring, talk to the painter about that.

Concrete can be poured in the winter as long as they use accelerators to speed up the curing.

 

[jack stand]

Hello Everyone,


The project manager also suggested NOT to use pole sleeves. He is under the belief that they may in fact cause the pole to rot. The company provides a lifetime pole replacement warranty. Should I insist they use them anyway?

If they use the (factory made) laminated poles, I'd trust them. They use the direct burry rated material for the first 6' or so for the post, that PT is not the same as "consumer" big box or local lumber yard, by a long shot. My favorite is the "perma column", a high strength concrete post with a bracket to attach the wood post to. They can also be had with a laminated wood post complete.

I have never used the sleeve's but I would think that as long as the top of the sleeve was above the elevation of the siding, no (rain) water should ever see the post and it would seem like it should be very effective. Rot usually happens at or just below finished grade (dirt).

 

[zoepop]

If it's at all possible, I'd try to refinish the pine. Do all sides. Even a coat of primer will help it last.

 

[ard]

If you insist on them using them expect them to not honor the warranty. If a homeowner changes the spec on what my company warranty’s it is now on them. If they offer a lifetime warranty there is no reason for you to change anything.

Lol

This seems to assume all companies last forever.....

a few builders have long term histories, but OP hasn't mentioned his builder name.