“Pole barn” construction questions

Russell King

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I am planning on moving an existing structure and adding some shed roofs onto it for a barn/storage/workshop. The existing structure is an odd two story building that is sitting on concrete piers and will be sitting on concrete piers when it is moved. That is because the property is in a zone A 100 year flood plain. I have never built any substantial structure and have a few questions about the additional shed roofs and support.

Here is a picture of what it will generally look like but not nearly so nice. And the lean to sheds will probably be enclosed instead of open. The area underneath this structure will be covered with crushed rock (gravel) not concrete.
IMG_0689.jpeg

Since the existing structure will be on concrete piers that happen to be going 15 feet into the ground due to the poor soil on this property I was talking to the foundation contractor about having him drill the holes for the supports. These supports will be 8 inch diameter gun barrel pilings that can be pressure treated to 0.60 pcf and then coated with a polymer coating.

In my experience any pole barn construction that I was around simply buried the poles into the ground, sometimes concreted sometimes not. Depending on the site conditions those poles would rot out in some amount of time. Some people constructed their pole barns just sitting on concrete piers. But with the pressure treatment and polymer coating on the underground portion that should extend the life of these columns probably past my expiration date of life.

Now for the questions:

Is it better to sink the poles into the ground so they can take shear load or is it okay to just have them attached to concrete piers (that will be seven feet deep due to soil conditions)?

How would you attach the poles to the concrete? Simpson has a PBV (Post Base for Vigas) that look acceptable for this type of structure since the tops of the poles will all be attached together by the top rails and also the girts.

Any other suggestions on how to construct this structure?

Sorry for the long post.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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There are a lot of factors that I ask my clients when I build them a building.
I also take into account the area and factors like wind, cold, wet, and what the exact purpose they want to use it for, as those factors all dictate the proper build for the conditions.
I'm a huge fan of monolithic foundations as they really don't give a hoot as to what kind of ground you're putting the building on.
I'm also a huge fan of hydronic heat.

I also don't like poles buried into the ground because no matter what you do they will degrade.

Newer pole bar posts will be glue lam posts and not solid wood posts.

If you want a pole built design then I would go concreate in sonotubes with CB66 or CB88 post bases
or Midwest Perma Colum swp bases

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Russell King

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Austin, Texas
most column bases are for rectangular columns but I want to use round instead. I have found some for timber framed columns and the Simpson ones. I like these but will discuss that with the contractor. I just have to get over thinking they need to carry much in the bending direction.


Thank you for your input.
 

MapleLeafFarmer

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different norms if different areas for sure.

we get frost down to 7+ feet so we sink our post for poll barns down to 8+ feet.

This is what the top shelf commercial builders here are doing.

Poles normally ply constructed with 2X8's, 5 ply nailed and glued very common, portion in contact with ground is PWF, and above ground portion not PWF, holes are back filled with clean stone for drainage and about 6" of stone at bottom of hole for post to sit on, no concrete footing at bottom of hole, spaced 4' apart.

We are in an area that is very well drained (sandy soil type) and no termites.
 
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Russell King

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Austin, Texas
Why round? They are a royal pain any time you want to attach something.
I like the aesthetics of the round columns and they are technically better than rectanglular column. If you bump into them you generally won’t knock a corner off.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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Round poles for a pole barn are pretty cost prohibitive as the construction costs should be off the scale.
I would think your contractor would steer you away from that building material real quick!