Pole barns have grown in popularity over the years for a reason. Whether storing farm equipment, protecting vehicles, housing livestock… they all can benefit from pole barns and garages.
But wait, there’s more:
Owners aren’t stuck with rigid storage options. You can customize pole barn features to better suit your needs.
They’re also relatively affordable and can easily last decades with proper maintenance and care.
Let’s dig into:
- Why Pole Barns Are Smart for Storage
- Customize Pole Barn Features That Make Sense
- Increase Your ROI With Your Pole Barn
- Maintaining Your Pole Barn For The Long Haul
Why Pole Barns Are Smart for Storage
If you are in the market for a storage building, pole barns should be at the top of your list. They are incredibly versatile and can be used for virtually any application. The method of construction used to build pole barns is known as post-frame construction.
Large vertical posts are anchored into the ground to support the building. There are no interior load bearing walls. This creates a large open space, free to be used as you see fit.
Pole barns can be used for residential applications, agricultural, commercial and much more. Farm equipment, vehicles, boats, RVs, machinery, hay, tools… the list goes on.
What you should really care about, though:
Pole barns can easily last 40-60 years. That’s right! Some have even been known to last over 100 years with proper care. Talk about a long ROI!
Since there are no interior walls, you can make adjustments to the layout in the future. Add shelving, partitions, you name it. Doing this with a stick-built building would be nearly impossible.
Customize Pole Barn Features That Make Sense
When building a pole barn for storage, you can customize pretty much every feature. The building is basically a shell you can fill however you want.
Here are some features you should consider when customizing your pole barn.
Doors
You have many door options to choose from. You can have overhead doors which are perfect for vehicle storage. You can even have slide in doors to save space or walk-in doors.
Think about the storage you will be using. Farm equipment will need something much wider than your typical garage door.
Planning out where your doors go can make a world of difference for workflow.
Interior
Since you don’t have to worry about interior support walls, you can customize your layout how you want.
Some storage pole barn owners will go with an open floor plan. This is perfect if you plan on storing large equipment.
You can even add partitions to section off areas. If you’re wanting to go the extra mile, you could even add a loft.
Workshop areas are another huge perk. You can have your building built with workbench space.
Climate Control
This all depends on what you will be storing. If you need a controlled temperature, you will definitely want to insulate your building.
Not only will this help keep temperatures consistent, but it will save you money on energy bills if you plan on heating or cooling the space.
You’ll also want to think about ventilation. Just like in your home, you don’t want moisture to build up and cause damage to whatever you store.
Install ridge vents, exhaust fans, sidewall vents to help circulate the air and prevent moisture.
Electrical & Lighting
You’ll most likely want your storage building to have electricity. This will come in handy when you need to use power tools or find that connector you forgot you had stored somewhere.
Lighting is another great feature to add. Not only will this help you see what you’re looking for, but it also provides safety while working in your storage building.
Consider LED lighting and motion detectors. This will save you money on your light bill and is convenient when you don’t want to hunt down a light switch in the dark.
Increase Your ROI With Your Pole Barn
Pole barns aren’t just a storage solution. They can increase property value, too!
You want your investment to last. Here are some tips to ensure you get the most out of your money.
Start with a plan.
You should know what you will be using your building for before you start building. Will you only be using it for current storage needs? What about down the road? It’s always best to build bigger than you need now. Expanding later can end up costing you more.
Location is key.
Believe it or not, where you place your building makes a huge difference. You don’t want to place your building in a low area where water can pool.
Make sure you leave enough room around your building to allow for traffic. You don’t want to accidentally hit or damage your building while moving items in or out.
Property values have been shown to increase 5-15% by simply having a well built pole barn on your land. That’s a pretty good reason to take your building seriously.
Use quality materials.
Going with cheap materials will cost you more in the long run. You want to use quality materials that will last. You’ll have less maintenance doing so and they’ll last you longer.
Maintaining Your Pole Barn For The Long Haul
The last thing you want is to spend all of this money just to have to spend more on maintenance. Use these simple tips to help your pole barn last.
Inspect Often
Walk around your building a few times a year and look for:
- Loose/failing fasteners
- Rust on metal panels
- Cracks in foundation
- Pests
- Drainage issues
Identify minor issues early before they grow into major problems problems. The sooner you take care of things, the cheaper they’ll be.
Keep those Gutters Clean
Cleaning gutters is essential for pole barn maintenance.
Clear your gutters at least twice a year to keep them free of debris. Especially if you live in an area that drops a bunch of leaves in the fall.
You want water to flow away from your building. Use splash blocks or install underground drainage pipes to move water away.
Rust Happens
Metal panels get rusty when the coating is scratched or damaged. Small problem? Fix it right away. Small rust spots are easy to fix. Just grab some rust-inhibiting primer and spray paint.
If you let rust sit, it will spread like wildfire and cause holes in your panels.
Doors Take a Beating
Doors are convenient. However, they take a beating. Make sure to lubricate the hinges, track and rollers on a regular basis.
If you have any worn weatherstripping, replace it. You want to keep your building sealed and pests out.
Overhead door springs are dangerous. When they start to weaken, hire a professional to replace them for you.
Wrapping it up
Don’t settle for boring storage options. Customizable pole barn features allow you to get creative with your options.
Having a pole barn can benefit anyone who owns a little something that needs protecting.
With an average lifetime of 40-60 years, your investment will last you plenty of years to come.