You can use regular square posts, round poles, or old utility poles to build your structure. If you would like, you have the option of using logs you’ve felled or found on your own. Whatever wood you use, make sure that it is pressure-treated and rot resistant so that the integrity of your structure is not placed in jeopardy. You will need 2x4s and 2x6s to frame the structure and add the roof trusses and lumber for the roof framing. Use plywood to create the walls. You have the option of adding wood siding on the outside of the plywood to give added appeal to the appearance.
Make sure you have rust resistant roof metal for the roofing. You will also need a ridge cap to cover the center of the roof.
You will need a tool to use to dig the holes for the poles. You can choose between using a post-hole digger or a tractor-powered auger. The latter is obviously less time consuming, although it is much more expensive to rent. Another option is to check for a truck mounted hole drilling service in your area. You will need a laser-level and carpenter’s level, an electric drill with the attachment for roofing screws, a hammer, a miter or circular saw, and a hand saw. You have the option of renting a backhoe for this project, although it is not required. You can also use a large tamper to help level the post-holes for the poles. [1] X Research source
Walk around your space to decide how wide/long you want the barn to be. Once you’ve gotten a general space marked off, take exact measurements and keep track of them on a notepad. Decide how high you want your structure to be. If you plan on using it as a garage or a storage shed, a minimum of 8 feet (2. 4 m) is required. You can build it as tall as you would like though; just remember that you will have to work on the roof from the tops of the poles once they are in the ground. Make sure that the area you choose has good drainage to avoid flooding in the rainy season.
Check to see if any base rock is needed to build up the floor of the barn. If so, then add 4 to 6 inches of decomposed granite or a similar type of smaller, easily compacted gravel material for a dirt floor and drainage.
You don’t have to build a foundation for a pole barn, but it is vital that your posts are stable so that even extreme weather conditions and accidents won’t move them. Be sure to consider the primary wind direction and build accordingly. Measure your poles or square posts to see how wide you need to dig the holes. Make sure to add a few inches of width to the hole so that the posts are guaranteed to fit. Keep your poles no more than eight feet apart. You need your structure to be strong by keeping these foundation poles close enough together that they aren’t each forced to subjected to too great of a load. However, you can also research larger pole barn plans, which may require placing the poles further apart than eight feet.
Make sure that you have staking and bracing material for two sides of the poles to keep them in place. It is important to prevent them from moving. They will need to be left for 2-3 days to give time for the concrete to set completely. This way you don’t run the risk of accidentally knocking the poles over before they have been stabilized. Make sure the corners are exactly square—at 90 degrees—and the spacing between the poles is exact, so that you won’t have problems completing your pole structure later.
Use scaffolding or a sturdy ladder to climb to the top of each of the poles and remove the excess height. You can do this right before you install the roof support beams. If you would prefer not to climb the poles afterwards to measure them, you have the option of inserting each pole in the hole before concrete, measure the distance on the base, removing them, and then cutting them to size. This requires a lot of labor hauling the poles in and out of your post-holes though.
These are the boards that connect between each of the poles, making a giant rectangular shape.
Miter the edges of the upwards-angled boards so that they meet flat together at the joints. When they are put together, lift them up (with the help of others) onto the roof beams. Use metal plates to secure them to the base, lining them up over the poles. Add a beam down the center for added support. If you are building a larger barn, then check with a local truss company for costs of building trusses, delivery, and crane service for setting them.
The number you use will vary depending on the size of your structure but at least one additional board should be placed on each section. If you plan on adding walls, nail 2x4s along the perimeter of the structure at the base. This will give the siding something to attach to on the bottom. Consider using one size bigger board that has been pressure treated and that is at least 6 inches off the ground to protect from rotting. Add boards between the beams to act as studs for a door or window. Create a frame for a door by nailing together boards in the shape and size you want, and cutting out any excess pieces. If you are going to build any stalls, feed or tack rooms, or feeding mangers with in ground posts, then use pressure treated boards for framing that can come into contact with ground.
You usually need to put down a felt or tar-paper underlayment before the shingles.
