The post-and-beam construction methods used to build pole barns are extremely versatile. Some people think that they're only appropriate for agricultural buildings, but that's just not the case. While pole barns are certainly still used for this traditional application, they're also found in all kinds of other places now, from huge commercial buildings to Kansas Pole Sheds in people's backyards. Read on to find out about just a few of the most common types of pole buildings found in Kansas and beyond.
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Pole barn construction techniques are perfect for commercial storage facilities. Because the weight of these buildings is transferred to the ground via large posts and roof beams rather than roof trusses and load-bearing walls, they can feature completely open floor plans. Business owners who want to expand into storing RVs, boats, and other large items indoors will see an incredible return on investment from pole barn construction.
Most residential garages are smaller than commercial storage facilities, but they have largely the same requirements. A garage needs to feature plenty of open space inside and openings wide enough for cars to get through. Just creating a space large enough for a garage door in a stick-framed structure would create engineering complications, but pole barns don't even need to be modified. The same post-and-beam configuration that allows for open floor plans also creates large gaps between structural elements, so there's no need to reinforce the area before installing a door.
It's usually the affordability of post-and-beam construction that draws property owners to it as a means of installing outbuildings on their residential, commercial, or agricultural properties. Pole barns are so versatile that they can be constructed on just about any scale, so outbuildings, in this case, could be anything from small backyard sheds to farm equipment storage facilities or even private airline hangers. The sky's the limit when it comes to applications.
Until recently, it was difficult to get a building permit for a home created using post-and-beam construction. Thankfully, all that is changing as more people across Kansas and beyond begin to see the benefits of using this unique building technique to create modern, beautiful, completely personalized homes.
The open floor plans and large spaces between structural supports allow home designers to incorporate all kinds of unique elements that would be prohibitively expensive in traditional homes. Bay windows, cathedral ceilings, and greater levels of insulation are all possible at lower prices than those associated with the same features in stick-framed homes.
Finding the right contractor is the key to getting any building project completed on time, under budget, and up to the designer's specifications. However, it's even more important to find the right contractors for post-and-beam construction projects because these types of structures are very different from their stick-framed counterparts. It takes specialized experience and expertise to erect a pole barn of any sort, large or small, so working with a company that has at least a few decades of dedicated experience.
