What does storage for farm equipment or an antique car collection have in common with a cozy cabin in the woods? They can all begin with a pole barn. Cozy and rustic may not be the terms that first come to mind when you think of a pole barn, but with pole barn living the possibilities are nearly endless.
You begin with the basic construction then add your imagination and personal tastes. Once the exterior frame is complete, the floor plans and interior design can turn what some might think could only be used as storage space into the home of your dreams. Let’s look at some of the Do’s and Don’ts when planning pole barn living.
Do Know Your Local Codes
There is more involved in the process when you’re planning on living in a pole barn. It means including things like plumbing and electrical hookups will be necessary. And while those may be amenities that you’d also plan on if you were building a horse barn or hobby barn, there may be different requirements when the building will be used as a residence. So when planning your pole barn living space, it is important to know what the building codes are for your area before you get started.
Taking the time to conduct research and make sure you are in compliance with all your local codes will ensure your building plans allow you to install everything you want so that not only will you avoid the conflicts and delays of not being in compliance with local codes, but you’ll be confident that your pole barn living space will be suitable for your needs.
Do Go Bigger Than You Think
By design, pole barn structures can be very large and offer a wonderful open floor plan option. This design can mean that your pole barn living experience can allow you a much larger “footprint” for less than the cost of building a stick-frame home of the same size.
You’ll want to start with a pole barn that gives you all the space you’ll need. However, if it’s in the budget, going a bit bigger than you think you need gives you more flexibility in the long run. Once you have the basic structure, it is simple to segment rooms to give you the pole barn living space you desire. Unlike traditional stick-frame construction, expanding on a completed pole barn structure takes more work. This means when planning your pole barn living space, bigger is better to begin with.
Do Take Advantage of Pole Barn Options
When building a storage barn or hobby shop, the bare minimum may be fine. When considering pole barn living, you’ll be spending a lot of time in your finished pole barn so you’ll want to take advantage of as many options as possible to create a home that has the features you want and the aesthetics you desire.
The perfect way to accomplish that is with our Instant Quote tool. Here you’ll find lots of options for your new pole barn living quarters. You can personalize your pole barn with options like lean-tos which can provide great outdoor seating areas to enjoy the fresh air. Cupolas, doors, and windows are all other options that can add exterior character, natural lighting, and increased air circulation to your pole barn living experience.
Insulation is another option to take into consideration. Pole barns are easier to insulate than traditional stick-frame construction and have fewer thermal breaks. This makes them more energy efficient. You’ll want to consider whether your pole barn living area will include a garage or equipment storage area. If so, will all or part of your pole barn home be insulated?
Don’t Wing It
While pole barn structures are faster and more convenient to construct, as well as being less expensive, a pole barn home is still a major step that you should plan carefully. Keeping in mind that any pole barn is a major addition to your property, be sure to spend adequate time planning your pole barn to ensure your pole barn living space is enjoyable. There are plenty of things to think about just as you would with any traditional home construction.
Take the time to be sure that you have thought about – or consulted with professionals on – the building site, angle, drainage and more. And while basements are not necessary in the construction of a pole barn home, they are an option you can add to some or all of your home’s design.
Don’t Forget Your Pole Barn Maintenance
It would be great if one of the benefits to pole barn living was a maintenance-free home. Unfortunately, just like any building, pole barn construction does require maintenance to keep it in peak condition for decades to come.
The posts are the most important part of your pole barn. Moisture is the number one enemy, so keeping an eye out for signs of moisture is the best preventative maintenance you can do. Depending on how you handle the interior, airflow and ventilation is a key part of reducing moisture and improving air quality in your barn and certain pole barn options can simplify ventilation.
Finally, just like you would with any home, make sure to fix problems sooner than later. Being proactive about maintenance will almost guarantee a better your pole barn living experience than if you put off repairs and maintenance. When it comes to your home, kicking the can of repairs down the road will never result in fewer repairs, less expense or fewer headaches. The only way to avoid major repairs is to address them when they are minor issues!
So do start dreaming about your perfect home and don’t forget that with pole barn living the possibilities are nearly endless!
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