You might want to come up with your barn and don’t know whether to go for pole barns or steel barns. If you’re going to build a barn, you might have figured out already that it is cheaper than hiring a contractor; the big question is: will you assemble a pole barn or steel barn.

What is a Pole Barn?

You have likely seen a pole barn before. A pole barn is a structure made of wooden poles to provide support to barns. They have been in existence for an extended period and are still being constructed because they are efficient storage spaces and are built very quickly.

What is a Steel Frame Barn?

A steel frame barn is a metal building that uses steel for internal support and fabrication. Steel frame barns are mostly used for storing heavy equipment but are versatile. Nowadays, steel frame barns are preferred to barns made of poles because they can keep heavyweights, are durable, are healthy, and have a similar appearance to barns made of poles.

Difference Between Pole Barns and Steel Frame Barns 

1. Structure and Construction

Steel frame barns are erected and constructed differently from barns. Barn poles are made with wooden poles set apart from each other at 96o, forming the frames. The frames are anchored in the soil a few feet deep and help in supporting the building.

Most barns made of poles have soil on their floor. To construct a pole barn, dig out holes and place poles in. With the rods in, attach the roof and exterior to finish your building. You can leave the floor unattended.

Steel frame barns, on the other hand, are constructed with steel columns. The steel columns are joined to the rafter beams to create a frame for the building. The structure is anchored in the concrete foundation for every 20-25 feet. Most steel frame barns have concrete on their flow.

When constructing steel frame barns, you need the right foundation to place your steel columns. When the foundation is in place, fix the roof and the exterior. All equipment is precision perfect and pre-engineered or prefabricated with steel columns, giving you a comfortable installation.

2. Durability and Resistance to Weather

Products made of steel are known to be resistant to different weather conditions and durable. Even if the wood has been used to construct building s for a long time, people no longer use it to build the agricultural building.

Since barns made of poles are made of wood, they are prone to weather damage like natural deterioration, mold, and rotting. Also, after staying for a long time, wood warps make the roof open up small gaps. While the holes might not be a big issue at first, you will have to repair it when combined with other factors like rot and leaking. With steel, you won’t have to deal with such problems because it is resistant to weather damage.

Also, barns made of poles are at risk of damage from birds perching fire, moisture, lightning, and termites. Steel frame barns, on the other hand, are resistant to all these types of damage. With steel frame barns, the only risks you can encounter are water leaks and rust. However, you can avoid problems by maintaining and constructing your building well.

3. Value and Quality

Barns made of poles have been in existence since the 1930s because they were easy to build and cut on costs than other traditional construction methods. However, wood and steel can never be reached in durability- steel is way more durable.

It is also not cost-efficient to construct barns made of poles as you will be required to repair the barn regularly. Your steel building will remain in shape for a more extended period than a pole barn. On average, steel frame barns last for decades while barns made of poles last 15-20 years if you regularly maintain them.

4. Insurance

When insuring your building, barns made of poles will cost you more, and steel frame barns will go for less. Barns are charged more because they are seen as riskier structures because of their susceptibility to weather and natural damages. You can save up to 30% on insurance if you have a steel frame barn.

5. Maintaining

Pole barns shave to be frequently repaired and maintained because they wear down and decay over time. Therefore, after constructing a steel building, you will keep on paying and improving for the building years after owning it. On the other hand, steel frame barns require little or no maintenance, and you might even stay without incurring any costs for decades.

6. Sustaining

Steel is a sustainable building material because it can be recycled countless times. If you no longer need your steel frame barn, therefore, you can use the materials to construct something else instead of throwing them away. Wood, on the contrary, can be easily damaged and is unsustainable. Even if the wood is treated why chemicals to last long, it cannot be recycled because the chemicals used are not friendly to the environment.

7. Roofing

Why are you building a barn? Is it to store tall equipment, a boat, or a large RV? Do you want to leave some extra space on your second floor? If yes, steel building might be what you want to construct. Steel barns have a variety of roofing options, and you can choose the height you want.

Barns made of poles do not give you much control over the roofing, and most barns made of poles have a 4:12 roof pitch. The structures used for support allow only limited heights, and the headroom is limited to the bottom of the wood rafter.

How do Barns Made of Poles Work? 

If you have steeled for a pole barn, first find out how it is constructed. In most pole barn construction methods, wooden poles are buried in the ground and become the roof columns. Most constructors making these types of barns use tin or wood to secure them in the stakes through nailing or screwing.

Many people prefer barns made of poles because they are cheap, and they leave room for expansion- you can add as many features as you want, like steel insulation and framing. However, they also have disadvantages.

Since the poles are buried in the ground, they shift and decay after some time and will force you to maintain the barn regularly. Some areas don’t consider barns made of poles as permanent structures, and you might have a problem when building in such areas. Also, insuring barns made of poles is expensive since the barns are not very sturdy like their competitors.

Why Should You Build A Barn Made of Poles Instead of A Steel Frame Barn?

On most occasions, barns made of poles are compared with steel frame barns. The columns of steel frame barns are anchored with a concrete foundation during construction. This means they last longer than barns made of poles and have a more straightforward construction method.

Also, steel frame barns are weather resistant to minor damages related to weather like rotting, cracking, mold, and even severe injuries related to temperature. Unlike barns made of poles, which deteriorate after some time, steel frame barns are made from a material that does not rot in soil, is hygienic, and does not require regular maintenance like repainting.

Cost of Constructing Barns Made of Poles vs. Steel Fame Barns

When comparing the prices of the two construction methods, barns made of poles are cheaper. However, steel frame barns are also 60% less expensive than traditional methods of construction. Even if you spend less money constructing barns made of poles, you might use the extra cash to maintain and replace poles if they rot.

You might incur even more costs if you want to expand the barn later. A steel frame barn might be expensive to construct but will economically and physically give you savings. Also, steel frame barns require less insurance money hence help you in saving. Some steel frame barns even come with a warranty that lasts for decades and will keep your energy costs.

Which Barn is Right for You?

Now that you know the difference between the two, how will you know which type of barn is right for you?

A barn made of poles is right for you if:

• You don’t want to deal with rust.
• You want the historical look of barns made of poles.
• You prefer dirt floors to concrete floors.

A steel frame barn is right for you if: 

• You care about durability, long lifespan, and weather resistance.
• You are enticed by opportunities that help you save like maintenance, energy, and insurance.
• You are not ready for long term maintenance and repairs.
• You consider lightning, damage by moisture, and termites a threat to your barn.
• You want an environmentally friendly building.

When building barns, always consider what you want to store in the barn. Barns made of poles should not be used with valuable items because construction is not sanitary and is poisonous. Also, barns made of poles might fall off and make you lose your materials. Since you will be building a barn for storing items, choose the safest method – steel frame barn.