How to Erect a Pole Barn

Preparation

• 1

  Obtain materials. The easiest approach is to purchase a pole barn building kit, which may include anything from the basic poles and trusses to a full range of building supplies. Consult your local home supply stores for available options, or see Resources.

• 2

  Select a site for your pole barn. This should be a large area of firm, level ground where water will not drain at any time of the year. Check with your local utility companies to make sure you will not hit water pipes or other utility lines.

• 3

  Contact your local building department to find out whether you will need a permit for the project. Some municipalities require permits for any new structures on the property, while others do not. Be prepared to offer plans and dimensions for your barn, and be sure to specify that it will be for agricultural rather than residential use.

• 4

  Grade the site, so it is completely level, and measure out the corners to ensure the plot is square. It is crucial that your corners be exactly 90 degrees; even a tiny error can throw off the alignment for the rest of the building.

Construction

• 5

  Dig post holes at all four corners, and at 12-foot intervals along the sides of the barn. The holes should be at least 24 inches deep.

• 6

  Insert the 4-by-4 posts and pour concrete fillers around the foot of each post, keeping the posts braced and straight while the concrete sets. In dry climates, pour at least 2 inches of concrete. In climates with damper soil, pour at least 6 inches. After the concrete has completely hardened, fill the holes with soil or gravel for drainage, and tamp down firmly.

• 7

  Create a building frame using 2-by-4 lumber. Between each two posts, nail three boards: one across the top, one across the bottom, and one across the middle. This will provide a basic structure to which to attach your poles.

• 8

  Attach another set of 2-by-4 boards, or "stringers," along the top of the poles to support the roof trusses. Make sure the stringers are level and nailed securely, as they will be bearing a substantial amount of weight.

• 9

  Lift the trusses into place on the roof. This is most safely done with the aid of a backhoe or other construction equipment, as the first truss has almost nothing to brace it and can easily tip during installation if the task is done by hand. Anchor each truss securely to the stringers using screws and truss plates. Trusses should be placed at both ends of the barn, and at 4-foot intervals in between.

• 10

  Nail 2-by-4 boards, or "purlins," lengthwise across the trusses to provide a frame for the roofing. Purlins should be attached at 2-foot intervals. Make sure that the lumber used for the ridgeline and the eaves is perfectly straight and unwarped.

• 11

  Install the metal roofing overlapping the sheets by at least 6 inches and allowing a slight overhang above the eaves. Fill the cracks between sheets with waterproof adhesive caulking. For an extra guard against leaks, squeeze an additional blob of caulk over each nail or screw after it is driven in.

• 12

  Secure lengths of galvanized ridge cap along the ridge line overlapping by about 12 inches.

• 13

  Leave the barn walls open for a simple-covered enclosure, or install siding, using corrugated metal, plywood or vinyl.