How much does it cost to build a pole barn and what kind is best..

[setxjeff]

After several hurricanes and the problem with modern treated wood rotting quickly in our local soil, I have went to all metal buildings. Have bought 3 from Mueller as a kit. 18x20 wood floor fully enclosed, 30x40x12 shop
concrete floor with 30x40 attached carport roof and a 12x24 loafing shed dirt floor. Erected them ourselves.
We live in southeast texas 5 miles from the saltwater line and unless you find bridging Timbers the treated wood rots at the soil line within a few years. The loafing shed is all galvanized.

 

[sunandsand]

My preference is to build with galvanized steel. Nothing eats it, it won't burn, won't rot, won't warp. Light gauge steel is easy to work with, all you really need is a screw gun and a cutoff saw. Goes up quickly, quietly (no hammering) and very little waste. Once you are done, you are done, no constant repainting, checking for termites, bugs or mice, no warps, no sags, no decayed areas and so forth. Strong, easy to modify, if you do it right, it laughs at the weather. Get a Simpson Strong Tie catalog (free downloads) for some ideas on how to make connections and joints, learning to put in the screws takes 15 minutes, you have to develop the touch to take off the pressure just before the screw is all the way in, or it will strip out. Make sure you find and pick up ALL the screws you dropped, your tires will thank you. Steel is also 100% recyclable, your structure probably has some of grandpa's Buick in it.

Google is your friend, "DIY light gauge steel framing" etc.

Best Regards,

Mike/Florida

 

[Fxfymn413]

If you plan to pull permits have you spoken to your local building department about your plans? If you are going to build without permits or inspections you still need to follow what the local requirements are since mom nature doesn't care if you got a permit or not.

I would be surprised if the local codes do not require engineered and stamped plans because of the wind load. If you use trusses they must come with engineered stamps.

 

[Dennis59]

If you want to build a 20 by 40 pole barn, what kind should you build, and what should it cost? Is metal or wood better, and where can you get the materials or is a prefab cost the same considering time and effort...

First you should check to see if you need any permits which might have certain requirements. If you have a building center in your area you most likely will be able to get a print out of the materials you need for your shed. You will be shocked at how much materials went up becouse shortages. If you have not built a pole shed before you will need help setting the post, rafters and installing the metal on the roof and depending on the height of the side walls you will need help for that too.

 

[ovrszd]

Here is current materials only from Menards for a 24x40 with 3 enclosed sides

View attachment 737663

Good post for educational purposes. I was going to suggest Menard's as well. Great online build it yourself planner. Great for seeing the different options and an excellent guide for materials required and their cost.

 

[ovrszd]

Good stuff in this thread. I always enjoy seeing other's pics and ideas.

My only meaningful input is this. There's two things that will "age" equipment. Sunlight and Water. Sunlight is ten times harder on equipment than Water. So if I was building an open sided structure I would want it large enough to create shade from mid morning to sundown.

I have a 15' deep lean-to on the East end of my machine shed. It's almost worthless for Sunlight protection until noon. It's better than nothing.

 

[Farmboy53]

I built a 20x35 barn 4yrs ago for under $ 5,000 by using cedar poles cut from my property, 4x8 wood siding, Concrete footings and pressure treated framing. Last year I added about a $1,000 in solar power. All the construction was done by my wife,my brother, a friend and myself. I made beams from doubled 2x10s and put on a metal roof. My tractor with FEL helped raise the posts an d the 8 4x6 doors .Be sure doors are high enough to allow additional pavement or flooring

 

[Dedaisy]

If you want to build a 20 by 40 pole barn, what kind should you build, and what should it cost? Is metal or wood better, and where can you get the materials or is a prefab cost the same considering time and effort...

As an alternative. Did you look at pony wall structures from Clearspan. Look at their steals and deals. I put up a 24x26 with 16 ft of center head. I used 3000 lb cement blocks from leftover mixes from a cement plant but you could use pressure treated posts instead. Very quick to put up. Mine has been up 12 years and no problems. I also when back and added an additional 48’ 5 years after the initial shelter making 60’ long. Total initial cost was $7000 with breathable end panel at one end. The addition cost another $7000. It is used for round Bale hay storage and equipment repairs. That’s a 60x26 barn. Used gravel and Asphalt millings for floor. It stays very dry inside.

 

[Gord Baker]

Posts in the middle or not. I opted for posts. That saved the expense of trusses and less square footage for roofing materials. My posts are set in a 12'x12' grid, with a 1/12 pitch front to back. I have added some bracing and graveled under it since this was taken. There was some controversy on my framing job on here, so some will probably advise better ways to frame the roof than what you see here. This works well enough for me.


View attachment 737550

I would suggest 5-6' long 2x6 diagonals Bolted to all perimeter posts at the roof line. Nice job.
Low end towards the West?

 

[Fla FA]

If you want to build a 20 by 40 pole barn, what kind should you build, and what should it cost? Is metal or wood better, and where can you get the materials or is a prefab cost the same considering time and effort...

Another thought. I did much of the site work, but used CCI buildings- Fort Pierce (CARPORTSANYWHERE, INC. P.O. Box 776 Starke FL 32091) to build two tall buildings for me, one 22x48 and the other 30x60. One building has 14 foot entrances and doors, the other has 12 foot entrances and doors. The buildings installed were about $48,000 together. I used concrete footers and gravel floor. With the footers the total price for the two buildings was about $64,000 in 2019.

The buildings are hurricane rated. I have been very happy with them.

 

[metalchomper]

I was designing my shop around pole barn type design. I want insulation and the inside paneled with either osb or steel. I'm now leaning towards SIPs construction. 50x60x16 will take about 5 days after the slab is ready. After 5 days I will have a fully insulated shop with osb interior. I was planning to build the walls and insulate later with the pole barn style. With SIPs, it will be done in a week what would have taken me at least a year to do on a pole barn.

 

[JWR]

If you want to build a 20 by 40 pole barn, what kind should you build, and what should it cost? Is metal or wood better, and where can you get the materials or is a prefab cost the same considering time and effort...

I did not even bother to read the umpteen other responses. I will tell you without any hesitation or doubt: The best kind is built by a local (nearby to you) company that will erect it completely in about 2 to at most 3 days. They will do it FAR better than you can and it will both look great and be durable for many years. These companies have become an absolute marvel to me in the last couple of decades -- quick, efficient, and high quality end results. Use prefinished baked finish steel. The roofing type that is custom cut to length and is NOT pieced to make your longest sloped roof dimension. Typically the entire materials list is delivered on a trailer truck. You prep the site, get it level, do the ditching, etc. They erect the building. It depends of course on widely varying needs, pocketbooks and wants but I strongly say have a concrete floor put in it. I was foolish and did not do that and sure wish I had.

It is up to you but the best buy in my opinion is prefinished steel all around (sides, roof) using 4x6 verticals. You decide whether you want insulation, skylight translucent panels (you will want several) , how many doors & windows, ventilation to prevent sweating, etc. You can get the specs on the basic building from the installing company and then beef it up or make changes you want. Like closer spacing of sheathing boards under the roof, heavier trusses if you think you need them, etc.



Other items of experience: Bigger is better than what ever you were planning, guaranteed. Taller is almost as certain to be better also. It cannot be built too big.

 

[Falco de Negro]

But how do you support it in the middle with no poles??

Either a pole barn with trusses or a metal building with arch beams that go all the way up and over, side to side.

 

[Aquamoose]

That's big money down here and a crane to place them. How would you do it....?

I can raise two 36’ trusses with purlins by myself without any powered equipment (crane, tractor, etc). Just assemble & lift straight up.

 

[Dedaisy]

As an alternative. Did you look at pony wall structures from Clearspan. Look at their steals and deals. I put up a 24x26 with 16 ft of center head. I used 3000 lb cement blocks from leftover mixes from a cement plant but you could use pressure treated posts instead. Very quick to put up. Mine has been up 12 years and no problems. I also when back and added an additional 48’ 5 years after the initial shelter making 60’ long. Total initial cost was $7000 with breathable end panel at one end. The addition cost another $7000. It is used for round Bale hay storage and equipment repairs. That’s a 60x26 barn. Used gravel and Asphalt millings for floor. It stays very dry inside.

 

[Spike56]

I did not even bother to read the umpteen other responses. I will tell you without any hesitation or doubt: The best kind is built by a local (nearby to you) company that will erect it completely in about 2 to at most 3 days. They will do it FAR better than you can and it will both look great and be durable for many years. These companies have become an absolute marvel to me in the last couple of decades -- quick, efficient, and high quality end results. Use prefinished baked finish steel. The roofing type that is custom cut to length and is NOT pieced to make your longest sloped roof dimension. Typically the entire materials list is delivered on a trailer truck. You prep the site, get it level, do the ditching, etc. They erect the building. It depends of course on widely varying needs, pocketbooks and wants but I strongly say have a concrete floor put in it. I was foolish and did not do that and sure wish I had.

It is up to you but the best buy in my opinion is prefinished steel all around (sides, roof) using 4x6 verticals. You decide whether you want insulation, skylight translucent panels (you will want several) , how many doors & windows, ventilation to prevent sweating, etc. You can get the specs on the basic building from the installing company and then beef it up or make changes you want. Like closer spacing of sheathing boards under the roof, heavier trusses if you think you need them, etc.



Other items of experience: Bigger is better than what ever you were planning, guaranteed. Taller is almost as certain to be better also. It cannot be built too big.


View attachment 738144

I could not agree more about hiring a local company. Unless, and even if you do purchase a kit, few consider all the time associated with completing this type of project. It's not like a do-it-yourselfer cannot do it, but this can be troublesome unless you are very experienced and or have experienced help. Getting everything square, running errands to get other supplies, a partial walls building then a wind storm... there is a lot of issues and I think personally you are money / time ahead hiring a contractor. I have had (2) metal buildings, one metal studs on slab, one pole barn "wood structure" with metal (3 sided). Watched carefully during construction, there would have been many many times I would have needed assistance.... would still be working on them months later.
One issue I *might* disagree with is putting in skylight translucent panels. If by this means on the roof.... I would not. At least in Texas, the sun will eat them up eventually, Mine are in the side walls. Also, consider any translucent panels must "mate" with the metal. These will contract / expand differently and the last place you want trouble is in the roof. I must say, my panels are NOT enough light by themselves for benchwork, but enough for most things. Plan to add lights / power !
Good luck !

 

[Dedaisy]

As an alternative. Did you look at pony wall structures from Clearspan. Look at their steals and deals. I put up a 24x26 with 16 ft of center head. I used 3000 lb cement blocks from leftover mixes from a cement plant but you could use pressure treated posts instead. Very quick to put up. Mine has been up 12 years and no problems. I also when back and added an additional 48’ 5 years after the initial shelter making 60’ long. Total initial cost was $7000 with breathable end panel at one end. The addition cost another $7000. It is used for round Bale hay storage and equipment repairs. That’s a 60x26 barn. Used gravel and Asphalt millings for floor. It stays very dry inside.View attachment 738359

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Some nice barns here.

 

[Eddie1955]

If you want to build a 20 by 40 pole barn, what kind should you build, and what should it cost? Is metal or wood better, and where can you get the materials or is a prefab cost the same considering time and effort...

I caught the power company replacing poles in my area and asked if I could have some and they gladly gave me more than enough for the job. As I was setting the posts my neighbor stopped in and asked if I would like to have some steel for my project as he had taken down a large building and never put it up and would like to get rid of it, score. There was more than enough support beams and sheeting to do a 24X40 pole barn. My total expenses came to around $250 for bolts and screws. I used my TYM 234 with an extension on the bucket for lifting beams and did all the work myself. Pic is prior to putting up the trim but you get the idea.

 

[chamjoe]

This! I ultimately built a 40x100 when I thought 40x50 would be plenty. I’m browsing this sub because I’m thinking it’s time to upgrade again. Definitely add a Leanto. I didn’t and I regret it. They’re always something to stick under there.

If wanting to build a 20X 40 one should start by instead planning on a 40X60 and settling for at least a 30x50 sized building, with a leanto one one or both sides.