Pole Barn Post Longevity

bebster · Oct 31, 2003

I'm planning to construct a storage shed or pole barn for my tractor. Typical frost line in this part of the country is 4' per code, so most construction has a poured concrete foundation with footers 4' below grade.

Seems overkill for an unheated shed, so the pole barn approach has appeal. But I'm concerned that the poles inserted into the ground (whether in concrete or gravel) will have a limited life. I'd like this shed to last decades and not have its main supporting poles rot at the base.

Any idea what life to expect, and what the best technique would be for putting in the poles?

Once the poles are in, it makes sense to put in a concrete slab floor, so that tractor attachments can be dropped there on a dry level surface. But what approach is best to use to seal off the area near the ground between the poles? Thanks for any suggestions.

Slamfire · Oct 31, 2003

The absolute best would be locust posts. I've seen some that have lasted 70 years. May or may not be possible were you are. The next choice would be the posts used for utility meter mounting on mobil home sites, or used utility poles. I've seen some of them last 40 years.

lamarbur · Oct 31, 2003

A lot of guys are now pouring concrete base and when hard, placing a spacer on concrete, then the poles. Seems to work out well by not having the posts actually in the concrete pour, but placed above that..

bebster · Oct 31, 2003

Posts on spacers are typical in deck construction. Only problem I see is with hurricanes. With a roof up 10' or so, the windage might overpower the spacers tying the wood posts to the concrete. A possible solution, but seems to be not ideal unless I'm missing something.

lamarbur · Oct 31, 2003

they do this where I live pretty mcuh standard now, I'm in the hills of Union CT at 1050 ft above sea level and we get horrendous winds here and obviously a lot of snow, so it has to work, at least here it is,

EddieWalker · Oct 31, 2003

In my area of Texas we get over 60 inches of rain a year. I had a barn on my land from before WWII.

It was 40 feet by 120 feet long. The roof had caved in, probably from the branch sticking through it.

I knocked it down a couple months ago with the backhoe. Only a couple of the posts were rotted, the others are still sound. They were 6X8's about 16' feet above ground and around 4' in ground. No cement. Looked like pine with a dark tar like stain on them.

I'm guessing around 70 years it lasted. I've met some of the WWII vets who trained on my land who remember it then.

Good Luck,
Eddie

Slamfire · Nov 1, 2003

That was propably the heavy creosote that they used to use on utility poles and pilings, can't get that any more.

Dave___in___CT · Nov 2, 2003

Hi...

Pressure treated posts work... .40cca for ground contact...
Use native soil for backfill... a few inches of concrete at the bottom of the hole provides a bigger footprint for the post...

Dave...

Steven · Nov 2, 2003

They make metal brackets that you can set in the concrete of the footings and attach the wooden poles to this stops the ground contact and rotting of post. not sure who made them but have seen them at home depot. I used a smaller version of this on my deck to secure 4x4's to concrete so they where not just resting on top.

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BIGBLUETOY · Nov 2, 2003

I'm in the planning stages of building a 36x40 pole style garage. I have been looking at pre-cast concrete post (columns). Check out www.permacolumns.com.
I have sent them email earlier today for prices on their product.
Scott