pole barn post

[VA Rebel]

I just had a 4 board fence put up out of poplar and the company gave me a 25 year warranty on it. I would look into it a little more before you scrap the idea.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

here in NE Ks Morton buildings have been using the laminated posts for about 10 years. There are a couple of "tube glues" on the market now that are rated for wet treated lumber. I like the idea of using treated in the ground with spf lumber above ground both for the cost savings and the lesser chance of getting one of those nasty green splinters stuck in me.
I built a 24X40 pole barn with 10' side walls several years back using the laminated green plan and it's held up very nicely.
I let the boards dry out a bit before gluing them together so the glue would stick better, then used a combination of 16p nails and deck screws to hold them together.
Nails have better shear strength than screws, but the screws are better at holdong the boards together tighty while the glue sets. If I could have found some decent ring shanks at the time those would probably have worked as well.
I also orient the laminated posts so I can see the lamination until I put the skin on -- seems to give better strength for wind shear. it also lets you sandwich your rafters between the 2 outside boards so you don't need to buy hurricane straps.

not sure i can answer as to the suitability of poplar for pole barn walls, but sycamore is a poplar and it seems to get used out my way for a lot of different things with no ill effects. (also makes nice furniture)
so long as its properly dried, you should be fine - especially if you can borate treat it before sealing, which will help prevent bug and rot. (seal it, because borate is very water soluble and will leach back out/wash off if it gets wet)

Cottonwood is another option - once kiln dried, it's strong and hard, and was used to make a lot of barns and houses 100 years ago that are still in use out here.

good luck!

when attaching to piers, how are you attaching the posts? I like using a pier anchor out of galvanized steel which holds your post up so it can drain. (Lowes & home Despot sell one from simpson strong tie)

 

[MarkV]

can anyone tell me if poplar would be good for post for a pole barn ? the post wont be in the ground,, they will set on concrete piers...any ideas ?? thanks

Keep in mind that with a true pole barn much of its strength comes from the force the ground applies to the pole. With the poles set on piers you create a hinge point which is not very resistant to side loads like wind. Because pole barns are not sheathed with plywood or OSB like a house you need to add a lot of diagonal bracing with the poles set on piers.

I don稚 know about the poplar. Yellow poplar here in the south does not last that long yet some northern poplars have been used as siding for years. I壇 find out what type of poplar was milled and do some checking.

MarkV

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

Poplar, just like birch and cottonwood, will rot in a heartbeat if you let it fall and lay on the ground. If you debark, saw, and dry it, it will make usable lumber, so long as it is not constantly exposed to the elements.
If you're planning on putting siding on the pole barn, it should work fine. If you're planning on just putting a roof on the structure and leaving the poles out in the elements, I suggest you use green treated.