Pole barn homes can be incredibly economic and provide you with a unique and wonderful home for you and your family.
Before you jump into constructing your dream house, however, it is important to consider the pros and cons of building a pole barn house as opposed to using traditional construction methods.
Consider how a pole barn house is built
Traditional homes are constructed on top of a foundation that is both continuous and set into the ground. The foundation is a strong, thick, concrete floor that supports the house that will be constructed on top of it. Pole barns are constructed using an entirely different method known as post-frame construction. This indicates that a pole barn home is more susceptible to the elements, and may end up costing you extra cash in repairs later. This is especially true if you live in an area that is prone to uncooperative weather conditions. Pole barn homes are more susceptible to ice, as there are no footers inside the post frames to keep the concrete from freezing, and moving. This can cause wall shifts and major damage to your home. Make sure to analyze your local area’s climate when considering building a pole barn home.
Consider the extra costs
Building a pole barn house involves a lot of hidden costs that are oftentimes looked over. For example, not all banks will offer mortgages on pole barn homes. And, the ones that do often require higher down payments and restrictions. Along with loan costs, it is not uncommon to see higher insulation costs than traditional homes, due to the thick walls. In addition, it is also not uncommon for extra construction work to be done after the project is complete. Post-frame homes have larger spans in the roof trusses. This means you will have to fill those in before you hang drywall, or you will risk major damage. Walls will also have to be built between the post frames to maintain the structure, which will add cost to your initial construction bill. Lastly, keep in mind that a pole barn home has limitations. You cannot build a basement with a pole barn home and maintenance at home can be difficult. As long as you keep these things in mind and weigh your options, you will be one step closer to your dream home.
Ready for your pole barn house?
Contact Tru-Bilt today to begin the process of building your dream home. Get a free quote or browse our gallery of past projects!