With the proper material and workmanship, post-frame buildings can easily last a century or more. It's a common misconception that pole buildings are somehow of less quality that other traditional methods of construction simply because of the wider availability of materials and ease of building. In reality, post frame buildings can outlast many other buildings built with conventional methods because of their design. They transfer the forces of high winds and severe weather directly and evenly into the ground through their rugged support beams. They are also built to resist rot and pests.
The many different unique parts of a pole building, and the way that they are put together, give it its durability.
Poles
These are what makes a pole building, well, a pole building. Poles provide durable support above ground and most importantly a full, efficient transfer of loads to the foundation system.
Our poles specifically are always full length from the roofline to the foundation, even on the end wall, which gives our buildings superior structural integrity. There are many options out there for poles, but we only use fully Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) treated poles, which protect the main building component from rot and pests all the way though. Our poles are kiln dried after treatment, ensuring that they stay straight throughout the life of the building.
Treated Wood
Treated wood is a critical component in any pole building. A quality certified treatment in poles and splashboards will keep these major framing components safe from decay and pests for a lifetime. On the other hand, poor, unproven treatments will result in premature decay and failure of critical framing.
We use the decades time-proven CCA treatment in all of our treated lumber. All of our treated lumber is tagged and certified to meet and exceed standards from the American Wood Preservers Association (AWPA). Our solid southern yellow pine poles are treated to .6 lb. PCF net retention of the high quality CCA treatment compound. This gives our poles an AWPA rating of “Extreme Duty Rated” for ground contact. This ensures that our poles will last a lifetime and not rot away over time like some lesser quality treated material.
Our splashboards are treated to a .4 lb. PCF net retention of CCA, with an AWPA rating of “Heavy Duty Rated” for ground contact. Most of the 2x dimensional lumber available to consumers today is not even rated for ground contact, but instead only for above ground use.
Some newer treatment compounds that are more widely available to consumers are very corrosive to fasteners used in construction. The CCA treated wood we use is 3 times less corrosive than more widely available treated wood.
Foundation
Years of experience and industry research have proven the reliability of the concrete anchored foundation system. This system provides solid load bearing support and secure anchorage against wind uplift and frost heaving. Our foundation is buried four feet deep and is solidly anchored in concrete with a reinforcing steel rod.
Trusses
The truss to column connection in any building is a critical component of strength and durability. Our buildings have the top portion of the columns notched to form a pocket to accept the truss heel. The bottom chord of the truss bears directly on the core of the wall column where it is securely fastened. All trusses, except at large openings, are connected directly to the column. This sound and proven method eliminates the need for the knee braces and provides the structural capacity that is key to a strong building.
Warranty
Should anything go wrong with your building within the first 5 years after completion, we've still got you covered. If there are any defects in material or workmanship, we'll fix it for you.
There are also manufacturer's warranties that cover specific products such as shingles, steel roofing/siding, overhead doors, etc.
We would love to build a storage space, workshop, barn, or commercial building for you. Rest assured that your building will last a lifetime, most likely even longer. Give us a call at 740-548-7810 or send us a message through our contact form.