Why Are Pole Barn Homes So Popular?

When you’re looking to build a new home, you have a variety of options available to you, from more traditional brick-and-mortar to offbeat Earthship homes. However, there’s one construction technique you may not have heard of: pole barn homes.

From their start in the 1930s, when farmers would use refurbished poles to build barns, these homes have been prized for their simple construction. There are no load-bearing interior walls: all the building’s weight is distributed around the exterior, where poles are driven into the ground and then secured by a concrete pad. In turn, the closely spaced columns support the roof, meaning there are no stud walls inside.

Flexible, affordable, and easy to construct, pole barn homes are fast becoming a sought-after housing option, especially as they tend to cost less than other construction types. Today, we’ll explore why many are eager to enjoy the comfort and versatility of a pole barn home.

Excellent Layout Customization

The lack of load-bearing interior walls is part of the reason that pole barn homes are simple to construct: it is essentially a large square, which means that architects don’t need to ascertain weight distribution and place load-bearing walls throughout the space. All the stress of the building moves down through the poles, which is the opposite of the usual home design.

In a traditional house, the weight is primarily distributed through the interior walls rather than the exterior walls. Spacing these walls is one of the trickiest parts of building a home because you need to ensure that the roof is supported equally; otherwise, you will have sagging in the roof and, in serious cases, collapse. It also reduces how much you can do in terms of customization or remodeling because removing a load-bearing wall is incredibly risky.

In contrast, you don’t need any stud walls in a pole barn home, which means you can customize to your heart’s content. If you love the open concept, you can easily make large, airy spaces to invite friends and family; on the other hand, if you’re curious about Feng Shui, it’s incredibly simple to move everything so that energy flows perfectly throughout the space.

Cost-Effective Construction

The longer it takes to build a home, the more money you spend, so it’s important that you build a home in as little time as possible - without skimping on quality. For traditional homes, you need to factor in not just manpower and materials, but also the cost of consultants to determine whether the building will be structurally sound, as every design is slightly different.

With the lack of load-bearing interior walls and the straightforward construction, pole barn homes have a shorter timeline to completion, and they also don’t necessitate costly architectural design or digging a large foundation. The typical home requires a foundation because of those load-bearing walls, which will need to be supported from underneath; in other words, the weight of the building moves down and is then distributed throughout the foundation rather than through the exterior. This isn’t necessary in a pole barn home, where the structure is supported on all sides by the outside walls.

Many pole barn homes only require a cement pad because the poles are drilled into the ground to keep them stable; this is incredibly cost-effective, as building a basement can cost $10,000 or more.

Low Maintenance

Pole barn homes have only a few components: strong poles, a cement pad, the roof, and the flooring. In contrast, traditional construction requires studs throughout the home for the load-bearing walls, which are then also supported by brackets and other metal elements to ensure they stay in place. Each of these elements is prone to damage over time, requiring expensive and time-consuming repairs, but pole barn homes rely on these incredibly sturdy exterior elements.

Because interior walls are only for aesthetic reasons, they are easy to repair, and you won’t need to consult with an architect to ensure structural stability. The poles that make up the exterior are much stronger than those used for load-bearing walls, meaning it’s incredibly unlikely that you’ll ever deal with any damage. There’s also a lot of metal used in pole barn construction, which is much more durable and less prone to breakdown than wood.

You can be sure that your home will stand the test of time, and this is obvious when we look back in history: there are pole barns, which are constructed in the same way, that have survived since the 1930s!

New homes are expensive, which is why it’s important to look both at the initial costs and the long-term expenditures necessary to keep your property in good shape. Cost-effective, efficient, and low maintenance, pole barn homes work well in any climate, with great customization options to meet your exact needs. When you’re in the market for a new construction, take a good look at pole barn homes, a timeless option with excellent curb appeal.

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