History of Pole Building

In the United States, the history of pole barn building starts in the 1930’s. Due to the accessibility of telephone poles and corrugated steel sheeting available in rural areas, and remnants of the Great Depression still being felt in the United States, Colorado pole barns became an inexpensive manner in which to erect a much needed edifice.

In the late 1940’s, poles were replaced by solid sawn posts which were chemically treated to reduce decay, extending the life of the building. In the 50’s and 60’s, roof spans were increased up to 100 feet with the use of wood trusses connected by metal plates. The 70’s and 80’s saw the usage of laminated posts. These posts permitted Colorado pole barns to be built taller than ever before.

Thirty years later Colorado pole barns are not limited to just barns. Today, these structures include garages, retail stores, homes and professional offices. (Wikipedia. org)

Attic storage in a finished Colorado pole barn added an additional 500 square feet. (Photo courtesy of McClurg Team, Creative Commons.)

Materials and Construction Method

The typical Colorado pole barn consists of a roof extended over a series of poles. Normally, all Colorado pole barns start out with the same types of materials – pre-engineered wooden trusses with roof sheathing over them. When there are outside walls in the design, there are grids attached horizontally to the posts, while the exterior sheathing is attached to the outside of the posts. The roof is normally gabled or hooped. Colorado pole barns will differ according to the requirement of the design. These variations mostly consist of trusses-carrying-beams with the trusses sitting on them. (Wikipedia. Org)

A Colorado pole barn in the initial phase of construction. (Photo courtesy of DIY Pole Barns, Mike Gilmore, Creative Commons.)

Climate & Occupation

Colorado pole barns are normally divided into two categories – climatic and occupational. The first involves the type of Colorado pole barns erected according to the climatic conditions of the region, such as geographically divided into north/south. Northern barns will normally be larger than their southern counterparts in order to be able to house a variety of things simultaneously – i.e., animals, feed, vehicles, etc. Also, these Colorado pole barns will have walls, which southern barns lacks, which go all the way up to the roof to maintain the heat inside.

The same Colorado pole barn with walls up and siding in place. This edifice is clearly for colder climates with walls that go all the way up to the roof to keep heat in. (Photo courtesy of DIY Pole Barn, Mike Gilmore, Creative Commons.)

Occupation or, functionality involves the type of use for which the Colorado pole barn has been erected. Today, due to the variety of designs and accessibility to DIY kits, the uses of Colorado pole barns are as limitless as our imagination.

Uses

Currently, Colorado pole buildings have multiple uses. Aside from their agricultural use such as for storage of hay and shelter for farm animals, they may also be used as indoor horse stables, riding arenas, storage for boats and cars, warehouses, strip malls and residential garages. (Wikipedia. Org)

Metal Pole Barns

With the advent of new building techniques and materials the latest in the construction of Colorado pole barns are those barns made out of metal or steel posts versus their original wooden counterparts. You may even purchase DYI kits which come with all the materials needed to erect the type of metal Colorado pole barn of your choice. These buildings are meant to last almost forever.

With metal Colorado pole barns there is only one catch and that is rust. If and when the protective rust-proof coating wears off, the rusting process will inevitably commence turning your building into a moisture and water trap. If this happens to your metal Colorado pole barn, what you need to do, literally, is scrub away the rust.

Products which make this chore easier include lubricants such as WD-40. For tougher rust stains use naval jelly whose main ingredient is phosphoric acid which will almost instantly dissolve the rust. Make sure that you clean the affected area thoroughly prior to placing several new coats of rust-proof products which are available in the market such as Metalfix.

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