Pole Barn Houses – Is Turning a Pole Barn into a House a Good Idea?
The popularity of pole barn houses has grown in recent years. You can readily turn a structure designed to be a barn into a house. The question is whether this is practical and economical. Use this guide to find the answer for yourself. Learn how the transformation is achieved and what the benefits and drawbacks of transformed houses are.
Pole barn houses have the structure of traditional pole barns. Each structural support element has two poles or posts on the side. These two are connected by an arch or a truss. In the past, wood structural elements were preferred, but now steel ones offer the more functional, durable and economical solution. Basically, the structure of these houses is from steel. They do not have foundations. The roof of such a house is supported by the poles and trusses with the poles being anchored deeply into the ground.
The exterior walls of the pole barn houses are made from siding panels. The owner can choose from metal, wood and vinyl siding. In most cases, the houses have interior walls. These are usually constructed from wood panels. Unlike a pole barn, a house needs a concrete floor so installing one is an inseparable part of the transformation process. Interior walls or similar dividing structures are built so that rooms can be formed. Doors and windows are installed.
This is how pole barn houses are made. Both on the outside and on the inside they look like real houses, especially when they are furnished. However, this is by far not the only benefit of these buildings. You can save over 15% on a house construction project if you choose this option. This is approximately the chunk of the total cost that goes for the building of the foundation. Pole barn structures are extremely stable and have a long life in general. They can withstand storms and fast winds just like regular houses.
It is often found that pole barn houses have higher energy efficiency than their standard counterparts. This is because there are fewer thermal breaks when this kind of construction is used. Higher energy efficiency at no additional cost brings further benefits. You will save on energy bills while your home will be perfectly well heated in winter and cool enough during the summer.
Do pole barn houses have any drawbacks? Yes, there are some drawbacks that you have to take into account. Since there are no foundations, you will not have a basement. This means that you may need extra space on the first floor. At the same time, there are restrictions to the width of pole barns. They cannot be wider than 90 feet. You can readily have a second floor in your pole barn house, if you want to, but this involves more complex and more expensive construction work. Besides, you will most likely have to get a separate permit from the local building department.
Now you know the most important things about the construction of pole barn houses and their functionality. You can readily decide whether living in such a house is for you.
