A pole barn is the simplest form of shed. It is constructed using poles onto which a roof is placed. They are traditionally used to shelter cattle or store agricultural equipment, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use one in your yard as they can be whatever size you want. Here are some tips on how to build a pole barn:
Suitable. The first step to building a pole barn is to decide whether any other structure would be more appropriate. Traditionally, pole barns are less secure with open sides, though you can obviously adapt the design to suit your ideas.
Approvals. After you’ve decided that a pole barn is for you, you’ll need to obtain the necessary local approvals. If your proposed pole barn is on the large side, you may have additional hoops to jump through. Your local planning department can help with this as rules vary from state to state (and country to country!).
Size. You’ll need to decide how large you need the structure to be, both in terms of floor area and in terms of height. If you need to have a second floor within the pole barn, this will not usually affect the exterior structure as the second floor is usually built as a separate addition once the pole barn is constructed.
Materials. Many pole barns are now made using metal. These tend to be the more expensive ones to construct as specialists are usually needed. A wooden frame is much easier to construct, but it will depend on how much time you have, how much money you have and the weather conditions in your area – metal pole barns are usually more sturdy.
Foundations. The depth of foundations required will depend on the material of the roof. The poles are inserted vertically into the ground to support the roof, so deeper foundations are required for a pole barn than for a regular storage shed.
Layout. Traditionally, a pole barn will be square or rectangular, as they are the simplest layouts to build. There’s no reason why you can’t have a different layout, but bear in mind that this will impact what sort of roof you can have.
Roof. Usually, there will be a pitch (or gable) roof. This is made up of two sections, each held up separately by opposite walls of the barn, and which join together in the middle, resting on top of slightly higher poles. This ensures the rainwater does not collect on the top of the roof (as it would do with a flat roof). However, there are many other roof styles to choose from, as outlined in this post.
In a word, “yes”!
Shed blueprints do sound rather dramatic. Aren’t they what builders use to build houses? However, one of my early mistakes was not planning one of the sheds I made sufficiently well. I had made plenty before, so I thought I had it worked out. I didn’t factor in that the design I wanted to make was different from all the other sheds I had made (gambrel instead of gable roof), so I wasted a fair bit of money to rectify my mistake.
In addition to helping ensure you don’t waste your valuable time or money, blueprints are a great way to get a flavour of the elevations and floorplan of your shed before it has been built. Using one will help ensure that you get the right dimensions. Perhaps you have a lawn mower which is particularly wide. Having blueprints of the shed layout and elevations before you build the shed will remove the guesswork from whether your mower will fit through the doors!
Not only that, but they’re a great way of focussing your mind on what materials you need. I don’t think I’m the only person who has come back from the hardware store with enough materials for just three rather than four walls! After this post, I’ll hopefully be the last!
Shed blueprints are also perfect for highlighting where you might need help from someone – particularly if the roof is higher than usual or the materials you’re using are particularly heavy.
To accompany the blueprint, I highly recommend that you create a list of everything that you intend to keep in the shed, and try to assign each item to a particular area. If you intend to hang some tools up, this will prompt you to ensure that that elevation of the shed is correctly reinforced with extra supports to take the weight.
After you have thought about the blueprint, I recommend that you use string and some tent rods to mark out the floor area in your yard. Try and put everything you want to have on the floor of your new shed into this space, and ensure that you have enough space to comfortably walk around inside the shed without falling into your garden tools!
When I am planning a shed, I sometimes get carried away and want to start straight away. Experience has shown me that I need to apply the brakes to ensure the shed I build is what I really need. After all, it’s my money.
With this is mind, the key aspect of your shed that I’d recommend you think about is what style of roof you want. That may sound strange, but once you’ve decided on the style of roof, the rest of the shed design falls into place.
Most of the sheds I’ve built in the past have matched the style of the main house. This ensures the shed looks in its correct place, but it’s entirely up to you if you want to try something different.
Pent Roof. This is the simplest of roof styles, and is also the easiest to build! Basically, the front wall is higher than the back wall and the roof is therefore placed on a sliding gradient. This is good for ensuring any rainfall runs off the back, though I’d recommend having the front and back portions of the roof jutting out slightly from the walls to ensure the water drains onto the floor rather than down the walls.
Pitch (Gable) Roof. Each sidewall supports roof trusses that angle towards each other and meet in the middle of the front wall, at a height higher than the height of the walls. The roof therefore has two parts. These are great for extra roof storage.
Hip Roof. This is a slight variation of the usual gable roof. This is because the roof is made up of four sections. Each side wall supports one section of the roof, and each of the front and back walls also support sections of the roof which lean in towards each other. This is more difficult to construct, but is really satisfying to have made!
Saltbox Roof. One side of the shed (let’s say the left side) is higher than the other. This side supports some roof trusses that angle upwards and towards the middle of the front wall. However, the right side supports trusses which meet those of the left side off-center of the front wall. It almost looks lopsided, but is great for storing items which range in height.
Gambrel Roof. This is a variation of the gable roof in that each of the left and right hand sections of the roof are made up of different sections with different sloping gradients. As such, they can increase the amount of storage held (almost in a curved pattern). They are more difficult to build.
Once you’ve decided on the roof style, you’ll need to decide how large you want the interior to be and whether you want it have a rectangular layout or something more challenging!
Over the years, I’ve invested a small fortune in tools for woodworking and the garden. I could keep them in the garage, but I prefer to keep them in a separate shed because I like to keep sharp objects well away from my car!
When building a shed, there are various things which I need to consider. These are outlined below to give you an idea of how to build a shed:
Rules. Check with your local council to make sure your new shed conforms to any applicable rules and policies. It would be a shame to invest so much time in the build for you have to demolish it.
Location. Firm ground is obviously better than soft ground, and higher ground is better than lower ground as there’s less risk of flooding.
Foundations. These have to be strong enough to ensure the new shed is steady and doesn’t sink. The extent of foundations required will depend on how large the shed is and how heavy the materials used are. Also, remember that the foundations will need to withstand the weight of whatever you want to keep in the shed.
Floor. This will need to be flat and raised from the ground to prevent damp damaging the structure.
Walls. Think about how many access points you want (perhaps a door you can walk through to get the garden tools and a double door to get at the lawn mower?).
Roof. What sort of style do you want? A peaked roof is better than a flat roof as it will resist rainfall a lot more. Try and think about whether you want the roof to mirror the roof of your house. This will help ensure your new shed fits in.
Materials. These will need to be weather resistant and hard-wearing. Perhaps they should also match those used on your house (or at least look like they do).
Tools. Ensure that you have all the tools you need before you start. You don’t need to buy them – hire them from your local tool hire shop or borrow them from friends. I’d recommend borrowing them from friends as they may ask if they can help out! Two pairs of hands are better than one!
Welcome to my new blog! My fondest boyhood memories are of the hours, days and weekends that my pop and I spent doing woodwork. Pop was a carpenter by trade and by passion.
As such, our house was filled with tables, chairs and cabinets all made with his own hands. They’re a great legacy now and I like to think that I contributed to them in some small way as a boy.
My love for woodwork has therefore been with me for many years and, although not as naturally gifted as my father, I thrive on making things with my own hands. I get a real sense of achievement from coming up with ideas and then seeing them come to fruition.
Sheds are one of my favorite woodworking projects for a variety of reasons.
First up, we moved houses a fair bit when I was younger, so my dad always seemed to be building new sheds. I guess we could have taken the one from the previous house with us, but that would have taken away the fun of making a new one. (Plus, dad liked to match the style of the shed with the style of our house!)
Second of all, subject to local planning and zoning regulations, you can pretty much build whatever sort of shed you want. Even if the square footage has to be under a specified amount, you can be creative with the various trimmings you add to the exterior. Matching the shed’s exterior to the exterior of the house is great fun!
Finally, the process of building a shed is quite fast. You can decide on the design, pull some basic blueprints together, get hold of the materials, arrange the foundations, do the framing (and obviously comply with all necessary local regulations!), and your shed can be made from scratch in a weekend. You can obviously outsource it to a company, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll enjoy the woodworking process.
My top tip would be to involve your family. Memories will last longer than the shed, so use it as an opportunity to create something that will last forever!
I hope you enjoy reading this site as much as I have putting it together. Let me know if you have any suggestions or comments. We’re in it together!
