Despite appearances, all pole barns share a common color.
Green.
Typically praised for their versatility and function, pole barns are often overlooked as eco-friendly buildings.
Using fewer materials and leaving a smaller footprint, pole barns have long held the line as a building with a reduced environmental impact. And as a structure type dating back to the early 1900s, they’ve improved on a variety of fronts as a building for the environmentally conscious.
Built to last and easily customized, pole barns are an investment in a building that’s more harmonious with the environment.
5 Ways Pole Barns Are Eco-Friendly
In an era where more consumers are concerned about environmental impacts -- from the products they use to the way new buildings go up -- post frame structures are an eco-friendly alternative.
Pole barns are a “green” building because of their:
- Limited waste
- Longevity
- Durability
- Smaller footprint
- Energy efficiency
1. Limited Waste
A made-to-order building, pole barn construction requires only what’s needed.
A pole barn’s construction starts long before its materials arrive at the building site. At an off-site manufacturing facility, the metal building’s components, such as trusses and sheet metal, are fabricated to a pole barn design’s specifications. Materials used are ordered in exact quantities, cut to size, and assembled with very little waste left over.
When a pole barn kit arrives on-site, you’ll have everything you’ll need to build the structure and nothing you don’t. Unlike other building methods, such as stick building, your client won’t end up paying for unused materials. And you won’t be left with a pile of scrap to send to a landfill.
2. Longevity
With durability also comes longevity.
Made from some of the strongest building materials, pole barns withstand the test of time. It’s decades before a pole barn starts to display signs of age -- needing only a fresh coat of paint should the owner feel the need for a touch-up.
Should an owner want more from the structure, there’s no need to tear it down -- you can easily add onto or renovate a pole barn.
Upkeep of a pole barn is minimal -- it won’t need additional materials or treatments with harsh chemicals for issues like termites or molds.
An investment in a pole barn is one that lasts a lifetime.
3. Durability
Clad in metal, pole barns aren’t susceptible to damage like other building types are.
Flying debris from whipping winds or even an accidental bump by heavy equipment won’t mean buying materials for repairs. A pole barn can take a hit -- an important consideration for commercial and agricultural pole barns. Since steel is non-combustible, even fires have a tough time causing significant damage to a pole barn.
What’s more, a post frame building’s steel exterior withstands exposure to the elements and temperature extremes. In other words, its exterior won’t need replacement because of:
- Warping
- Splitting
- Rotting
4. Smaller Footprint
Post frame construction is one of the least environmentally disruptive building methods.
Pole barns do not require a foundation -- many have a dirt floor, such as those used in agriculture. Rather than excavating and installing a foundation at a site, a pole barn’s support beams are installed directly into the ground with their own individual footers.
Outside of clearing and grading where the pole barn will stand, the structure is essentially built into the land.
5. Energy Efficiency
Pole barns are made for energy efficiency.
Unlike other buildings, pole barns are built with wide, exposed spaces between each structural post. For comparison, standard framing has spaces 16-24” wide between studs. In post frame buildings, the space between posts is typically between 8-12’.
When it comes to pole barn insulation, adding an interior layer for improved temperature control is a breeze.
You can also outfit these fully customizable buildings with energy-efficient:
- Doors and windows
- Lighting
- Heating and cooling systems
Pole Barns: A Green Alternative
Whether for commercial, agricultural, or residential purposes, pole barns meet the gamut of client needs. And during its long useful life, a post frame building will never make your client feel guilty about its impact on the environment.
Upgrade Your Business's Pole Barn Design Capabilities
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