Kansas is well-known for its fertile farmlands and wide-open spaces, so it should come as no surprise that most of the state’s rural residents are already familiar with the idea of traditional pole barns. What people may not realize is that the Kansas Pole Barns of today are far more versatile, durable, and aesthetically pleasing than their predecessors. Anyone who has written off pole barns as having strictly agricultural applications should take a moment to look beyond the name and learn about the benefits they have to offer all property owners below.
Affordable Construction
Even in today’s world of rising construction costs, pole barns remain reasonably affordable. There are several reasons for this positive trend:
- Pole barns don’t need full foundations, decreasing costs associated with laying concrete.
- Pole barns can be erected almost anywhere with less need for site preparation than traditional stick-framed structures.
- Pole barns can be partially manufactured off-site for later assembly to keep labor costs low. You can find post and beam home kits that are much more cost effective than custom builds.
What’s most worth noting is that none of these explanations involve cutting corners when it comes to quality materials and workmanship. Today’s specialized pole barn builders have simply found ways to automate as much of the designing and building processes as possible, leverage their size to get discounts on materials, and train contractors in the specific techniques required to erect pole barns quickly.
Open Floor Plans
Pole barns are sometimes referred to as post-and-beam buildings, which offers a little more insight into how they are designed and constructed. Instead of featuring load-bearing walls, as with stick-framed construction, post-and-beam buildings distribute the weight of the entire roof via the roof beams and the posts dug into the ground. That makes it possible to have completely open floor plans, which are great for all kinds of buildings, not just barns.
Open floor plans are fantastic for both commercial buildings and modern homes. Home designers will have maximum flexibility when it comes to window placement and how to divide up their space. Large bay windows and cathedral ceilings cost far less in a post-and-beam building than they would in a stick-framed home because they don’t create any additional engineering problems that need to be resolved.
Durability and Structural Integrity
The winds across Kansas fields can get strong, so a building’s durability and structural integrity should be top priorities for contractors and property owners, alike. Because pole barns transfer the weight of the entire building load directly into the ground, they’re able to withstand even strong winds, driving rains, and heavy snow loads. The materials used for cladding also tend to be more weather-resistant than those seen on traditional homes and outbuildings.
Find a Specialized Pole Barn Contractor
For Kansas who want to take full advantage of everything that post-and-beam construction has to offer, finding the right contractor is crucial. Some contractors focus primarily on more traditional construction techniques and offer pole barn construction as an afterthought, and they’re best avoided. Property owners should work with pole barn contractors that know the ins and outs of the trade and focus exclusively on erecting these unique, beautiful, and durable structures.
