How To Build A Pole Barn

• Lumber
• Tin Roofing Sections
• Straight Nails
• Roofing Nails
• Sturdy Hammer
• Saw
• Equipment For Digging
• Gravel / Concrete
• Poles
• Roof Trusses
• Storm Clips 

Method

• Search for the most perfect spot where you wish to erect the pole barn. How large do you want it to be? What purpose will this barn serve? Both these factors are co-related. For instance, it need not be very large if you only intend to store garden tools in it, while you might require more space to store cattle or vehicles for repair! Ensure that the area you choose is flat and composed of solid ground to the extent that no water is retained.
• It is also pertinent to cross check that the decided height is suitable to the material and machinery intended to be stored in the barn. Error in judgment or estimation might lead to damage in the entire barn structure.
• Draw a blueprint of the pole barn you have visualized. If you are using commercial lumber, 8-foot lengths of wood are the safest bet since they aren’t very expensive. Step-by-step guides are available on the web which promise to simplify the task.
• Never forget to apply for and acquire a building permit. Approach your municipality for one and stress on the fact that the pole barn is being built for agricultural purposes and not human habitation considering that municipalities are usually in favor of issuing permits for agricultural reasons.
• Purchase the lumber and other required hardware. 2-by-4 inch lumber is most appropriate for the frame while heavy lumber such as utility poles is the best match for your posts. Get your hands on plywood for the walls and 2-by-6 inch boards for roof stringers. The roofs are conventionally made with the help of corrugated tin.  
• Then you proceed with digging holes for the posts. It is essential to maintain a 90 degrees formation of the structure’s corners by using a template to meticulously space the post holes. The process is made easier by placing a stake in the center of each hole. Rely on your drawings to ascertain the differing pole lengths for each hole. The shortest poles generally go on the front and rear while the longest fit the ridge center sides.
• Fill up the post holes containing loose soil with some concrete base. Top this up with 6 inches of gravel fill as this permits effective drainage in wet regions. Pack down the gravel fill and allow to dry overnight.
• You are hence ready to erect the poles! Brace them in an upright position until you are certain that they won’t collapse. Scrutinize every corner and hole to verify whether or not the poles are evenly installed.
• The stringers must be secured properly to the tops of the poles. They are responsible for bearing the weight of the roof and the trusses; double check for stability.
• Install the roof trusses! The first truss is often supported by the poles, rope or braces. Build a cumulative effect when you add the remaining trusses as each can seek support from the formerly installed one.
• So what supports the weight of the trusses? 2-by-4 inch pieces of lumber must be secured onto the outer edge of the stringers. This step is called ‘Nailing in the Purlins!”
• Finally, it’s time to nail in the tin roof and install the walls (if you fancy walls for your pole barn). Screw in roofing nails and attach the tin roof. At the peak of the roof, use a tin ridge cap.
• Add storm clips to your pole barn for additional strength.