Pole Barn

• Pole barns have been around since the 1930s, and represent an inexpensive and relatively easy method of building exterior structures. Pole barns have no foundation, so they're considered 'temporary' structures--so you may not require a building permit to erect one.
  
  

Materials

• The pole barn is constructed by hanging the exterior skin on poles sunk deep in the ground for stability. Though utility poles were first used to construct pole barns, today the frame may be made with landscaping timbers, wooden beams or metal posts. The ideal post thickness is between 12 and 18 inches. Anything smaller may not support the weight of the structure, and anything larger may be too heavy to work with. The exterior is typically tin, corrugated iron, or wooden sheeting.
  
  

Process

• To construct a pole barn, a tractor-mounted auger drills the post holes into the ground. The posts may be sunk anywhere from four to ten feet deep. Never space your posts farther apart than the width of your exterior material. Most pole barns have their poles set about eight feet apart, though the closer your poles are spaced, the sturdier the building will be. The most important part of sinking your poles is to make sure they are perfectly plumb. You can use a plumb line or level to check. Once your poles are set, place roofing trusses at the top of each set of posts. Over this, you can hang tin on both the roof and the sides. If you later decide that you want a concrete slab at the base, you can 'float' one in by pouring concrete into the space created by the skirtboard.