A pole barn is a outlying structure, most often rectangular in shape, wherein the roof is extended over a series of poles. Pole barns usually lack exterior walls, and the barrier on the outer side of the barn is most often made by the poles which support the roof. The roof of the pole barn can either be gabled, i. e. supported by a gable with a single slope on either side of the ridge, or hooped, i. e. fastened with the help of a hoop. Such barns are most often used to provide shelter for the livestock and store the fodder required to feed them. Pole Barn Design Advantages Building a pole barn is a relatively easy task owing to its simple design. The poles make the outer wall of the barn, while the light metal or canvas is used to build the roof. The design of the barn can be modified to suit its purpose. For instance, a barn used to shelter cattle or horses can have low exterior walls to prevent the cattle from moving out, but such wall may not be required for a barn, meant to store hay. The low cost incurred for the pole barn construction and the large shelter area provided by the structure, are the most prominent advantages of such barns. Being huge structures, they easily facilitate the movement of big machines and vehicles required on the farm. How to Build a Pole Barn The foremost thing to take into consideration when building a pole barn is finding an ideal location for the structure. An ideal location would be a piece of land with firm soil, which doesn't retain water. Before starting the construction work, acquire the necessary permit from authorities, make sure that you tell them that the structure is for agricultural use and not for human habitation. The amenities you would require for a pole barn construction includes: Heavy utility poles. 2 x 4 inch wooden posts. 2 x 6 inch boards. Plywood. Corrugated tin. Roofing nails. Mark the area wherein you plan to set up the structure, and dig holes to erect the heavy utility poles. Make sure that, all the corners of the structure meet at 90 degrees. You can use a mixture of concrete to strengthen the poles into the ground, or add approximately 6 inch gravel fill to facilitate drainage of water. Support the poles in an upright position, until they get secured into the ground. While erecting the poles make sure that all the poles are erected evenly garage shed plans. Use 2 x 6 inch boards as stringers, the long horizontal timber pieces to connect uprights. These stringers need to be well secured as they have to support the weight of the entire roof. Once you are done with this, you can install the roof trusses. Use rope or braces to support the first truss, and support the subsequent trusses using the previously installed truss as the support. Use purlins, 2 x 4 inch pieces of wood, to secure the outer edges of the stringer, so that it can support the entire weight of the roof conveniently storage sheds plans free. Use roofing nails to secure the roof, overlapping one piece of the roofing material with another. Caulk the overlapping parts, to make the structure weather-proof, and install a tin ridge cap at the top where both sides of the roof meet. Now that your pole barn is ready, you can add the necessary modifications depending on the purpose, for which you require the pole barn. Pole barn homes are quite popular in the vast agricultural lands in the United States. Building a pole barn is not a difficult job when you are armed with the basic knowledge of how to build a pole barn and you have a proper plan in your mind. A pole barn can be an immensely useful structure, when it comes to providing shelter for livestock or storing hay, fodder, agricultural equipments, etc.