Pole Barn Vs Stick Garage/Shop

mtholton

5 year old buck +
Second thread for me today... Getting the itch to finalize a building on my land. I'm looking to have a garage/shop built this spring. I've narrowed it down to two general approaches. My goals are to have garage space for equipment storage and a boat in the winter. Nothing too unique.

Second half of the equation beyond garage space is a insulated/heated area that could be finished off for a hang out area to get out of the cold. I live a hour away and don't stay over often. Currently we just stay in a junky old unheated camper. Looking for a rec room type area that might have a bed or two rolled out since I don't want to go through getting it approved as a livable dwelling, a couch and table... Don't need anything fancy to keep costs down. If we had some space, and heat, we'd feel like kings vs our current setup. The plan for either option would be to run electric. Potentially down the road run water, but not likely given the cost and lower need for the way we use the property.

Option 1. I have cousin that is a builder and can put up a garage kit such as this: https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...erial-list/1950571/p-1444422570568-c-9891.htm . I'd get a good/family rate on the labor costs. I'd insulate/finish the attic space for the "rec" area. It would be a few hundred feet of heated space for a bunk/rec room and the garage space below.

Option 2. Build a pole barn with a attached workshop. Something in the vein of this: https://www.lesterbuildings.com/Photos/garage-hobby-shop/belle-plaine-mn/514517/ This would result in a similar size garage and the rec room would be around 500 square foot (pending final size adjustments). Concrete in the shop area, unfinished /gravel in the garage area.


Appreciate any thoughts and opinions. Goal is to get storage and a comfortable heated area while being mindful of costs....
 
Will there be a difference in tax assessments between the two building types?

When I had my barn built it was cheaper to go with the pole-barn style than stick built. Each has it's advantages. Which will give you the most square footage?
 
Will there be a difference in tax assessments between the two building types?

When I had my barn built it was cheaper to go with the pole-barn style than stick built. Each has it's advantages. Which will give you the most square footage?

If you don’t tell them, they won’t know the difference.
 
Will there be a difference in tax assessments between the two building types?

When I had my barn built it was cheaper to go with the pole-barn style than stick built. Each has it's advantages. Which will give you the most square footage?
I went with stick built with a loft above the garage, but if I were to do it again, I would do a pole barn with the living quarters down stairs. Much cheaper. If you plan on heating it some day, put in in floor heat, and do it before you pour the cement. Only way to go!
 
Build a pole barn as big as you can justify the cost and put 16 ft leanto's full length on each side and use attic rafters to create some very low cost space up above where usually it is wasted. Our pole barn which was to be a temporary space is now our winter home and it is as comfortable as any building I have ever been in and we see zone 4 temperatures most of the winter. Ie; this morning was minus eleven. The taxes are low enough on pole barns here that the taxes on an almost 4,000 sq. ft. structure is no big deal. And as 4wanderingeye mentioned put the in floor heat in. It is easy and not costly to do it yourself. If you need more info just PM me and I'll provide my phone #. Some things just can't be said online.

Always visit with the tax assessor to get the story in your neighborhood; it's cheaper in the long run to understand their thinking.
 
Just think out where you want your poured floor to be now and if you might extend later and prep accordingly. Plenty of gravel for drainage, vapor barrier whatever. My place has a polebarn that previous owner poured a floor much later. Clay around here and ground holds lots of moisture. Terrible for moisture coming up thru the cut lines in the slab. Keeping stuff from rusting in my shop portion is major challenge.
 
I did a 25x35 pole barn with attic trusses that gave me a ton of space above the barn. Not knowing the code in MN, one question that I'd ask has to do with the foundation for stick built buildings vs. pole barns. Does a stick built 24x30 barn in MN require frost walls and footings? That's a lot more labor and heavy equipment and cement, whereas a pole barn only requires holes dug or drilled.

If you decide on a pole barn I'd highly recommend using Perma-columns. They are 6"x6"x5' pre-cast cement piers that sit in the hole and keep the bottom of the post above ground contact. I know PT is supposed to be rot resistant, and probably for your lifetime it will be fine. But I have seen the posts of too many 40 year old pole barns in the Northeast rot off at ground level to stick them in the ground myself.
 
Took some pics this morning. Cement footings for the posts. 12ft centers with steel instead of 8ft with wood. Clearspan so no trusses in the way inside. It's nice for basketball, and also bringing a tractor in to work on. The loft was an easy build. Just for some ideas to get you thinking. 20200121_061202.jpg20200121_061222.jpg20200121_061301.jpgIgnore the mess...
 
I did a 38x40 pole barn and I have plenty of room for a get warm area.I don't know anything about floor heat but didn't know how long it took to get warm.I also put gravel around mine for 8ft to protect from fire as I have seen them burn several times.I also put solar motion lights and switched lights in it and can also run cordless battery charger off it.Just make sure they know it's ag and have ag stuff parked inside if they come to inspect
 
Took some pics this morning. Cement footings for the posts. 12ft centers with steel instead of 8ft with wood. Clearspan so no trusses in the way inside. It's nice for basketball, and also bringing a tractor in to work on. The loft was an easy build. Just for some ideas to get you thinking. View attachment 27718View attachment 27719View attachment 27720Ignore the mess...

What mess? Looks like staging for a potential future project yet to be fully realized ... :emoji_wink:
 
Took some pics this morning. Cement footings for the posts. 12ft centers with steel instead of 8ft with wood. Clearspan so no trusses in the way inside. It's nice for basketball, and also bringing a tractor in to work on. The loft was an easy build. Just for some ideas to get you thinking. View attachment 27718View attachment 27719View attachment 27720Ignore the mess...

What mess? Looks like staging for a potential future project yet to be fully realized ... :emoji_wink:
Lol, so many projects! I'll never get them all done.

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I would definitely look to the pole barn with heated floors, look for a thread I have on here or one I started on garage journal “skunkwerks barndominiumn build” or reach out to me on the pm. We love ours
2569fd45656e6fc84e492fd741ee4705.jpg

We just installed these stairs last weekend for our loft, all we are waiting on now is well & septic


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I would definitely look to the pole barn with heated floors, look for a thread I have on here or one I started on garage journal “skunkwerks barndominiumn build” or reach out to me on the pm. We love ours
2569fd45656e6fc84e492fd741ee4705.jpg

We just installed these stairs last weekend for our loft, all we are waiting on now is well & septic


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If you dont mind me asking, where did you get the tongue and groove boards?
 
I would definitely look to the pole barn with heated floors, look for a thread I have on here or one I started on garage journal “skunkwerks barndominiumn build” or reach out to me on the pm. We love ours
2569fd45656e6fc84e492fd741ee4705.jpg

We just installed these stairs last weekend for our loft, all we are waiting on now is well & septic


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If you dont mind me asking, where did you get the tongue and groove boards?

Menards for all the pine! Had it in stock and I ordered when they had sales on it. Not a single sheet of rock in the whole place lol


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Just for an idea
Screenshot_20200122-181254_Facebook.jpg
 
Menards for all the pine! Had it in stock and I ordered when they had sales on it. Not a single sheet of rock in the whole place lol

Is that the prefinished boards? Or did you finish them?


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Menards for all the pine! Had it in stock and I ordered when they had sales on it. Not a single sheet of rock in the whole place lol

Is that the prefinished boards? Or did you finish them?


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I know people are going to stroke out about this but I did the unthinkable lol and hung it with no finish to let it age & patina by itself.


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