Tag Archives: flexibility of post frame construction

Phase Building Your Post Frame Structure Allows for Easy Expansion

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Sometimes our initial ideas and projections turn into something much bigger. This problem often arises as planning begins on post frame buildings. Whether your building is designed to maintain and service farm equipment, a fully equipped metal or wood shop, or is used to restore and house antique cars and trucks, your needs can quickly grow beyond your initial idea. Consider the idea of phase building your post frame structure.

Or, you may have already calculated precisely how much space you will eventually require. Unfortunately, during this process, you realize you cannot afford to have the entire job completed at once. In these instances, phase building may be the best option for your project.

Post frame construction is great for phase building as it offers the greatest flexibility for future expansion. This is due to the vertical beams being widely spaced at 6-10 feet. Therefore removing parts of the wall to create new space is easily accomplished compared to conventional construction methods.

Phase Building Your Post Frame Structure

Planning

When designing a building to house your vision, you will need a plan that will allow for straightforward, compatible upgrades, and expansion.

Your initial plan should address the capacity you believe you will need in the future. Building too small at the beginning can be frustrating. But having no room to expand can be much worse.

Considering Lot Placement

Proper planning to expand without obstructions or other problems will make growth more efficient and affordable.

Note that where you locate “Phase 1” of your building can impact future expansion. If vehicles or large equipment will be involved, placement for accessibility is essential in the planning. Leave enough space for your add-on, plus sufficient maneuvering room for your vehicles.

Ensure that all possible phases are on the initial plan, this will be essential for building future phases. You can even build phases 1 and 2 on opposite sides of the lot and connect them later, as long as it’s planned out.

Build It Now; Finish It Later

If your budget is the main limiting factor, and you require the extra space for storage initially, you could build the entire shell but partition a finished section from the rest with an overhead door or two. This will allow you to expand your workshop when you have the funding. You can perform the entire site preparation, and construct the entire outer shell.

Then you can put the finishing touches on the part of the building you will use immediately. This includes the electricity and plumbing work for the needed work area.

Later, when you are ready, and the funding is available, you can finish the incomplete part of the building with plumbing and electrical work. During this completion phase, you can consider completing the insulation and adding the HVAC, walls, and ceiling finishes as well.

Consult the Experts for Expandable Designs

Companies like Pacemaker Post Frame Buildings have experienced designers who are familiar with developing plans for future expansion.  With your vision in mind, they will work with you to develop strategies for a building that will meet your immediate performance demands without busting your budget.

Pacemaker Post Frame Buildings, headquartered in North Webster, Indiana, is a premier supplier and builder of post frame buildings. For four decades, Pacemaker has led the way in innovation, superior materials, creative techniques, and personalized design throughout Northern Indiana, Southwest Michigan and Northwest Ohio.

For more information and to view some past projects, visit the Pacemaker Post Frame Buildings website. If you have questions about designing your shop for future expansion, call the professionals at Pacemaker Post Frame Buildings at +1-888-834-4448.

Post Frame vs. Other Building Methods

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Post frame construction has become a popular and practical solution for nearly every type of building. No longer just limited to agricultural solutions, post frame structures are popping up in urban settings such as retail and commercial buildings, firehouses, schools, churches, showrooms, and even residences. There are several advantages of post frame vs other building methods.

This innovative construction approach offers many advantages over conventional types of building.

Why are Post Frame Building Methods Preferred?

The unique framing method of a post frame building is the principal difference from the standard “stick frame” construction method. By using sturdy treated laminated wood columns that are securely anchored at least four feet below ground level, post frame methods and materials meet all UBC and IBC codes for strength and durability.

Main advantages of Post Frame Construction vs Other Building Methods

Unobstructed Space

Because post frame buildings demand no load-bearing interior walls and supports, the entire interior is a large, open space with high ceilings. This kind of space is perfect for maneuvering large vehicles, handling horses and other livestock, storage and warehousing, retail space, schools, churches, and more. The possibilities are endless.

Municipalities often use post frame structures for fire stations and winter equipment storage facilities.

Strength and Durability

Securely anchored a minimum of four feet below ground level, the vertical post components can redirect severe wind forces directly into the earth below. This action has allowed many post frame structures to weather extreme winds. In contrast to nearby conventionally built structures incurring severe damage.

Economy

More efficient use of materials and labor, often allow a shorter time frame from start to finish. Therefore, site prep is substantially less extensive, requiring only that the footprint be level with some sloping away from the perimeter to allow for drainage. The entire skeleton, including the trusses and support members, can be prefabricated and delivered to the site as needed.

Flexibility

The interior arrangement of post frame buildings is not restricted by load-bearing walls and columns. This can be beneficial for growing businesses and schools when they need to be able to rearrange offices and classrooms.

For warehouses and manufacturing, post frame buildings allow for easy expansion. Add and access new wing additions due to the broad spacing of the support columns. Adding to a conventional building is often more complex and requires special design and engineering.

Style

A modern post frame building can take on many preferred appearances, whether it is a unique style or to complement surrounding buildings. With brick wainscoting, wood or metal siding, stonework, or stucco, there are no limits to the exterior appearance. Furthermore, there is always the option to add alcoves, dormers, overhangs, and just about any other architectural feature to a post frame building.

Sustainable and Energy Efficient

Wood is a renewable resource, requiring less energy to source and produce than other building materials. Additionally, nearly all other components of a post frame building can be from recycled material.

As noted, building a post frame structure requires less energy than other construction methods.

For more efficient heating and cooling, post frame buildings are superior. Due to the wide spacing of the vertical wooden columns allows for insulation to be more uniformly installed, thereby reducing the loss of energy.

Meet with Pacemaker Post Frame Buildings

We have worked strictly with post frame construction for over four decades. Pacemaker Post Frame Buildings has become an industry leader in design, material supply, and construction for modern post frame buildings. Pacemaker, headquartered in North Webster, Indiana is the premier post frame company for Northern Indiana, Northwest Ohio, and Southwest Michigan.  By visiting the Pacemaker Gallery, you can view some of the remarkable projects that Pacemaker has completed.

For more information regarding new, practical post frame buildings, contact Pacemaker at +1-574-834-4448 or toll-free at +1-888-834-4448.

Pole Barn Farm Shop Layout Ideas

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Post frame buildings, also known as pole barns, are one of the most useful buildings on a farm. And generally the most versatile. Commonly designed for housing large animals and equipment, pole barns are also ideal for storing feed, tools, tack, and other necessities.

Another typical application within a modern post frame building is the addition of a farm shop. Whether the entire building is to become a workshop for your vehicles and equipment repair, or part of the building is to be partitioned off to become a shop. Therefore many options are possible.

For those who need the room to make or repair items for use on the farm, having a well-equipped and orderly shop can be well worth the investment in space and cost.

Include a Pole Barn Farm Shop in Your Building

Creating a shop within your existing post frame agricultural building for keeping tools and working on equipment or woodworking projects is not difficult. The interiors of any post frame structure are not obstructed nor limited by interior beams or load-bearing walls.

The openness makes selecting a location to partition for a shop an easy decision. Your plan should be to locate space that does not limit other uses of the building while creating a sufficiently sized, well-lighted area to work and store supplies and tools efficiently.

If you are starting from scratch, you should plan a specific area of the building for working on equipment. Also, carve out ample space for storing spare parts, fuel, lubricants, tools, air and oil filters, and anything else you may routinely need. Having enough space to keep everything orderly allows you to:

  • take advantage of volume purchases
  • keep everything in its place
  • not lose tools and parts because of over-crowded conditions

To accommodate large vehicles, you may include an oversized overhead or sliding door. If you wish to store items upstairs, an upper floor may be added, and a stairway added.

And, for convenience, adding a bathroom is a great consideration.

Money and time saved by these advantages plus the efficiency of being able to perform your service efficiently will eventually pay off any additional expense of creating a barn shop and storage in your post frame structure.

Create a Dedicated Post Frame Shop Building

For those dedicated to creating their own “garage” workshop, post frame buildings are perfect and economical. Easy and quick to build, using fewer materials and less labor. These buildings can be designed to replicate the appearance of the main home or other buildings. Owners can purpose-design their post frame structure to fit their needs. Thus precisely creating the right amount of space, customized configuration, and the appropriate door size for the intended purpose.

Contact Pacemaker Post Frame Buildings

Custom-designed and built post frame farm and home workshops are popular options for those who repair and service equipment themselves. In many instances, these shops serve as wood or metal workshops to restore or create new items for the home or farm.

Pacemaker Post Frame Buildings has been serving the upper Midwest and Great Lakes Region with design, materials, and support for high-quality post frame buildings for four decades.

Visit the Pacemaker website to see their Gallery of the remarkable and versatile buildings that they have created.

If you are looking for detailed information regarding post frame barns, garages, sheds, and outbuildings for workshops or other purposes, contact the experts at Pacemaker. They will be happy to discuss your project.

Phone Pacemaker Post Frame Buildings at 1-888-834-4448.