What is a Post Frame Structure?

A Colorado barn with a post frame structure is a structurally engineered wood frame building. There are several different foundation options available, with the most common being the embedded treated post supported by a concrete footing. (rockymountainbarns.com)

(Photo courtesy of rockymountainbarns.com)

Advantages

The main advantages to using a post-frame are:

• Speed of construction: The advantage is straight monetary savings due to lower labor costs.
• Design Flexibility: Post frame structures offer you a variety of interior and exterior finishing options to make your Colorado barn look good.
• Fewer Materials: Once again, here, the advantages are monetary savings. Less material equals lower purchasing costs.
• Durability: A Colorado barn using a post frame structure will last longer because the posts, which are in-ground, increase the building’s stability and wind resistance. Also, the type of treated wood used in Colorado Barn post frame construction is treated more thoroughly and deeper than regular wood treatments. (post frame advantage. com)

Design Specs

In 2008, the National Frame Building Association (NFBA) put out a model guide for post frame structure specifications.

This guideline provides you with different alternatives to areas such as primary framing, the different types of post frame types, primary dimensions and spacing, roof pitch, secondary framing, lateral bracing and wall details.

Other areas discussed in this model guide involve loads (live, collateral and dead) as well as wind, seismic and snow loads and rainfall intensity.

Building Codes

If you decide to go with a post frame structure for your Colorado barn or pole barn, feel confident that your structure will be in compliance with the following organizations’ requirements:

• American Wood Council: provides you with the specifics of post frame code compliance
• American Wood Protection Association – In conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency, the AWPA provides the necessary specifications for the treatment of wood which you will use in your post frame Colorado barn structure.
• National Frame Building Association – provides the only comprehensive manual on how to properly build post frame structures
• American Society for Testing Standards – “Post-Frame Nails sets production standards for threaded hardened nails, and is referenced in the National Design Specification (NDS), which establishes the technical specifications for the dimensions, tolerances and materials for the manufacture of fasteners.” (post frame advantage .com)
• International Building Code – provides building specs.

Also, along with the International Building Code specs, the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers provides guidelines with regard to barns and pole barns shallow post foundation design, diaphragm design, load tests for metal-clad week-frame diaphragms and mechanically laminated columns. (postframeadvantage.com)

Roof Trusses

A truss used for Colorado barns and Colorado pole buildings roofing purposes “is a structure comprising of one or more triangular units made from timber constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes.” (wikipedia.org)

These triangular units are either nailed, bolted or pegged and form an incredibly strong structure. (diydoctor.org.uk)

Using truss roof construction allows you to build a Colorado barn which may be up to 80 feet wide. The posts, or columns, are connected to the roof trusses via purlins on the roof and girts on the side walls. (rockymountainbarns.com)

Interiors/Exteriors

Post frame structures allow you to use just about any type of finishes for your Colorado barn interior and exterior. (postframeadvantage.com)

Interior: Because trusses allow for very wide structures where you may use “nailing or other means of affixing all types of interior finishes to non-wood framed structures.” (postframeadvantage.com)

Exterior: The different types of exterior finishes which you may use for your Colorado barn include wood siding, brick or stone or faux finishes. Whichever construction material you decide to go with, no one will be able to tell that your Colorado barn or horse barn is a post frame structure.

Barn Options

Some of the options available for you to choose for your Colorado barn include:

• Custom foyer.
• Vented soffits: This option involves the ventilation outlets in your Colorado barn attic. These vents will also increase the life-span of your barn’s roof by having outside air circulating through the attic.
• Wainscoting – A type of paneling used on the bottom portion of walls. It was used to hide poor building materials and is now only used for decorative purposes.
• Cupolas – Depending on the length of your Colorado barn, considering the use of cupolas and how many is another way to keep the attic cool. It also adds a very attractive and distinctive old world look to your barn roof.

A barn with one cupola (Photo courtesy of The Bank Barn at Stonefield, wisconsinhistory.org).

• Walk doors and windows
• Custom sliding front doors
• Deluxe Dutch doors.

Another option which you may need to decide upon is whether your Colorado barn will have a porch or not.

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