When it comes to design and function post frame buildings rank at the top for having efficient use of space. One of the many common uses for pole barns is storage, and there is great diversity in this category itself. What is being stored? Vehicles, hay, tools, or any type of inventory could be safely kept in a pole barn. What storage space do you need? Are machines needing to be maintained and stored for the winter? Is your pole barn a warehouse/workshop combination for your personal business?
Pole barns make great storage facilities because they can be so easily designed and built to fit a variety of needs. Safely storing inventory year-round is a very important role that a pole barn can easily fill.
What are you storing?
. If you are storing large equipment that requires oversized garage doors and a big floor plan, that can be easily done in a post frame structure. If you are storing hay, straw, or other types of feed for livestock, putting in lofts or large storage bins with access bays and aisles is also not an issue. A warehouse can easily be set up by constructing sturdy custom shelving depending of what products you are needing to stack.
It’s best to consider a few things as you plan your building:
- Number of items being stored (Always plan for extra)
- Weight of individual items (Critical for loading engineering)
- Dimensions of what is being stored (Make sure those stairs are wide enough!)
- Packaging of the items/stacking options (Make sure every space is efficiently filled to capacity)
What is the right size/shape?
After nailing down what will be stored in your new structure, the size and shape of the build should be determined. For more details on size, check out this sizing info blog post.
What about insulation?
Investing in a pole barn will not only protect your valuable equipment or items being stored, but it is one of the most cost-effective ways to do so. With good insulating options for the structure of post frame buildings, it will be easy to affordably control the temperature of your stored items. Read a previous article on your insulation options here! There is even the option of putting in radiant heated flooring if that would best suit your needs. With proper ventilation and circulation provided by ceiling fans, the large vaulted ceilings of a pole barn are no problem when it comes to evenly controlling temperatures.
To shelf or not?
- Clear up the floor!- Hang as much as you can from hooks or pegs. Consider a collapsible workbench to utilize space.
- Go up!- Is a loft an option? Lofts are a practical feature that can be added. Store those long items between the trusses. (ladders, kayaks, sleds, etc)
- Build a mezzanine to add extra storage above and create a space for an office or workshop below. These especially work great when paired with the high ceilings of a large machine building height.
With a little bit of planning or help from our design team here at Milmar, you can maximize the storage capacity of your structure. With years of experience and dedication to excellence, we can help you plan and build the perfect storage facility whether it be winter or any other season.
Contact us today to get your building plan started!