Many hardware store chains, home improvement stores, and local lumber supply companies offer pole building kits. We often get asked if we sell these kits, we don't, and there's a reason for that. When non-professionals attempt to DIY their own building, things can quickly become unsafe.
Construction companies will often carry liability, builder's risk, and worker's compensation insurance. People who build their own pole barn likely won't have that readily available to them. Regular insurance companies that don't specialize in construction policies might have trouble putting together a package to fit your needs. Without this protection, you can be held liable for any accidents that occur on your property. Say your friend or cousin gets hurt helping you build your garage or workshop, they can sue you for their medical bills. You can also be held liable for property damage. If a natural disaster or fire wipes out your building before its completed, you will be stuck replacing any broken materials and have to completely rebuild your barn. Similarly, there is no protection from theft or vandalism.
If you build your own pole barn, don't forget that it's not just a one time project. Years down the road, the roof or siding may need repaired. Many construction companies offer warranties should anything on your building need repaired within a certain period of time. For example, Kirkham Building System offers a 5 year warranty that covers workmanship and materials. Without that warranty, you are responsible for costs for the rest of the building's lifetime. Also, an untrained crew will often make more mistakes than an experienced crew, leading to more problems down the line.
Post-frame buildings are often recognized for the minimal amount of time they take to erect. While a trained crew can put up a pole building in just days to weeks, depending on the size of the building, an untrained and unexperienced crew will make more mistakes, prolonging the length of the project. If you choose to DIY your pole barn, be cautious of who you bring on your team.
DIYing a pole barn could be a great idea for smaller projects like sheds. However, it may not be a great idea for more complicated projects. Although many handymen may have basic frame building skills, its a bit harder to come across a good electrician or plumber to help you build your building. DIYing limits how big or creative you can go.
Buying A Kit
Pole building kits can limit many options for you as well. The supplier picks the materials for you, so you have limited to no customization options.
You also don't have control over the quality of materials, or possibly the expertise to know what specific materials would work best for your project. You might not even have high-quality materials readily available to you. We take pride in our trusted supplier and subcontractor team, and only use the best materials to make sure your building will stand the test of time. We have access to a wide variety of materials, making our customization options nearly unlimited.
Complete DIY
Completely DIYing a pole building can be a great option for people that already have construction and framing experiencing. However, there are some disadvantages. Creating your own material list and finding those materials takes time. You also give yourself the task of budgeting for each individual item, instead of paying all at once.
Building your own garage, workshop or barn can work for those who have done similar projects before. It's often monetarily cheaper than hiring a contractor, but also costs more time and stress down the road. You'll have to take time away from other work and hobbies to plan and build your building. A trusted contractor will save you a priceless amount of time and stress.
Kirkham Building System, Inc. has been in the post-frame building business for over 35 years. We can take care of you, no matter how big or small your project is. If you have any questions regarding building a residential, agricultural or commercial accessory building on your property don't hesitate to reach out to us an fill out our contact form.
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