Whether you’re storing heavy equipment, raising livestock, or simply creating an outdoor shelter, pole barns are one of the most well-known agricultural constructions throughout the United States. Pole barns first began to grow popular in the 1930s, as farming moved away from manual labor and began to embrace technology, including heavy equipment.
As agriculture became industrial, it grew necessary to protect all this machinery from the elements, and so farmers needed a way to quickly and easily construct shelters for their new tools. Despite their ease of construction, they have some serious staying power if designed and built correctly; many pole barns have lasted for generations with careful maintenance.
Previously, most pole barns used wooden trusses to support its weight, but now, there are even more options available for agricultural construction, including metal pole barn trusses. Today, we’ll discuss why you should consider using metal trusses rather than wood for your next pole barn, including safety, space, and simplicity.
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Metal trusses are long lasting and require less maintenance
It’s a common sight across agricultural areas to see caved-in barns; this collapse is often due to the failure of the wooden trusses holding up the roof. Over time, wood degrades, especially in areas that have severe temperature extremes over the course of the year. Humidity over the summer months encourages rot and pest infestations, while cold winters cause the wood to shrink, pulling against the support beams and coming loose from their moorings. This cycle will eventually lead to rotten beams that are barely held together by the brackets and screws holding them up, and the trusses will ultimately fail entirely, leading to the total destruction of the building.
Metal pole barn trusses avoid many roofing problems because they are less prone to rot, and they also avoid the natural swelling and shrinking of organic material due to temperature and humidity fluctuations. These trusses will last far longer than wooden beams, ensuring that you can use your pole barn for decades with less repair and replacement.
These trusses also allow for more overhead space
To support a pole barn with wooden trusses, you need some heavy timbers that can withstand a lot of pressure; these, in turn, also need strong support beams that will hold them up. All of this amounts to a lot of wasted space in a building that is meant to store equipment or livestock.
In contrast, metal pole barn trusses take up far less space, which gives you higher clearance for your taller equipment. You’ll need less support beams depending on the size of the building, so you can also improve maneuverability for large vehicles or loads. Metal trusses are economical and practical, enabling you to utilize your barn more freely without compromising on safety.
With some pole barns, such as horse arenas, high clearance isn’t particularly important, but aesthetics are: if you’re training horses or teaching students, you want somewhere that feels light, airy, and comfortable for both animal and rider. Metal trusses remove the ponderous weight of wooden beams across the top, which allows more light and air circulation. This is also helpful for livestock applications, as animal health depends on good ventilation, especially during the warm summer months.
You’ll save time with metal trusses, which are incredibly easy to install
If you’ve constructed a pole barn before, you know how frustrating and time-consuming it is to lift wooden trusses into place and secure them to support beams. You need heavy equipment or a lot of manpower to get this done, and every join needs to be carefully checked to ensure that it’s secure. You may also find that some beams don’t fit snugly together, which necessitates more repair – and more time lost.
You’ll have none of those problems with metal pole barn trusses, which are manufactured both for ease of installation and incredible strength. Even though they are able to withstand a lot of pressure, they’re also lighter than wooden trusses, and this also makes them easier to install. While you will still need some heavy equipment, depending on the size of your pole barn, it will take far less effort, which will allow you to complete the construction faster.
Lastly, you have the peace of mind from knowing that these trusses were expertly designed and fabricated for your needs. Unless you have a highly specific application, you don’t need to have an engineer decide how thick of a wood truss you need, as metal trusses can handle most weights with no problem.
Final thoughts
While metal trusses for your pole barn are slightly more expensive than wood trusses at first glance, they last for far longer and can be installed much faster, which makes them cost effective over the long term. They also provide more overhead clearance and a lighter, airier feel to your barn, which is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Pole barns are an excellent option for fast, easy storage across your agricultural operation, but with a little advanced engineering, they can be even more useful. Consider metal pole barn trusses for your next project – you’ll be so glad you did.
