Is your existing shed or garage overflowing with boxes, or are you looking for some extra space to store that recently purchased boat? If so, it may be time to consider building a new storage space. Here are six important tips on how to build a pole garage.

Similar to other post-frame buildings, the way you build your pole garage is going to heavily depend on your needs.

Is your garage going to store a classic car, or boxes of holiday decorations? Will you have a workshop? Are you storing chemicals?  Will your new pole garage store a little, or a lot, of everything?

We’ll answer these questions below, with our six tips to keep in mind when planning and designing your new pole garage.

As you design your new garage or shed, consider installing what we call Bonus Storage. This is a truss system that increases your attic space, allowing you to store additional material in your building.

Bonus Storage is great for storing seasonal items

Increasing your attic space costs about 80 percent less expensive than expanding your floor plan. You can increase your space’s square footage using Bonus Storage in your attic by up to 50 percent.

Bonus Storage is a great way to store seasonal items such as lawn furniture, life jackets, skis, or other seasonal items you only use part of the year. This could be a great option for you if you are seeking to store items you would typically put away in your attic.

However, if you are looking to erect a new space entirely, here are six things to consider when building your new pole garage.

1. Anticipate future purchases. Sure, you have a pair of jet skis to store now, but do you think you will purchase a pontoon boat a couple of years down the road?

Anticipate future purchases when determining your garage’s dimensions to save money and frustration in the long run. Build to accommodate the largest vehicle or toy you may one day hope to store in your garage.

2. Match it to surrounding buildings. This is common in suburban settings. A lot of people like to match the aesthetic of their new pole garages to their house.

Keep this in mind when choosing the design, size, colors and decorative details of your building.

3. Consider roofing options. Many post-frame buildings typically have steel roofing.

But in some cases, especially in suburban buildings, people sometimes opt to construct with shingles to match their house, or at least utilize a steel color that closely matches the house.

Note that roofing options such as shingles can increase both the up-front and long-term maintenance costs of your new garage.

4. Do not forget about electricity. If you want to have lighting in your workshop area or a garage door opener, plan for electrical runs and outlets.

5. Address ventilation. Select windows and doors that will suit your needs for access and ventilation.

If you plan on insulating in addition to heating or cooling all or part of your garage, windows and doors should be insulated to prevent heat from transferring, and designed to keep cold air from flowing through the cracks.

Consider powered ventilation for enclosed work areas where you may use chemicals or paint.

6. Use flush wall insulation. One advantage of a pole barn garage is the use of a flush wall insulation system as it is designed to give you maximum insulation in the wall cavity.

Ensure that the trusses are appropriately designed to carry the weight of insulation and drywall if used on the ceiling.

Click here to read more about post-frame building insulation.

For more general information on how to build a post-frame building, click here.

Remember that building a pole garage, similar to any other post-frame building, is an ambitious task that requires a lot of patience and skill. Consult your builder to ensure your pole garage is engineered properly so you won’t run into any frustrating issues down the line.

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