POLE BARN AND METAL BUILDING
Barndominiums are built on one of two primary structural systems: post-frame or steel frame. Both are legitimate approaches to metal building home construction, and each has trade-offs worth understanding before you commit to a build. We work with both systems and will give you a straight assessment of which fits your project.
Post-frame construction, often called pole barn home building, uses large wood columns set into concrete piers or on surface-mounted brackets. The columns carry the roof load directly, which means the interior of the building is largely free of load-bearing walls. That's what makes open concept barndominium layouts practical. Post-frame buildings go up quickly, handle wide spans well, and are generally less expensive per square foot than steel frame for larger footprints. They're a common choice for barndominium with shop configurations where you need a wide, open bay.
Steel frame home construction uses a rigid frame system made of welded or bolted steel members that carry the roof and wall loads. Steel frame buildings are engineered to specific wind and snow load requirements, which matters on the Front Range where wind and snow events can be significant. A steel frame building can handle a more complex roofline than a standard post-frame design, and the structural steel is more dimensionally stable over time than wood columns in wet soil conditions.
For Colorado Springs area builds, the choice between systems often comes down to the size of the building, the site, and what the buyer is putting inside. Larger open-span builds with shop bays often suit post-frame well. Tighter footprints with more complex exterior profiles often suit steel frame. El Paso County building code applies to both, and we handle the engineering documentation and permitting for whichever system the project calls for.
If you're trying to figure out which structural system makes sense for your barndominium build, call us and we'll walk through the specifics of your site and your program.
Learn about barndominium kits and how they compare to a custom build in Colorado Springs.