Pole Barn vs Stick Built – What Is The Better Building Option

Are you planning on building your dream home but have limited knowledge of structural planning? In this post, we walk you through the differences between a pole barn vs stick built construction and what is the better building option.

Pole barns are renowned for their affordability and rapid build times. Stick-built structures offer customization, are easier to finance, and typically sell for higher. We will cover all advantages and disadvantages of each to help you identify the best option for your new home.

Introduction To The Two Types Of Construction

Pole Barn

Are you planning on building your dream home but have limited knowledge of structural planning? In this post, we walk you through the differences between a pole barn vs stick built construction and what is the better building option.

The National Frame Building Association explains that a pole barn construction drives large, solid, sawn posts or laminated columns deep into the earth for superior structural reinforcement.

You’ll discover pole barns are prized for the simplicity of the building process, as the structure is assembled in a factory and delivered to the site in a kit.

Stick Built

Contrary to pole barn construction, a stick build requires detailed planning, ground leveling, and preparation. In addition, you need ample concrete to pour the foundation, where the wooden stubs are inserted.

Unlike a pole barn, a stick-built structure is assembled on the spot from single wooden stubs, which feature 16 to 24-inch center spacing.

Pole Barn vs Stick Built Comparison Table

Pole Barn	Stick Built
Requires less preparation	Requires detailed planning, and clearing
More affordable	Expensive
Fast build time	Slower build time
Enables more open spaces	More customizable
Built on 8 feet centers	Built on 18 to 24-inch centres

What Is A Pole Barn

A pole barn is a pre-prepared construction containing large sawn posts or laminated columns to provide solid, vertical support.

How Is It Constructed

The poles are inserted into the earth or attached to the foundation. This is to bolster the vertical reinforcement of the structure. Contractors employ horizontal beams or girts that are used for horizontal support. You’ll find that pole barns are built on 8-foot centers offering substantial open space that is suited to storage buildings.

Why Would You Choose A Pole Barn Over Stick Built

More Affordable

The first reason the pole barn is attractive is its reduced price compared to other methods. This is because it is pre-constructed, requires less preparation, and is faster to erect.

Faster Build

Another reason why business owners consider a pole barn is because of the reduced construction time. The ability to pre-build the structure in a factory, coupled with less preparation, leads to a faster process. This makes the owner happier and allows the contractor to move on to the next project.

Less Preparation

Besides the affordability and rapid build, pole barns are favored for the reduced planning and preparation required compared to a stick built. You do not need to clear and level the ground, as one does for a stick built.

Open Plan

The spacious built-on center spaces between a pole barn allow for an optimal open space, which suits offices, warehouses, or barns.

Perfect for Commercial Use

The affordable price of a pole barn, plus its rapid build time, makes it ideal for barns, warehouses, or offices. This saves the business time and money for a worthwhile investment.

What’s Is A Stick Built Building?

A stick-built building is assembled onsite from individual wooden stubs or dimensional lumber. It is the golden standard for residential properties and enables customization. Plus, it is more eco-friendly and fetches a higher resale price.

How Is It Constructed

Unlike a pole barn, a stick-built structure is assembled onsite by the team from wooden stubs. However, it requires thorough planning and a robust foundation, which you must clear and grade, for the continuous pouring of concrete.

The wooden stubs are then placed at 16 to 24-inch on-spacing leaving little room for an open-plan layout.

Why Would You Chose Stick Built Over A Pole Barn

Customizable

Since the construction team assembles a stick built on-site, it allows for greater flexibility and customization of your dream home.

Easier to Finance

As stick-built structures are the golden quality, it is easier to hit up a financial institution for a loan instead of a pole barn.

Higher Resale Value

Staying with finances, a stick-built home generally fetches higher resale prices when you decide it is time to move to greener pastures. However, the market’s attitude is shifting to a more positive outlook on pole barns, which may alter the landscape in the coming years.

Less Maintenance

Some contractors I have spoken to suggest that stick-built structures require less frequent maintenance than their pole barn counterparts. Their reasoning is that the delicate step-by-step process leads to greater attention to detail in every facet of the process.

Unique

The house of your dreams should be just that, not something that is copied and pasted from a catalog. A stick-built home allows you to dictate every inch of what you want it to look like

Pole Barn Vs Stick Built House

I have found that a stick-built construction is best for a house because it allows you to customize the structure into your ideal home. In addition, your home is an investment, and a stick-built home in current market conditions rises higher in value over time.

Pole Barn Vs Stick-Built Garage

A pole barn garage is a suitable alternative because it is more affordable, faster to build, and requires less preparation. This helps you save costs and raise your garage in a short period.

What Other Buildings Does A Pole Barn Suit

I find that a pole barn works for warehouses, farmyard barns, workshops, and any structure used for storing goods. The pole barn layout leaves you with expanded open spaces for ample storage.

What Buildings Does Stick Built Suit?

I find that stick-built constructions are best for houses and residential dwellings, as it is easier to receive a bank loan than a pole barn. Plus, the overall value of a stick-built structure is likely to remain or increase over time.

Pole Barn vs Stick Built – Costs

As a rough estimate, a pole barn runs for half the price of a stick-built construction per square yard. After receiving a few quotes, I found that a pole barn averages $40 to $60 per square foot, compared to the $100 to $200 cost for a stick built.

However, remember that the foundation alone accounts for 20% of the total cost of a stick built.

Pole Barn vs Stick Built – Durability

Both pole barn and stick-built structures are durable, and I have spoken to multiple experts to get their opinion. Although the answers were split, most came out in support of stick-built construction because they trust the step-by-step onsite process.

Pole Barn vs Stick Built – Insulation And Heating

I find that the stick-built structure offers superior insulation for a cool interior in summer and warm in winter. However, the pole barn is a better heat conductor to encourage warm airflow in the winter.

Pole Barn vs Stick Built – Looks

The onsite preparation and traditional construction methods make a stick-built an appealing setup.

What Are The Main Problems And Disadvantages Of Pole Barn

Difficult To Finance

A challenge with pole barn construction, depending on your state, is bank loans for the building. I have heard numerous stories of individuals unable to secure financing to build a pole barn.

Lower Resale Value

Similar to the issue of financing, a pole barn structure typically carries a lower resale value compared to a stick built. This is partly due to the market’s view of prefabricated structures and a lack of understanding by financial institutions of their effectiveness.

What Are The Main Problems And Disadvantages With Stick Built

Higher Cost Per Square Foot

Despite their good looks and durability, a stick-built construction carries a far higher per-square-foot cost than a pole barn. This means you need at least double the budget, but you are more likely to secure financing from your bank to fill the void.

Extensive Preparation Required

Before constructing a stick-built, you must clear the land and even it out for the foundation. Then you need to continuously pour concrete to solidify the base for the wooden stubs.

Requires Increased Land

The onsite building process and customization of a stick-built structure often require substantial swathes of land, which is difficult to find in most urban areas.

FAQs

Q: Which Takes Longer To Build?

A stick built takes longer to construct as the structure is assembled on-site. It requires extensive planning, clearing, and ample concrete for the foundation.

Q: Which Climate Suits Each Type?

A pole barn offers excellent heat conduction that helps it keep the interior warm in the colder months. However, stick-built constructions have a superior performance in hot and cold weather thanks to their exceptional insulation.

Q: Which One Leads To A Warmer House

Overall, I have found that a stick built leads to a warmer house compared to a pole barn because of its exceptional insulation.

Q: Why do they call it a pole barn?

After the Great Depression, farmers in the Mid-West turned to any cheap materials they could find, to maintain their property. They found the answer in telephone poles, which evolved simply into a pole barn. These units were individually driven into the ground to hold up the structure, like a pole.

Q: How long will the pole barn last?

The contractors I know suggest that a pole barn will last between 40 to 60 years.

Q: How far apart do Poles need to be on a pole barn?

Pole barns are built on 8-foot centers for a broader space between each individual pole.

Q: Should pole barn posts be set in concrete?

Yes, pole barn posts should have concrete around them once they are positioned into the earth. This allows the concrete to firm up the support for maximum stability.

Q: Do pole barns rot?

Yes, sinking pole barns directly into the surface of the ground leaves them exposed to moisture and other decaying forces. That is why I suggest taking all precautions to keep the area around the structure dry for years to come.

Q: Does a pole barn need footings?

Yes, pole barns require footings for added support. If you sink the pole into the earth with less reinforcement, you will loosen the stability of the structure.

Q: Is modular as good as stick-built?

Modular houses are more affordable and built faster than stick-built houses. In addition, both of them are built to last, making them suitable options.

Q: How long do stick-built homes last?

Stick-built homes offer a longer lifespan than pole barns, stretching anywhere from 70 to 100 years.

Q: What is cheaper modular or stick-built?

A modular home is cheaper than a stick built because it is assembled in a factory and delivered to the construction site. In addition, it requires less preparation, clearing, cement, and timber to a stick-built.

Q: What is the difference between a stick-built home and a manufactured home?

A stick-built home is constructed gradually on your plot of land before the wooden stubs are driven into the concrete foundation. Conversely, a manufactured home is produced in a factory and delivered to the site, ready to go.

A manufactured home is more affordable, faster to build, and requires less preparation than a stick-built one.

Conclusion

Now that you know the differences between a pole barn vs stick built construction, what will it be? Before you make your decision, think about your budget, timeline, design preferences, and climate.

If you want to build a warehouse, garage, or barn, you can save up to half by going with a pole barn. However, a stick-built construction enables customization, and it’s easier to get a loan. Finally, a stick-built house tends to retain or increase its value better than a pole barn.

Therefore, the quick, cheap, and hassle-free approach to the building is to opt for a pole bar. Conversely, those with an extensive budget and ample time should opt for the quality of a stick-built construction.