Size

‍When figuring out your ideal pole barn garage, there are many factors to consider. The first question is, what size do you want? Since our buildings are custom, you can choose any set of dimensions you like. The only limitation is that we cannot build wider than 90 feet, as that is the longest wooden roof truss we can order. As long as your building site and budget allow, it is best to build a few feet bigger than you think necessary. Every bit of space fills up quickly, and our customers often tell us that they wish they had chosen a larger size.

‍Roofing and Siding

‍Most of our pole barns feature 29 gauge metal roofing and siding, which is affordable, long lasting, and easy to clean. It’s also available in a variety of colors (see our color visualizer), so you can choose a color combination that suits your taste.

Though metal is the most popular roofing and siding choice of our customers, we can also use other materials. Alternative roofing options are shingles and standing seam. As for the sides, we can use products such as vinyl, wood, and Hardie board, among others. We work with multiple material suppliers, so we can help you find the siding and roofing that best matches your house or other existing structures.

‍Doors

‍Most residential designs include some type of garage door. The majority of our overhead doors come from Clopay, which has a variety of designs and sizes available. Keep in mind that the doors you choose should be two feet shorter than the height of your building, since overhead doors have a track system that attaches to the building's ceiling.

A classy alternative to garage doors is sliding doors. A building can even feature both, like this garage in Amelia, Virginia. Along with looking great, sliding doors can be the same height as your building’s ceiling, making the most of your space. We buy our sliding doors from StallWorks and J&E Manufacturing, so visit their websites for ideas and information.

Pricing

‍As you may have already noticed, we don’t have pricing noted anywhere on our website. This is because prices can vary greatly by location and design choices. However, one of our sales reps can provide you with a free quote for your chosen design. If the price is right, we move onto signing a contract and finalizing the building plans.

‍Permits

‍Moving onto the logistics of the project, the first step is to apply for any necessary permits. All towns and counties have their own sets of regulations, so it is best to check with your local officials for guidance.

‍Site Preparation

‍Next, it is time to prepare your pole barn site. We ask for the pad to be at least 5' wider than the building on all sides (for example, a 30’x40’ garage requires a 40’x50’ pad). This creates the necessary room for our crew members to move around the building with ladders, lifts, and other equipment.

‍Construction

‍Now that your site is ready, we can construct your building! A small garage or storage building can be built in a few days, but more complicated buildings can take weeks, or even months. Projects that include plumbing, electrical, insulation, and other elements usually involve multiple contractors, creating lag time between each phase of the job.

Our customers usually apply for their own permits and hire other contractors to prepare their building site, pour the concrete floor, and run electrical lines. However, if you are located close to our Harrisonburg office, we can do all of this for you, meaning you don’t have to worry about a thing.

Though our residential portfolio doesn’t feature any barndominiums, they deserve a special mention. We are able to build barndominiums, but only under special conditions. Below are three things to consider:

1. Since barndominiums are more complicated than our average barn or garage project, we only offer them in a few Virginia counties.

2. We can only build barndominium shells, meaning that you (or another contractor) will have to finish the interior.

3. Since we specialize in barns and garages, our building plans are very simple. Because of this, banks will not approve a loan for a residence built by us. Of course, this is not a problem if you plan to finance the project with cash. However, if you need a loan for your barndominium project, we will not be able to help.

In theory, barndominiums are awesome. They offer an open floor plan and a dreamy exterior, and they are more affordable than a stick-frame home (though the savings are usually minimal). However, barndominiums also present a unique set of challenges. For a better understanding of the barndominium building process, we recommend visiting the YouTube channel of Little Mountain Life. They have a playlist detailing their own experience with a pole barn home, which will help you decide whether or not a barndominium is a good fit for you.