Pole building construction: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering pole building construction

You build post-frame pole buildings for garages, shops, barns and storage, setting posts, framing the roof and enclosing the structure. Customers hire you for deep, well-braced posts, a frame that stays square and a building that holds up to snow and wind.

What customers ask

  • How deep will the posts go, and what soil did you check?
  • What snow and wind loads is this building designed for?
  • What post treatment do you use, and how is it rated for ground contact?
  • Who pulls the permit, and does the design need an engineer's stamp?
  • Can I add a loft or a second floor later?
  • What warranty covers the posts, the trusses and the metal roof?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the building use, the size, the door plan, the soil and the snow and wind exposure, then say which design loads you will build to
  • Walk the site, check the soil and the drainage and mark the building corners before you bid the post layout
  • Show the post spacing, the post size, the treatment and the depth in the quote so the customer sees the foundation
  • Put the truss spacing, the girt spacing and the fastener schedule in the proposal with the reason for each
  • Show the backfill or the concrete used at each post, and explain how it holds the post firm
  • Share photos of finished pole buildings with the posts, the trusses and the roof framing visible

What to put on your profile

  • Post photos of post sets, framed walls and finished roofs, labeled with the building size and the use
  • List the building types you build, such as garages, shops, barns and storage buildings
  • Show the door sizes and the overhead door installs you have completed
  • State the design loads you build to and whether you coordinate an engineer's stamp or permit submittal

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a post-build check of the posts, the bracing and the roof fasteners after the first heavy snow or storm
  • Suggest a drainage and gutter check at the base of the building after the first wet season
  • Mention a door track and opener inspection once the building has been in regular use

Licenses and permits

Pole building builders may need a general contractor license or registration, and most permanent buildings require a building permit. Agricultural exemptions may apply to some barns. Check with your state and local licensing agencies and your local building department for the permit, exemption and insurance rules before you take the job.

Questions

How do I handle a soil problem found while digging the post holes?

Stop digging at the affected hole and document the soil with photos and notes. Ask for an engineer's review before you change the post depth or the footing, and put the revised scope in writing.

What is the right post treatment for a building in wet ground?

Use posts rated for ground contact, and keep the backfill and the drainage at the post base in good condition. Explain the rating in the quote, since it affects the life of the building.

How do requests reach me on infinibell?

Customers describe the job and pick the pros they want by name, and only the pros they picked see the request. Joining is free. You pay only for the leads you accept, and you can decline a request for free. Every pro is reviewed before going live.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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