There are many different terms when it comes to building, and some terms are even specific to post frame builds! Here is the breakdown of the basic terms you will hear when looking into building a pole barn or post frame building.
A post frame or steel frame construction home, typically with a large attached garage/shop area. Some other names for barndominium include barn home, barndo, shouse, garagedominium, shome, metal home, metal building home, post frame home, and several other similar variations.
The outer edge of a roof covered in metal is the fascia. It sits vertically on the edge of the roof, perpendicular to the soffit.
The gables are the sides of the building where you can see the peak of the roofline going upwards (see below).
The Eave sides of the building are the sides where gutters are installed for water run-off (see directly below).
The technical definition for grade is “the line intersection between the building exterior and the finished ground surface.” To put it simply, grade is where the ground meets the building.
Building site fill is material (gravel, dirt, sand, etc.) that is brought in to level off a building site, raise a building site, or even backfill it, prior to beginning the actual construction of the frame, foundation, etc. of a build. Fill done the right way will correct things like drainage issues, uneven or low spots, and will help support your foundation or slab.
Trusses are the support system of the roof and provide the interior ceiling. They are customized to support your pole barn. The centers come in 2, 4, or 8 ft, depending on the ceiling load. Trusses come in a variety of styles. Below are a few.
Standard or Common Pole Barn Trusses have a flat bottom which allows for a flat ceiling.
Scissor Trusses are crossed beams providing a vaulted ceiling. Scissor trusses give you more head room.
Attic Trusses essentially give you a "second story room", in an upstairs area that is often used for storage. Typically drop down ladders or built-in stairs are used to access these second-level attic rooms.
Mono-pitch Trusses are for single slope buildings, such as the build below.
These terms simply refer to a structural approach that allows for large spaces open areas and maximum use of space. These clear span designs don't require having load-bearing walls or columns installed on the interior to support the overall structure. It is often used in post frame construction methods (with trusses providing the necessary support), but can also be accomplished with steel frame structures.
Clear span buildings are most often essential for things like hangars, warehouses, riding arenas, agriculture builds, rec buildings, and auditoriums.
Overhang
This is how much roof is hanging past the walls on the ends and sides of the building. Overhang will typically be 12 to 24 inches.
Purlins are the pieces of lumber on the roof that provide structure and where the metal panels are attached.
The girts are similar to the purlins in that they are 2x4s placed 24 inches on center, but on the walls instead of the roof. Girts also provide wall support.
The top support pieces are known as girders. Beam sizes will typically be 2×10 or 2×12.
There are several different names for the piece of wood/board that sits on ground level. It is simply treated wood because it is in contact with the ground.
This is the support framing that is done for larger doors and openings. This provides the added strength necessary for structural integrity.
House Wrap (the white, Milmar logo material on the barndominium in the picture above) helps you maintain a dry building structure for years to come thanks to technology that channels liquid away from the wall assembly to the ground. It is not necessary for every pole barn, but is great for additional protection from the elements.
Gauge is the thickness of the metal for the roof and siding. Average thickness is 26 or 29. The lower the number the thicker the metal. For example, a 16 gauge would be thicker than 29. Milmar buildings are done in either 26 or 29 gauge steel.
On Center is how far apart the lumber is spaced. For example, for many of the types of builds we construct, we space the posts 8 feet from the middle of one post to the middle of the next post. So if you hear someone say "8 foot on center," that's what they're talking about.
If you are building your pole barn as a home or barndominium, standing seams add a more finished look. They hide fasteners from view. A typical pole barn looks good even without standing seams and comes at a lower cost but if you are looking for a higher quality, more finished look for your roof, especially for a post frame home, standing seam is a great option.
Cottage Panels (or Board and Batten siding) are a premium upgrade for siding on a build. Many people upgrade to these panels (from the typical steel siding sheets/panels) for a more refined or premium look on a barndominium. Below is a barndo we built in Indiana that features cottage panel siding.
This is the underside of roof overhangs made of ribbed metal or perforated panels to allow for air flow in the attic space.
(A Milmar feature installed in every pole barn!) It is simply a metal channel that seals all ridge openings along the bottom trim and gives the barn a more finished, clean look.
J-channel is metal trim in the shape of a ‘J’ that is placed around window and door openings to give the edges a finished look and channel water away from the opening. Each piece is custom cut to fit on site.
Another custom cut piece to complete your pole barn and to seal the corners is the corner trim. You can match the color to the roof or choose a different color to have a two-tone look.
A bubble wrap looking material that is placed on top of the purlins. It is reflective on the top side, and white vinyl on the under side. This is the last step before the metal panels are installed. It's purpose is to provide a weather and condensation break. It protects the wood/framing from moisture, stops metal roof "sweating" or condensation, and allows for a dead-air space for added thermal efficiency.
Wainscot is a 3-4 foot tall piece of trim, attached to the exterior wall of the build. Below are two examples - the first is an ag barn featuring a three-foot green metal wainscot, the other features a stone veneer wainscot finish. It is easier to replace the 3-4 foot piece of metal rather than an entire sheet in case of damage (i.e. your teenager or grandchild backing into the building). You can choose from a variety of colors, but many people will match it to the building's roof or trim color. We most often see the traditional metal wainscot, as the stone or brick finish can drive up costs.
An eyebrow is a small overhang feature, typically placed above the doors on a build (like in the picture directly above). The eyebrows in the above picture feature cedar bracing added beneath them for added style.
Pictured directly above is a garage build we constructed that features three dormers. A dormer is a small structure that juts out from the roof, and provides natural light. It is most often included in attic spaces and on gambrel-style barns. Because of the design, labor, and installation, a dormer does add significant cost to the project, but it looks great and adds a lot of character!
Clear panels are placed at the top of the wall to let in light. They work best for agricultural buildings, not so much if you are looking for a fully-insulated building. The two pictures below show two of the options for light panels. One is a clear light panel (on the red horse barn and arena) and one is a tinted light panel (on the charcoal and black utility barn).
Gambrel is a style of roof that looks like a traditional barn roof (see the two gambrel-style pole barns in the pictures below). Though not always the most cost effective, there are cases where a gambrel roof is practical in allowing for an attic room (who doesn't love more space?!) And they are such a classic look, it's definitely still a popular style.
Some other terms are side shed or side porch. A lean-to is a covered entrance that can provide additional storage space. It can be open or covered to give you easy access to machinery, equipment, or a vehicle.
A cupola is the small square structure on top of a barn (there are three of them on the pole barn garage in the picture above). Some are vented or windowed. Although they are mostly used as a decorative piece, cupolas can also provide ventilation. Adding a weathervane to the cupola adds visual interest and character to your barn, plus, you will always know which way the wind is blowing 😉
This is another style feature to add to your build. It is a pointed overhang, at both ends of the roof. Traditionally used to cover the hay pulley, it will add a vintage look to your pole barn. Other names are hay hood or crow’s beak. See one of these peaks pictured on the garage below, with cedar bracing detail.
If you ever see the term OHD in a contract or an article, it is literally just referring to overhead doors (like garage doors).
Interior liner is usually referring to the metal paneling that is used to finish the interior of your build. Many people add insulation and interior liner to their garages, barns, and outbuildings.
This is a level to which a project is brought under the scope of your building contract. If you are getting a turnkey build, it usually means there is nothing left to do but move in. The project will be 100% complete and ready for you.
This is a level to which a project is brought to as well. Some builders will literally only include the shell (the framing and exterior metal) in their shell builds. Other builder will offer you options to add things in to your "shell build" that you don't want to have to handle on your own (such as concrete, plumbing or electrical rough-ins, doors, etc.) A shell-only build means that your contract will specifically state what the contractor is covering in the shell, and it will leave much of the interior work and "extras" for you to handle.
If it's a shell build for a barndominium or accessory dwelling unit (or ADU), we often have clients wanting to have us bring the "shell build" up through the interior framing portion of the project, at which point they'll take over and handle drywall, interior finishes, painting, cabinets and millwork, fixtures and so on.
Be sure to know what your builder is including in your contract, and make sure you know all the options available to you through the builders you are considering for your own project!
