Erecting a Pole Building

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If the outside measurements, diagonals, and line squaring all check out, the holes can be filled. This is done by dumping the rest of a bag of concrete mix in the hole, and then filling to ground level with earth. Tamp the earth around the pole, but be careful not to jar or move the pole. Unless you live in an extremely arid area, you won't need to add any water to the concrete; soil moisture will be sufficient.

The remainder of the poles may now be positioned. Starting from the corner, measure 9' 9" down the string and 3" back from it, and drive a stake. For each successive pole, measure 10' from stake to stake (Fig. 7). If your building plan doesn't allow equal distancing of poles using 10' centers, place your poles where they will divide an area equally. Do not place poles more than 10' apart except where an overhead or slide by door opening will be located. Be sure, when measuring to locate these in-between poles, that all measurements originate from the same end of the building. Gambrel roof buildings wider than 20' require a row of poles down the middle of the building. These may be located by measuring between two outside stakes, splitting the measurement in half, and setting a stake (see Fig. 7). Take down the nylon string and dig all remaining holes, then replace the line before setting the poles. Keep the outside face of the pole flush with the string, making sure the pole is not pushing on it. Measure, level, and brace as shown (Fig. 8). When all poles are set, checked, and filled, move on to your top and bottom plates.

Top and Bottom Plates

The first framing attached to the set poles is the bottom plate, which is usually a 2 X 10 treated plank. The reason for using a treated plank is that the bottom plate sits close to the ground and often has fill pushed up against it, which would hold dampness and rot untreated lumber.

To locate the bottom plate, begin by measuring 1I" -from the ground levelon a corner pole. Run a chalk line from corner to corner, using a line level to check for levelness, then snap the line so that each pole is marked. Place a plank with the top edge even with the lines. Also be sure that if the plank doesn't run from one end of the building to another, it ends at the middle of a pole (Fig. 9). Nail the plank with pole barn nails; they are especially hardened and ribbed so they anchor very securely in the pole. Do not use regular common nails, as they may work loose because of the preservative in the wood. Run the planks all around the building, using four or five nails in each pole. Double-check to be sure the plate is level.

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