One of top reasons many people love Michigan is that we don’t have many natural disasters up here. We don’t have to deal with the hurricanes, earthquakes, and massive forest fires that plague some of our fellow Americans.
What we do have is snow. And we have a lot of it.
The snow drives a lot of considerations for designing your Michigan pole barn. If you want a building that will withstand an extreme blizzard, you’ll need something stronger than you’d find in the southern states.
In this post we’re going to dig into the details of nine things you should know before building a pole barn in Michigan, and ways you can prevent problems before they even begin.
1. Build Bigger Than You Think You Need
This has nothing to do with the snow, but it is such a common complaint that it bears repeating. It’s amazing how big a pole barn looks when it’s empty, and how quickly space disappears once you start bringing in you tractor, RV, boat, snow blower, and other equipment.
The most common pole barn size is 30’x40’, but the common wisdom is that in ten years you’ll wish you had built a pole barn twice as big.
2. Install Taller Doors Than You Think You Need
Maybe you don’t own a boat or RV right now, but things change. RVs are getting taller and taller, with many current designs bumping right up against Michigan’s 13.5’ height limit for trailers.
You’d hate to bring home a new boat only to find you have to store it out in the elements. However, once your pole barn is built, changing the door height may not be possible. Plan for the future and choose a building design with 14’ doors.
3. Sliding Doors Vs. Overhead Doors
Sliding doors are appealing because of the cost savings compared to overhead doors. You might find them less appealing after that first big winter storm, when the track ices over and you can’t get to your snow blower.
If you have to go with sliding doors, it’s best to put them on the south-facing side so that if the sun comes out, it will help melt snow and ice in the track.
If you can spring for overhead doors, you never have to worry about getting into your barn. If you install overhead doors from the start, you always have the option to install an automatic door opener and make things even easier. In addition, sliding doors aren’t wind-rated, but overhead doors always come with a wind rating.
4. Snow Loads and Your Pole Barn Roof
One of the most important things to know before building a pole barn in Michigan is that we have significant snow loads. The heaviest is in the Keewenaw Peninsula, clocking in at up to 100 lbs per square foot according to the Michigan Building Code and ASCE 7.
For comparison, that’s about 5 times the load that most US homes are designed for.
Snow is heavy, and you need to be certain your pole barn can handle the weight without collapsing. In Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, you may want to have your pole barn plans reviewed and sealed by a professional engineer. They can perform load calculations based on complicated factors. These include the type of roof, the pitch, the post spacing, whether your pole building is heated or not, and more.
According to Ram Mutual Insurance Company, the 80-year-record snow fall in the midwest in 2019 caused 250 buildings and roofs to collapse, most of which were pole barns. But out of those claims, not one of the buildings were considered “engineered” structures.
RELATED: Why Hire a Professional Engineer to Stamp My Pole Building Plans in Michigan?
5. All That Snow Has to Get Off the Roof Somehow
A blizzard came through and now there are multiple feet of snow on the roof. All that snow has to come down eventually!
Many post frame structures use metal roofing, which can allow the snow to slide right off on the next sunny day. If you have a side service door, this can bury the walkway – not to mention put your own safety at risk if you’re there when the snow lets loose!
Consider how you might mitigate this hazard, like putting the service door on the front of the building.
6. Grade for Proper Drainage of Melting Snow
Another consideration that makes sense for snowy climates is drainage. If all that snow slides off your roof and piles up at the base of your pole building, what happens when it melts? You don’t want to end up with a great lake inside your pole barn.
Proper drainage is key to ensuring your pole barn floor – and stored equipment – stays nice and dry.
7. Can You Build a Pole Barn in the Winter in Michigan? YES!
After the temperatures drop, it may be less appealing to spend time outside doing construction work, but it is possible. As long as you can dig holes for the footings, you can construct the shell of any post-frame building. Once the shell is in place, you can even pour a concrete floor since it is now protected from the elements.
Just think, once your pole barn is done, you no longer have to clean snow off your equipment before using it, or spend your time rearranging your garage before you can even begin working on a project.
RELATED: What is Post-Frame Construction?
8. The Frost Depth in Most of Michigan Is 42”
For almost everywhere in Michigan, the frost depth is 42 inches. This tells you the minimum depth for the post frame footings, from the finish grade to the bottom of the post footing.
However, we typically recommend 42” as the minimum depth from the finish grade to the top of the footing. This reduces the risk of frost upheaval. The difference in construction is minimal, but gives you a little extra peace of mind.
9. Some Counties in Michigan Require Engineer Sealed Prints
This one has caught a few people by surprise. Some counties require a professional engineer’s stamp on your pole barn plans (often called engineer sealed prints). For a few counties in Michigan, any pole barn with side walls over 12’ requires a professional engineer seal and signature. Many counties require engineer sealed prints for all commercial buildings.
When you are ready to order materials or break ground, this can be frustrating. If you find yourself in this situation, Michigan Building Design can help. We offer affordable pricing and quick turnaround on sealed pole barn plans.
Contact MBD for Pole Barns Designs That Can Withstand the Michigan Elements
While there are many useful key points to know before building a pole barn in Michigan, talking to a design professional can help you address all of these and more. Sealed pole barn prints can give you confidence in your building design, and make the building permit process easier.
At Michigan Building Design, we understand that engineering stamps can feel like more government red tape. However, having an experienced structural engineer review your pole building plans gives your stored equipment an extra layer of protection. When that heavy snow comes, you can be confident that you are prepared.
You can bring us your existing pole barn plans, or tell us what you’re looking for and let us create custom pole barn blueprints. Our professional engineer will complete the load calculations and make sure your pole barn is built to last.
Just give us a call at (231) 577-9523 or you can fill out our online contact form here.