Understand Post Frame Construction for Designing a New Building
Post-frame construction is an engineered building system
using wood frame methods. Post Structure design incorporates vertical wood
posts, spaced at a specific distance, to form the structure. Post frame is not
new and has been used for decades to build Commercial and Agriculture
buildings. Posts are usually solid wood or laminated wood and are embedded into
the ground with concrete or sits on a foundation. These posts are then braced
with horizontal strapping for lateral strength and the strapping is also used
for applying the numerous options for exterior finishing of the building.
Depending on the spacing, the height of the posts can
increase your building ceiling up to 3 stories! Post construction is also very
versatile and can be customized to have any exterior look. Metal shop use various exterior finishes include metal siding,
cement board siding, wood plank siding, vinyl siding and even stucco. Erecting
a new building is a huge investment, as it requires time, money, and knowledge.
New buildings need to be designed and built to their region's particular
conditions so that they are able to withstand the normal wear, extreme weather
conditions, and even natural disasters that may occur.
This often makes them the perfect option for builders on a
budget. The metal supports create a lateral transfer of force to the
foundation, thus allowing for greater stability. Post-frame buildings are most
often created using the pole barn method,
which requires the wood be clad in metal and outfitted with lateral posts as
part of the foundation. In many regions, post-frame buildings offer an
excellent mix of stability and efficiency.
With the advancement of technology, engineering, and wood
laminate products, post frame building is now being used in residential homes
and garages. Imagine not being limited to height and width of your steel building like conventional wood
stud framing. There are many advantages of post frame building. Therefore, less
material is required and less labor is needed. Faster erection times as the
wood posts are larger, spaced wider than conventional studs, and combine that
with the lateral strength, can withstand larger loads.
The basic anatomy of a post-frame building usually takes no
more than three to five days to erect. This is due to the fact that most of the
necessary materials are prefabricated. Before construction begins, the
groundwork is laid out and prepared accordingly, cutting down on the cost of
paid labor. Beyond the basic adjustments involved in any project, there is no
need to measure or cut building materials, which saves time and money.
