If you were to build a new pole barn and had the space available to put it any direction what would your choice be? I know several that now have solar panels on now. Don't know what direction is best for solar panels. Also, is there a direction that tends to help buildings make it through strong winds / straight line winds? Planning on building a 40 by 80 with doors on the ends. Location is Eastern/South East Iowa. Thanks.
- Thread starter andy r
- Start date
I don't have a pole barn but my building faces south and the highway. Snow melts off on sunny days in winter. We have had some bad wind storms and building never creaks in storms. With doors on both ends there is always a breeze going through building with doors open I didn't build a pole barn because I have seen to many of them collapse in heavy snows in winter. I built what they call a modified U building that is 40-60 foot with sliding doors on north end and I built in the south end with overhead doors. This building comes as a kit and you build it.
Deere Scotty
Member
If You live North of the equator, & want Solar Panels on the roof... The ends should face east, & west with the Solar Panels on the south side of the roof. Probably at least a 3 - 12 pitch, a 4 - 12 being more ideal on average. If no solar panels, then it would be which side do You want the sun to hit, & which shaded.
Dave Salway
Member
You need a answer from some one close to your area for a answer . Ours is 48 x 80 and lays
East and west with doors on ends . We did not build it and I would not put main doors on
the west end here in N. Central Ohio .
That said we have both wind and solar alternate energy around here and my advice is be
very informed . My employer has a solid fuel power / heat plant that is very good if all
the latest emission standards had not been done . Almost all of the solar area here have not
been able too be cost feasible and one is a 3 acre for a Vocational school . A local
investment company has been trying too put in a 15 acre for years . Several homeowners
have tried and it has not been a good experience. The wind turbines have had the most
successful but only on the Comercial side due to expense .
Just my two since.
East and west with doors on ends . We did not build it and I would not put main doors on
the west end here in N. Central Ohio .
That said we have both wind and solar alternate energy around here and my advice is be
very informed . My employer has a solid fuel power / heat plant that is very good if all
the latest emission standards had not been done . Almost all of the solar area here have not
been able too be cost feasible and one is a 3 acre for a Vocational school . A local
investment company has been trying too put in a 15 acre for years . Several homeowners
have tried and it has not been a good experience. The wind turbines have had the most
successful but only on the Comercial side due to expense .
Just my two since.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
All other things being equal, I'd always orient a shop east-west. That way you can maximize natural lighting with windows on the south wall. I would also always have a two foot roof overhang so the south wall is shaded from the mid-day summer sun. And east-west is the best direction if you want solar panels on the roof.
Wind resistance has less to do with orientation and more to do with construction details. Hurricane ties like <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson-Strong-Tie-H1Z-Z-MAX-Galvanized-18-Gauge-Hurricane-Tie-H1Z/100374935">these</a> should be used to attach all trusses to the girders. Metal siding should be installed starting from the downwind end of the walls and roof so the overlaps are out of the wind.
Wind resistance has less to do with orientation and more to do with construction details. Hurricane ties like <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson-Strong-Tie-H1Z-Z-MAX-Galvanized-18-Gauge-Hurricane-Tie-H1Z/100374935">these</a> should be used to attach all trusses to the girders. Metal siding should be installed starting from the downwind end of the walls and roof so the overlaps are out of the wind.
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
I put mine N-S, 1 ft eves with translucent panels at top for lighting, plenty of lighting. Main reason I wanted the doors on the south end facing the house with security lighting. I think crooks would be happy if I put the doors where I couldn't see them. No rain gutters, rain water hits flowers below to prevent dirt splashing. I didn't want doors where I would take a shower when it rains too. Plus prevailing winds are out the south, so natural ventilation when I open the doors.
Ultradog MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Twin Cities
If possible I would set it so the ridge runs north and south.
Put the doors on the south end so you can open them in spring and fall and get the sun in there. The snow will slide off on the east and west and not dump on your apron.
Put the doors on the south end so you can open them in spring and fall and get the sun in there. The snow will slide off on the east and west and not dump on your apron.
notjustair
Well-known Member
Ridge east-west with doors on the end. My north shed runs north south and the north door is a nightmare all fall, spring, and winter. The area by the door and tracks take forever to thaw and the center support has been a mess. Every winter it heaved and moved even though it was below the frost line. This winter I drilled into the slab and made a center door hanger so the support will move with the building.
I have a machine shed that runs north south but has all of the doors on the east. It works really well. I keep meaning to put gutters on that side so I don't have to walk through a waterfall.
I have a machine shed that runs north south but has all of the doors on the east. It works really well. I keep meaning to put gutters on that side so I don't have to walk through a waterfall.
WI Dan
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northern Wisconsin, Price County
I would put the main door and driveway on the south side of the building, so as not to be shaded by the building. I don't like an icy driveway.
Dave H (MI)
Well-known Member
The one I put up last Spring is 40x100 and is oriented east to west. On the west side are my two big doors, 16' high and ten wide each, that the combine and other equipment go thru. I pull equipment just inside these doors to work on it. Lots of light and air, no rain, snow or sun. On the south (long) side is a 12' slider and this is used to move smaller equipment in and out when I have a big project on the west end. This is also a nice place to eat lunch or bask in the Spring sun whilst taking a break. On the east side is a small 10 x 10 slider. The land falls about 2-3' from west to east so this door opens onto a dock that can be used to load/unload my trucks without lifting. This door provides a lot of cross ventilation and morning light also. All the doors have great views of the fields making it a pleasant place to work. I am not really a great believer in solar in Michigan except for maybe heating water or pools. I also do not like those opaque panels for light. I have a lot of light without them. There are no windows or doors on the north side as a lean-to is planned to shelter some of the tillage equipment, etc. This works very well for me, I have no complaints.
Solar panels would mean the ridge going E-W here. One door for equipment on the South side. Our current converted cow barn has a East door which is not good during the winter in terms of the sun getting rid of snow and ice. The West winter winds are TOUGH on buildings here so I would go a little beyond spec in terms of support and screws for the roof panels. With lake effect snow 4/12 pitch (as opposed to 3/12) would be the minimum pitch and most likely would opt for 5/12 or even 6/12 knowing the cost jumps greatly.
That picture was taken the winter before but I have some pictures of more snow than that.. The snow we had this last winter never really built up it was always gone in a few days. This building will take more wind and snow than the average pole barn My doors face south with yard light and face house.
fixerupper
Well-known Member
I would put the main door on the east. Snow doesn't drift in as bad on an east door. Our 54X90 machine shed points east/west with doors on the south and the east. In the winter we don't use the south facing doors because of snow drifted against the doors. The east door won't have much of a drift and for some reason the drift is away from the door just a bit. My old shop has a south facing door. The snow will drift against the overhead door so tight I sometimes have to shovel snow away from the door to raise it. Snow melts away from the east facing door just as fast as the south door. In the summer you can't beat a door on the south and a door on the north for cross ventilation. In fact, you had better make sure all loose paper and plastic is held down before you open both doors at the same time.
Goose
Well-known Member
I put up a 30X48 three years ago, and have the ridge running east and west, with the main overhead door and walk-in door on the east, with another overhead door on the southwest corner facing south.
I took snow accumulation into consideration, plus our house is east of the building. For where it's setting, the main door facing south was not an option.
I took snow accumulation into consideration, plus our house is east of the building. For where it's setting, the main door facing south was not an option.
K Effective
Well-known Member
Our garage door faces East- it drifts worse than all the other doors. The current shop building ridge runs N-S, door on the South end- the drift is there, but manageable. The cow barn ridge is Also N-S, doors to the West, feed lot to the East for odor purposes 
I want to put up another new shop building to replace a 1974 Wicks pole barn that is way undersized. I plan to run the ridge E-W with doors in the South wall, but we'll see about that!
I want to put up another new shop building to replace a 1974 Wicks pole barn that is way undersized. I plan to run the ridge E-W with doors in the South wall, but we'll see about that!
Snow drifting is not just a function of building orientation....it also depends what else is in the area, and where. Grove, silos, other buildings, etc. Putting doors on the gable ends may be better...doors under a minimal overhang get blocked by roof snow sliding off. More ice issues as well. Sometimes not a whole lot of choices.
Jim in Sask
Member
(quoted from post at 23:28:22 06/02/16) I don't have a pole barn but my building faces south and the highway. Snow melts off on sunny days in winter. We have had some bad wind storms and building never creaks in storms. With doors on both ends there is always a breeze going through building with doors open I didn't build a pole barn because I have seen to many of them collapse in heavy snows in winter. I built what they call a modified U building that is 40-60 foot with sliding doors on north end and I built in the south end with overhead doors. This building comes as a kit and you build it.
Nice looking building. I see you have heat in it - did you insulate it and if so, how did you go about insulating? I have a similar building I'd like to use as a shop.
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