How Long Does A Pole Building Last?

The Lifespan You Can Expect from Your Pole Barn

If you’re like most people, the future probably weighs heavily on your mind when making a major purchase. You wouldn’t buy a car if you knew it would stop running in two weeks, so it stands to reason that you don’t want to invest in a pole building if it won’t be viable a few years down the line. 

The good news is, the pole building industry has made significant strides in terms of permanence, and there are official regulations in place that protect you from having to worry about your building succumbing to an untimely demise. We’ve explored all of the details surrounding pole building lifespans below so you can feel confident in the durability of your investment. 

Defining The Pole Building Lifespan

You’ll see a wide range of numbers thrown around when it comes to the longevity of pole buildings, but 40-60 years is the most commonly cited time frame. 

While it’s certainly possible that a pole building might last somewhere in this range, there’s also nothing to say that it couldn’t stay in working order for upwards of 100 years with proper maintenance. 

The most likely reason that the 40-60 year range is so often used is that it’s a safe estimate. Just like any other structure, a pole building will require some minimal upkeep over time; leading with a shorter potential lifespan eliminates disappointment on the part of the owner if that doesn’t happen. 

In reality, 40-60 years is probably shorter than the lifespan that most high-quality pole buildings will enjoy. 

Factors That Contribute to How Long Pole Buildings Last

Pole buildings are simple by design, and the materials used for these structures are developed to stand the test of time. 

The metal cladding is made of steel, and so it’s unlikely to create even long-term issues; cladding also usually comes with a 40-year warranty, so there’s no question that manufacturers are confident about its longevity. 

Structural materials like the girts and purlins are protected from the elements, and they’re engineered to sustain the loads that they bear, so they aren’t a frequent area of concern. 

The point of failure for pole buildings generally occurs where you can’t easily see it: underground. The buried posts may sustain damage due to rotting, or they may break as the result of a hinge point. Either way, it doesn’t take an engineering degree to understand that a post frame building can’t last if its posts aren’t structurally sound at the basest level. As a result, International Building Code (IBC) has specific guidelines for ensuring that wood poles stand the test of time.

We’ll dive into the specifics of how treatment for wood posts has evolved over time in an upcoming post, but suffice it to say that industry pros have spent decades perfecting their preservative methods so they’re as safe and effective as possible. 

Beyond the required treatment for posts (which is now necessarily stringent), many builders will also set poles in concrete to place less stress on the soil and enhance the overall strength of the post frame. 

As far as the structural integrity of a pole building goes, IBC outlines design procedures to ensure that these buildings have the strength to last. The design may seem simpler, but the reality is that pole buildings are not engineered any less precisely than any other building. 

The reality is that pole barns may not have been exactly ‘up to code’ a hundred years ago, but industry standards keep pole buildings just as safe and sound as any other building today. Fewer materials involved in the building process means fewer possible failure points, and every aspect of pole buildings has been fine-tuned for durability. 

How Pole Buildings Compare to Other Types

At this point, we’ve established that there’s no reason a pole building can’t last many decades with proper care. In fact, there are plenty of historic pole buildings that were built in the 1930s which are still standing today. 

Still, some proponents for other types of structures will argue that concrete and steel buildings are simply built to last longer than wood framed ones, but that’s not necessarily true. 

Surveys have found that a large proportion of steel and concrete buildings are demolished in less than 50 years—well within the conservative estimate for the lifespan of a pole building—because they lack versatility. 

The majority of relatively young concrete and steel buildings that are demolished in North America are torn down because they are “no longer suitable for needs.” The great thing about pole buildings is that they can undergo metamorphosis throughout their lifecycle to stay relevant with changing times.

All of this is simply to say that metal and concrete buildings may become outdated long before they have actually become structurally infirm, whereas you can easily add on to a pole building or alter its use in order to update it as your needs change. 

When you’re thinking about how long your pole building will last, also consider how your goals for the building might change over time. 

It’s understandable that you’ll want to know how long a pole building will last before you invest time and resources into adding one to your property. All things considered, there’s no reason a pole building can’t stand into the 100-year range thanks to modern wood treatment practices, buildings materials, and engineering. 

At Beehive Buildings, we’re committed to creating structures that you’ll love for many years to come; contact us to learn more about how we ensure that your pole building is built to last!