When planning a new pole building, it’s easy to focus on the end result and forget how important the early steps of the process are.
One of the most critical parts of the pole building construction process is pad prep, but what exactly makes this step so important?
We’ll walk you through one of the biggest reasons that proper pad prep is so vital below.
Why is Proper Pad Prep so Important?
Before a pole building can be constructed, the site must be prepared.
There are a number of different phases of pad prep, such as removing organic material and ensuring that the site is level, but equally important is making sure that the pad is elevated.
In general, pad prep is necessary so a pole building can be properly constructed at all, but the pad must be elevated so that precipitation flows away from the building.
What Happens if The Pad Isn’t Elevated?
If your pole building is constructed at the same level as the surrounding area, water will not naturally drain away from the building.
Instead, precipitation can make its way under the pad, and may even drain inside the building. This can pose issues when it comes to comfort, and may even cause damage depending on how you’re using your building.
While you obviously don’t want to deal with water inside your pole building, an even larger concern may be when water collects beneath the pad, or a cement floor.
Why Is This a Problem?
When there is water beneath a pole building, it can create significant issues with condensation. This is due to the temperature difference between the water and the air inside the building. Too much condensation can result in a pole building drip that’s tough to manage.
Although there are a number of pole building accessories that can help remedy excess condensation, there’s no substitute for proper pad prep—simply ensuring that the site is elevated can help eliminate the issue from the start.
As frustrating as a pole building drip may be, it’s a smaller problem than the one you’ll encounter if water collects beneath your pole building’s cement floor, then freezes and later thaws.
This drastic change of elements occurring beneath your building can lead to the cement heaving, which is far more difficult to fix than simply elevating the site right from the start.
Breaking it Down further
To put things in the simplest terms, pad prep is essential overall if you want a properly constructed building, but it’s especially important for ensuring adequate drainage.
When the pad is at least 6” taller than any area within 8 to 10 feet of the building, you can rest assured that precipitation will naturally flow away from your building rather than settling beneath it and causing headaches in the future.
Trust a qualified team with your pole building construction, and you can feel confident that your site will be prepared properly.
Preparing Your Building to stand the test of time
When you ensure that your site is properly prepared, you’re taking a crucial step to help your new pole building last against years of precipitation. If you’re ready to make the pole building of your dreams a reality with an experienced team that knows how to properly handle pad prep, contact us today!