Driving through Sherman Country should feel as though you’re visiting an old friend. Let’s call him Sherman. You’ll see post frame and stud frame buildings everywhere you go, though which ones are going to provide you with the lasting architecture that you can depend on?
It’s crazy how we use buildings without giving them nearly the kind of credit that they deserve. We throw terms around like post frame and stud frame without giving them any kind of real thought.
When you’re in Sherman Country, you need a building that is stronger than steel and wood. It will ensure that it sees you through the good times and the bad. And when you’re hanging out on the front porch, staring out into the abyss, you can think of some other famous combinations.
Sure, you’ve got steel and wood like you’d find in a post frame or stud frame. But what about peanut butter and jelly? Or even peanut butter and banana? Or, if you’re feeling particularly frisky, whiskey and Coke?
Some combinations are epic, and it’s important to remember them.
If you grew up in the late 80s and 90s, you likely think of Married…with Children when you hear the song about “Love and Marriage” by Frank Sinatra. You know that love and marriage go hand in hand just like steel and wood. But is it better to enjoy love? Or marriage? Or is it a bit of both that makes it work? Rather than tapping into the wisdom of Al Bundy, we’re going to let our experts talk.
No, our experts aren’t going to give you marital advice. Instead, we’re going to go over some of the differences between a post frame and a stud frame. It will allow you to have a dependable marriage (of materials, that is) so that you can have a structure you can call your friend.
Stronger than steel and wood.
Seen me through the bad and good.
– Zac Brown Band
Post Frame vs Stud Frame
Traditional Pole Buildings are built with “post frame” construction; meaning poles (originally round, now days they’re square) are placed into holes that we dig into the ground. Since the poles provide the foundational support structure, the building is not required to have any type of flooring. Yet, constructing this sort of building has drawbacks. For example, in rocky subterrain it can often be impossible to dig holes in the precise locations required. Most of the time it is impossible to know this in advance and the construction crew will not discover the problem until they are several feet down, drilling the hole. Then who knows if the building will even be able to be built in the location desired.
There is a better way! Consider our new preferred option – the Stud Frame Building. We often call this building a “Stud and Steel.” When constructing this type of building, it does require that a cement slab be poured and set prior to construction, yet it allows for a much faster and more economical build process than a traditional post frame constructed building. Most buildings now days plan to have a cement foundation making the Stud Frame build, the best all around construction method.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of each type of building …
POST FRAME BUILDINGS
Pros
- Can have any type of floor, including an unprepared dirt, grass, floor. Particularly useful as a machine shed to protect machinery from the elements.
Cons
- Can get expensive, time-consuming, and possibly even require aborting the build; if digging holes in an area where there are unmovable rocks, or where there is a high-water table under the surface.
STUD FRAME BUILDINGS
Pros
- Can build anywhere. Subsurface has almost zero effect.
- Great for rocky soil.
- Great for high water table.
- Great for poor quality soil.
- Great for conditioning the interior space with heating and/or cooling.
- Building can be insulated.
- Sherman is able to prebuild wall divs in the factory, saving time in the field for window and door openings, as well as insulation.
- Even though Sherman uses steel to skin the building, customers could use traditional shingles and/or vinyl siding to match their homes and garages.
Cons
- Requires upfront investment in a concrete slab.
- Requires upfront planning to coordinate building after cement has properly cured. If planned properly, Sherman, can build in the winter on a cement slab that installed earlier in the year.
There are really only a few specific situations where it may make more sense to construct a traditional post frame building instead of a Stud Frame Building. Our sales team are experts guiding you through the decision process ensure you get the best building for your unique use case. We’ll walk you through the decisions to customize your building. Contact us today!
How sturdy and dependable is your friend going to be? If his name is Sherman, we know he’ll be your best friend. All you have to do is decide what he’s going to look like…
