Squaring Building Lines

Typically, single story buildings use class 6 or 7 poles with 4 3/4" to 5 1/2" tip diameters. Taller and two story buildings use class 2 to 5 poles and have 6" to 8" tip diameters. For still taller buildings class 1 or 2 poles and 8" to 8 1/2" tip diameters are preferred.

Typical pole spacing is 6, 8, or 10 foot on center for efficient use of standard framing lumber for girts. Typical building loads per pole range between 6,000 and 12,000 pounds per pole.

Bury the Posts or Pour Piers
There is great debate regarding burying poles in the ground versus pouring piers due to the potential for rotting. While building piers prevents rotting, it also reduces the structural integrity obtained by burying the pole deep in the ground.

Pressure treated posts that are buried in the ground properly will last an incredibly long time and preserves the structural strength of the building.

Site Preparation
The first thing to do after locating the site and determining the placement of the building is to lay out building lines and batter boards. The building lines are marked by a taut string which will locate the foundation holes, the outside of the pole frame, and the building corners.

Batter boards hold the string in place and allow removal and replacement of the string during excavation to ensure the center of the hole is precise.

First use a tape measure and stake out the outer corner of the pole buildings. The outside of the building should always be measured to the outside of the wall framing regardless of usage of girts or regular stud framing. The placement of the poles will then be located from this reference point either inside of outside of the wall.

SQUARING A BUILDING
To square up the building lines measure from left front corner to right rear corner. Then measure from right front corner to left rear corner. The building is square when these two measurements are equal length. See the diagram below for reference.

Use a plumb bob and tape measure to offset the pole center from the building line. For example, using an 8" pole butt measure 1/2" for plywood siding, 4" for half the pole diameter, and add 1 - 1 1/2" for clearance for irregular poles.