Post-frame buildings are highly efficient, not only in terms of initial construction but also throughout the building’s life span.

The amount of time it takes to get “under roof” for a post-frame building is half what you would normally expect of other construction techniques.

Post-frame also cuts down on construction costs because it reduces construction time.  Construction time is dramatically reduced for these reasons:

·         Posts or building columns may be implanted in the ground. This eliminates the delay caused by poured foundations that, in many instances, are unnecessary. Site preparation time for post-frame buildings is cut to a minimum.

·         Weather isn’t an issue. With typical post-frame structures, construction may begin even during winter months as long as the earth may be penetrated by powered auger. Post-frame is also readily adaptable to concrete slab or frost-wall construction.

·         Once the posts are in place, construction proceeds briskly.  The remaining framing components, including those for doors and windows of virtually any dimension, may be quickly installed.

Post-frame construction has both short- and long-term values associated with it.

·         Wood-frame components are almost always much less costly to purchase and install than steel, brick, and concrete block.

·         Post-frame column spacing is wider than 2x4” stick frame construction allows, so there are less structural members that the crew needs to spend time installing.

·         Posts and laminated columns are exceptionally sturdy, so less wood materials are needed than for traditionally-framed buildings.

·         An experienced crew may erect a basic frame of posts, girts, trusses and purlins within two or three days, so erection time and associated labor costs may be much lower.

·         Post-frame is long-lasting. Wood posts placed in the ground are pressure treated with preservatives to protect them from insects and rot. Post-frame buildings with foundations made of treated wood have been erected since the 1930’s. They may also employ concrete foundation footings or foundation products specifically developed for post-frame such as plastic barriers for enhanced wood protection and concrete posts or piers. Many builders and building column producers offer lifetime warranties.

·         It’s design efficient. The diaphragm design intrinsic to post-frame structures makes them highly resilient under the pressures of external stresses. Therefore, they may handle wind, snow, and seismic loads more efficiently than most other types of structures.

·         It’s energy efficient. The gap between the inside and outside walls on a typical post-frame building averages more than six inches, providing exceptional space for insulating material. Because of its wide column spacing, there are few interruptions in insulation material. Where the insulation is interrupted, wooden structural members have natural insulating properties and do not conduct heat like structural steel or masonry components. ComCheck and other analysis of insulation applications confirm that post-frame buildings are the most energy-efficient building choice, compared to other conventional forms of construction. Below is a comparison using ComCheck Analysis comparing post-frame R-values with those for steel-framed buildings.  Stud-frame buildings come closer to the effective R-value of post-frame because they are also wood-framed structures, but post-frame has an advantage because studs typically break up insulation every 16 inches while posts may be placed 8 feet or more apart to create far fewer disruptions in the insulation.  Concrete block, brick, stone and masonry buildings usually provide the lowest effective R-value calculations.

Comparison of steel frame and post-frame R-values, using ComCheck Analysis

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