5 Top Tips for Choosing a Site for Your Pole Barn

There's a reason that people use the word '"oundation" as both a basic description, and as a metaphor! Having a solid foundation is important in any of your projects, whether you're learning to play a new instrument, starting a university degree, about to have a child or simply building a steel pole barn! Today we're tackling the easy foundation questions first though, with a set of 5 tips on choosing the perfect site and creating the perfect foundation for your home garage kit.

1. Drainage
   Drainage is the first thing you'll need to ensure in the site you choose for your garage kit. A poorly drained garage will end up shifting, smelling ... possibly even breaking. If you need to lay a sand foundation, do so. Obviously the ideal solution is to lay a concrete slab to put the garage on, but the cost can be prohibitive. One common mistake that people make with drainage is to choose a lovely natural flat spot at the bottom of a hill, protected from wind and with minimal flattening to be done. Unfortunately, these are the sites that often turn into flood plains over winter.
2. Wind direction
   Wind direction is important, especially for pole barns that are partially or fully open to the elements. You don't want your roof to lift right off and join the Wicked Witch in circling around the sky, only to come down in Oz somewhere! You also don't want to end up downwind of horse stalls, home brewing smells or fertilizer dust.
3. Path of the sun
   Spend a bit of time checking out how the sun moves around your chosen site. If you live in a cold climate, you'll want a sunny area for your metal garage; if you live in a warm area try to pick a spot that gets morning sun, but is shaded for the rest of the day.
4. Surrounding trees
   Surrounding trees mean shade. But they also mean bird poop, blocked gutters, and the eerie sound of leaves falling on the roof every time it gets windy. You'll need to weigh up whether protection from weather patterns, or not having to spend hours of your life on your garage roof, is more important.
5. Flowing water
   If you're building a pole barn on the side of a hill, you'll need to consider how water will flow around the structure when it rains. You may need to create your own drainage path to ensure that the foundation aren't washed right out from under your barn.