Navigating the complex vocabulary of barn construction can be a daunting task. While familiarizing yourself with industry terms like “dormers” and “cupolas” is useful, it’s crucial to understand a few fundamental concepts before embarking on your barn project. Notably, “post and beam construction” and “post-frame construction” are two construction methods often mistaken for one another due to their similar names. At DC Builders, we offer both as framing options for our barn kits, each with distinct advantages and drawbacks.

What is Post and Beam Construction? 

Post and beam construction is a centuries-old building practice that utilizes heavy timbers joined by metal fasteners to form the frame of a structure. Like timber framing, post and beam construction uses large timbers in place of dimensional lumber to create dramatically open interiors that are generally free of structural constraints. Due to the strength of these heavy timbers, post and beam structures do not require load-bearing walls to support the upper floors and roof system. This construction method also sees that the exterior walls of the building are positioned on the outside of the frame. As a result, our clients can enjoy the look of exposed wood members in nearly every area of their barn. 

The Pros of Post and Beam 

Aside from their obvious beauty, there are several benefits to building a post and beam barn on your property, including: 

Structural Integrity

One of the major selling points of this construction style is its superior structural integrity, considering post and beam buildings are some of the most durable structures built today. At DC Structures, we use select-grade Douglas fir — one of the best wood types for residential and commercial construction in North America — as our standard framing material for our post and beam structures. Grown here in the Pacific Northwest, these specialty timbers will keep your barn standing strong and looking beautiful for generations to come. 

Design Freedom

Another notable benefit to post and beam construction is its open-ended design, considering there are no pesky load-bearing walls to work around inside your building. With only minimal wood posts to consider as part of your design, you have complete freedom to do as you wish with your interior area. The lack of load-bearing walls in a post and beam building also means clients can place their windows, doors, and horse stalls wherever they see fit in their space. With this extra flexibility, you can explore endless options for your barn interior. 

Efficient Construction

Lastly, our post and beam barn kits make construction easy and efficient for our clients and their builders. Thanks to our Simple Build System, every piece of framing lumber used to create your exterior walls, floor components, and roof arrives pre-cut, drilled, and labeled on your job site. As a result, our clients can enjoy a framing process that takes far less time, money, and labor than a conventionally framed structure while guaranteeing the highest quality results for your project.   

The Cons to Post and Beam 

Upfront Cost

While there are minimal setbacks to building a post and beam barn for your property, something that can deter people from investing in a post and beam structure is their upfront cost. Because post and beam buildings are more costly to construct than many metal-built, stick-built, and post-frame barns, these structures may be out of reach for some buyers interested in building a barn kit. However, it’s worth mentioning that post and beam buildings are far more likely to retain their appearance and durability over time than cheaper alternatives, making them a long-lasting, worthwhile investment for those who can afford their initial price tag. With a post and beam barn, you can expect your structure to last you decades, if not centuries while increasing in value over time. 

What is Post Frame Construction? 

Commonly associated with pole barns, post-frame structures are pre-engineered, wood-framed buildings that typically use large pressure-treated wood posts or laminated columns to create the structural frame. This construction method relies on the strength of its wood posts or columns to support the upper floors and roof system, with these members often embedded directly in the ground or added on a monolithic slab. Many low-rise buildings like warehouses and agricultural facilities are post-frame structures, considering these buildings tend to employ heavy-duty trusses to create wide-open expanses free of interior posts or walls. In fact, when combined with clear span truss construction, a post-frame building provides the ideal framework for an indoor riding arena, as it ensures riders can enjoy an unobstructed and protected space for them and their horses. 

The Pros of Post Frame

Open Interiors and Ease of Construction

Like post and beam construction, post-frame construction is known for its open interiors and ease of construction. Thanks to its interlocking frame and support columns, a post-frame structure does not require load-bearing walls, resulting in wide-open interiors that are malleable to one’s vision. Post-frame buildings are also easy to construct, considering these structures are often pre-engineered to facilitate a fast and efficient framing process. 

Cost-Effectiveness

A big reason why people like post-frame barns is because these structures offer a low-cost yet wide-ranging alternative to other more costly building methods. Because post-frame barns require fewer structural materials than post and beam and conventionally-framed structures, these buildings are usually much cheaper and faster to build by comparison. This construction method is also suitable for large, low-rise buildings, making it the ideal solution for commercial, agricultural, and industrial applications. With its versatile interiors, durable framework, and relatively inexpensive price tag, post-frame buildings are a worthy consideration for many buyers in the market for a barn.  

The Cons to Post Frame

Structural Limitations

Although post-frame barns might seem like a better investment than post and beam structures to some, there are a few downsides to these buildings that buyers should be aware of before making their decision. For instance, post-frame buildings are typically designed as low-rise structures due to their simple framework and cheap cost to build. While these structures can function as multi-level buildings, their minimal structural frame makes it so that any significant design changes like adding an upper level or basement would require major engineering upgrades and structural modifications that would drive up the overall building cost. 

In essence, what you see is what you get in many ways with post-frame structures. That being said, our designers can always work with your design, location, and need requirements to ensure your post-frame structure looks and performs according to your vision. 

Regional Suitability

In addition to its structural constraints, post-frame structures aren’t naturally suited to every location. These structures are mostly constructed in regions with temperate climates, as their standard frame isn’t built to adequately handle heavy snow loads, tornadoes, or other extreme weather events. Even so, there are ways to protect your structure in any event, namely by utilizing larger timbers and rafters as part of your design or adding reinforcements to your foundation, siding, or roof material. Again, this will drive up the cost of your final building package. However, with DC designing your post-frame structure, you can trust our team to deliver a quality solution that tackles these setbacks and more.

Making Your Decision

The choice between a post and beam barn and a post-frame barn ultimately comes down to your preference and the plans you have for your structure. If you’re seeking an economical building that’s generally easy and cheap to construct, a post-frame barn may be the right solution for its intended purpose. However, if you’re looking for a more durable, well-rounded structure with endless versatility, a post and beam barn could be the perfect addition to your lot. 

DC Structures has a proven record of success in designing and producing wood structures that last. Take a look at our catalog to see how we can transform your vision into a reality. 

There’s a common misconception that buying a pre-engineered kit means your structure will be a cookie cutter project, but that doesn’t have to be the case! With some help from the DC crew and a little imagination, you can totally personalize any kit to be the exact venue you are looking for. With so many options and upgrades to choose from, building your dreams is easy.

Personal touches that make a building your own is without a doubt one of the best parts part of planning a new addition to your property. From the doors and windows to the actual door handles themselves, there are countless ways to personalize your structure. Here are just a few examples of what you might consider:

• Beautiful siding options, including Western red cedar, Douglas fir and DC Barnwood, to give your building’s exterior the rustic aesthetic you seek
• Elegant timber-framed stairs to make an impressive entrance
• Handcrafted trusses that give your wedding barn a classic prairie cabin feel
• Both classic and modern options for doors and windows, including Classic Equine barn-styles and French patio doors
• Decks and dormers for additional event space and breathtaking views

We personalize our buildings to reflect who you are and what you do. Our options and upgrade packages cater your design to accommodate the clients you are looking to attract, while also providing flexibility for different events and services. Every business owner and property is unique, and we want to make sure the building they receive speaks to that individuality.

As a wedding and events space host, your top priority is to provide your guests with a one-of-a-kind experience. It’s your job to make sure they see everything they need in your venue, from the big-picture vision to day-of details that make all the difference. That’s why it’s so important to curate a wedding and event barn that stands out far and above with custom features that are sure to delight.

Ready to make a splash in the wedding and events industry? Request a digital catalog to get started on a wedding barn today!

The practice of matrimony has been around in some form or another for thousands of years, so it’s safe to assume your wedding and event business has some longevity to look forward to. Below are five tips to help your wedding barn business find a happily ever after of its own.

Buy Real Estate Online

Whether people are searching for wedding and event venues or a new place to grab happy hour nearby, they will undoubtedly turn to an internet search. Make sure your business is well represented on the internet with an attractive and informative website. Splurge on a custom build or DIY with web-design services from sites like Squarespace—with so many accessible options, there’s no excuse!

Invest in Spectacular Photography

Wedding day pictures are worth thousands of words—and thousands of dollars, as well! More than anything, prospective clients are looking to understand how your event space can transform into the perfect wedding venue. Make it a priority to spring for high-quality photos that will spark excitement and imagination in brides and grooms to be.

Generate Buzz on Social Media

Whether you’re personally on social media networks or not, your business needs to be. Maintaining a social posting schedule can seem like a daunting chore, but there are plenty of low-maintenance ways to stay present in followers’ feeds. Allow your guests to be a part of the online conversation with reposts and hashtags, and use that killer photography you paid for to push promotions and tell stories. Who knows, you might even find social media to be fun!

Offer a Variety of Prepackaged Options

Some clients will want to plan their entire wedding by themselves, and some will be looking for a little or a lot of help. Either way, customers will appreciate that you are thinking about how to connect them to relevant resources. Build relationships with other vendors and find ways to collaborate on packaged service offerings.

Check in With Your Guests

This probably goes without saying, but always make sure your clients are happy with what they are paying for. A little communication can go a long way, so don’t be afraid to show your guests you care about their special day by making sure they are content throughout the process. When people are happy with the service they receive, they are more likely to leave positive reviews, tell their friends about your services and bring their business back for the next event. Word of mouth is one of the most trusted and effective marketing tools, so make sure people are saying great things!

Ready to take your wedding and event business to the next level? Request a digital catalog to get started on a wedding barn today!

 

Church weddings aren’t for everyone, but a wedding barn ceremony could be! Imagine a rustic barn on a hill, with fabric, flowers and lights draped over exposed wood beams made from the Pacific Northwest’s finest timbers. You can smell fresh cedar in the air, and hear the buzzing sounds of nature just outside. For many people, this is church; and for some, it’s even better.

Wedding barn ceremonies like this have been trending upwards in recent years, but the atmosphere they provide is timeless. Whether you’re looking for a barn in which to say “I do,” or for the crown jewel of your up and coming wedding and event business, DC Structures has flexible wedding barn designs that can work for you.

Wedding Barn ‘I dos’: Make Vows in Style

Summer weddings have always been popular, which means finding a venue during those warmer months can be difficult to do. That’s without the stress of securing an event space that fits the wedding party’s desired aesthetic. Few spaces can offer the ability to customize a ceremony in the way that a wedding barn does.

Far more permanent than a simple pop-up tent, wedding barns are dependable spaces that can be utilized for a number of special occasions. Wedding barns impart an elegant balance of tradition, fun and creativity to anyone’s special day, all in a memorable setting that is sure to dazzle. Barn wedding ceremonies can be as casual or classy as the bride and groom choose, with modern amenities that make logistical planning a piece of wedding cake.  

A tasteful space with bucolic flair, barn-style wedding and event spaces offer a great business opportunity for entrepreneurs and landowners alike. Designed in our signature post-and-beam style, a wedding barn from DC Structures is a long-term investment that will give the gift of wedding day memories for a hundred years or more.

Thinking about a wedding barn for your scenic property? Request a digital catalog to get started today!

 

Nationwide barn kit company DC Structures has apartment barn projects under construction all over the country. We guarantee our clients builder support throughout the duration of their build, but we also keep in touch simply because we enjoy watching their plans take shape.

Building relationships with the people who buy our apartment barn kits is a cornerstone of our business model. If you’re looking for a company to sell you a pre-engineered materials package and never contact you again, DC Structures probably isn’t the kit company for you.

Learn more about our process here!

Lake Elsinore Apartment Barn

Southeast of Los Angeles, California is a large freshwater lake known as Lake Elsinore. While L.A. calls to mind scenes of bumper-to-bumper traffic and smog-saddled skies, Lake Elsinore and the town that shares its name offers a departure from city life that is pleasantly serene.

Coming soon to Lake Elsinore’s scenic landscape is one of DC Structures’ most popular designs: an Oakridge 60’ apartment barn.

This hybrid barn home features all the necessary equestrian amenities on the ground floor—including one horse stall, feed and tack rooms, as well as a laundry room, office and half bath. Upstairs sits a large three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, replete with an additional office.

Thinking about an apartment barn for your own property? Request a digital catalog and start laying the groundwork today!