How to Grade a Site for Building a Pole Barn

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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A pole barn is one of the simplest structures to build. It usually has open sides and a dirt floor. These barns are great for housing farm animals or storing lawn equipment. You can even turn one into a makeshift garage for car restoration. There are a wide variety of uses for pole barns and they are built on a site that is graded quite simply.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Check with your local building code office and pull any necessary permits. If you live in a flood zone, they may not allow you to build the pole barn.

Step2

Determine how large the barn needs to be. Consider its use and think about everything that you'll need to put in there. Also, take soil type into account and ensure the site will have proper drainage so the barn won't flood and the soil won't erode.

Step3

Rent a tractor or bulldozer. Excavate dirt from areas that aren't level. You want the earth to slightly slope downhill so water will drain adequately.

Step4

Tamp the ground. This will pack the surface so it will be hard and it'll be less likely to erode. You can do this by hand or you can rent a machine, depending on how large the site is.

Step5

Do a test to make sure the water runs downhill. If not, repeat Step 3 and Step 4 until you get the grade correct.

Tips & Warnings

Add gravel if your dirt is sandy. Sand is more likely to wash away during a heavy rain. The gravel will help control this.
Keep in mind that clay can shift, especially during a drought. If you're building your pole barn in an area with clay soil, regularly hose down the ground and this will keep the moisture at the proper level.