Pole Barn vs Stick Built

Depending on the type of building you are looking at — whether it will be for a rural property or commercial purposes — will determine whether a pole barn or stick build is the right option for you.

Pole Barn

Pole barns offer a wide range of custom designs. Simple, practical, sturdy, versatile, and cost effective are all great benefits. Changes in design can be made along the way for a fully custom building.

Roof trusses are secured directly to the foundation posts, allowing for clear spans up to 120 feet. Most builds use metal roofing and siding. There's no need for interior load-bearing walls, making them ideal for wide-open spaces.

Posts are set 4 feet into the ground, spaced 4–8 feet apart. Using a piling foundation (instead of a continuous frost wall) means a faster build with fewer materials, lower labor, and minimal excavation. It's typically more affordable.

Great for: storage buildings, hay sheds, open-sided buildings, or even fully insulated shops.

Stick Built

Stick built is most common in home building. It's a great option if you're using traditional siding instead of metal cladding.

These buildings are framed with continuous concrete walls and closely spaced studs — great for mounting shelves, cabinets, or finishes that attach to walls.

They're ideal for sloped lots, as the foundation can double as a retaining wall. This is a great bonus that can reduce site prep costs.

Building on a continuous frost wall also reduces the chance of mice and rodents getting inside. Stick built allows for a wide range of custom designs.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Which One Costs More?

Post-frame (pole barn) construction is typically 15–30% less expensive than stick-built for the same square footage. The savings come from fewer materials, less excavation, and faster labour. A 40×60 post-frame shop in BC might cost $120,000–$180,000 fully built, while an equivalent stick-built structure could run $160,000–$240,000 or more.

That said, stick-built can be the right call in specific situations — particularly on sloped lots or when the building needs to match an existing home's aesthetic with traditional siding and trim.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose post-frame if you want a large, open-span building at the lowest cost per square foot. It's the right choice for shops, barns, riding arenas, hay storage, and most agricultural or rural outbuildings.

Choose stick-built if you're on a sloped lot, want traditional siding to match an existing structure, or need wall-mounted shelving and cabinetry throughout.

Farrow Built builds both. If you're unsure which is right for your project, we're happy to walk through the tradeoffs with you before you commit to anything.