{"id":546,"date":"2020-12-09T10:45:41","date_gmt":"2020-12-09T15:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.diypolebarns.com\/learn\/?p=546"},"modified":"2020-12-21T10:34:05","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T15:34:05","slug":"pole-barns-for-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diypolebarns.com\/learn\/pole-barns-for-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips to Prepare Your Pole Barn for Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s already starting to feel like winter. And while the official\nfirst day of the season may be a few weeks away, the frosty weather of the\nholidays is arriving now. If you live in an area where it\u2019s second nature to\nprepare your property for the cold, you\u2019ll want to include protecting your pole\nbarn for winter in your plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn tips for preparing your pole barn for the\nwinter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clean the Gutters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like winterizing a home, preparing a pole barn for winter\nmust include clearing away the gutters. These critical parts of any building\nhelp clear moisture away without dropping it right at the footing of your barn.\nWhen winter hits, gutters that are clogged or full of debris can turn into\nmajor sources of ice damming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An ice dam isn\u2019t just a nuisance \u2013 it can lead to real\ndamage to your barn! These dams will build up over time, growing larger and\nlarger, putting heavy strain on the gutter system and potentially leading to\npermanent damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clogged gutters will also lead to water pooling along the\nupper areas of the barn. Water will continue to pool until it finds somewhere\nto go \u2013 and that may be into a gap or damaged spot of your roofing, depending\non how well you\u2019ve cared for it or how old the barn is. Moisture inside any\nbuilding can be a problem, so it\u2019s the last thing you want to deal with.\nEspecially when the solution is just a short time spent clearing away your\ngutters!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspect Your Insulation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pole barns that get a lot of use in the winter should have\nsome degree of insulation. Everything from animal barns to hobby shops or\nmancaves are going to need heavy\ninsulation<\/a> to fight against the winter chill, especially if you live\nfarther north!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insulation may feel sometimes more like an art than a\nscience. Even newer pole barns may experience areas where insulation needs\nreinforcing. You can do basic tests around your pole barn by feeling for areas\nthat seem to be letting in the cold \u2013 or you could potentially invest in a tool\nlike an infrared thermometer that lets you see exactly where your barn may be\nleaking heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if your barn\nis just for storage<\/a>, insulation is useful to fight against moisture and\nkeep your stored items safe from temperature damage. Not everything can handle\nthe bitter cold, from equipment to basic goods \u2013 a little insulation can save\nyou a lot of stress down the road!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ensure You Have Adequate Ventilation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ventilation is something every pole barn owner should\nconsider, but it\u2019s especially important for barns that house\nhorses<\/a> or livestock. This applies throughout the whole year, but\nventilation in the winter is a unique challenge to solve and the health of\nanything inside the pole barn depends on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The list of issues related to poor ventilation include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n