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Post-frame construction is the most cost-effective way to build a large shop or agricultural building. Using heavy posts and horizontal girts, this method creates wide-open interior spaces with minimal columns — perfect for storing equipment, vehicles, and machinery. At We Build Your Shop, our post-frame buildings are engineered for the Canadian prairies and designed to last.
Maximum Value
Post frame uses fewer materials and goes up faster than any other build type, delivering the most square footage per dollar — ideal for large rural buildings.
Wide-Open Interiors
Minimal interior columns mean more usable floor space. Park equipment, turn vehicles around, and organize your shop without working around posts.
Farm & Acreage Ready
Purpose-built for grain storage, equipment shelters, livestock, hay storage, and working farm shops. The go-to choice for agricultural operations across the prairies.
Fast Build Time
Post-frame construction is the fastest build method we offer. Less framing, fewer materials, and a simpler structure means your building goes up quickly.
Why Choose It
- ✓Most affordable build method per square foot
- ✓Fast construction — fewer materials, less labor
- ✓Wide-open interiors with minimal columns
- ✓Posts can be embedded or surface-mounted
- ✓Ideal for large agricultural and storage buildings
Trade-Offs
- —Embedded posts may be subject to moisture over time
Post Frame Use Cases
Post frame is the most versatile build method for rural and agricultural applications. Here's what our customers are building.
Farm Shops
Equipment maintenance, welding, parts storage. Wide-open interiors let you work on large implements without fighting columns.
Cold Storage
Unheated storage for machinery, vehicles, hay, grain, and seasonal equipment. The most cost-effective way to get it under a roof.
Livestock Buildings
Cattle shelters, horse barns, calving barns. Post frame handles large spans and can be configured with open or enclosed walls for ventilation.
Warehouses
Commercial storage, distribution, and inventory. Post frame gives you large floor areas at the lowest cost per square foot.
Insulated Shops
With added insulation, vapour barrier, and interior liner, post frame can be heated for year-round use — though stud frame or OSBlock are better for fully finished interiors.
Hangars
Aircraft storage, RV garages, and boat storage. Large bi-fold or sliding doors paired with wide-span post frame give you the clearance you need.
Post Frame Construction Details
Post frame uses heavy laminated timber posts set in the ground as the primary structure. The roof load transfers directly onto the posts — no continuous foundation required.
Posts & Foundation
- ✓Multi-ply laminated posts (3-4 ply 2×8 construction)
- ✓Minimum 6' burial depth with crushed rock base
- ✓Post spacing 4'–6' on center (varies by design)
- ✓Posts notched to receive trusses — roof weight transfers directly onto posts
- ✓Concrete slab poured after posts are set (optional for cold storage)
Walls & Trusses
- ✓Horizontal wall girts (2×6 purlins, 2' on center)
- ✓Pre-engineered trusses designed to your location & snow/wind loads
- ✓Trusses designed for long spans — minimal or no interior columns
- ✓Metal roofing & siding panels (28 gauge standard)
- ✓Complete trim package with ridge cap, corners, and flashings
Door Options & Interior Packages
Door Types
- ✓Overhead doors — standard for shop entry, available 8'–24' wide
- ✓Sliding doors — economical large entry, no overhead clearance needed
- ✓Bi-fold doors — highest clearance-to-opening ratio, ideal for large implements
- ✓Walk-in doors — commercial-grade steel, 3' or 4' wide
Interior Packages
- ✓Shell package — structure, roofing, siding, trim. Unfinished interior.
- ✓Complete package — adds vapour barrier, insulation (R28 walls, R40+ ceiling), interior liner
- ✓Concrete options — in-floor heat, drain pits, rebar, insulation under slab
- ✓Polycarbonate panels — translucent eave or roof panels for natural light
Warranty & Durability
Post Frame FAQ
Post frame (pole barn) uses large posts embedded in the ground or mounted on a concrete slab, with horizontal girts supporting the wall cladding. It's cost-effective and allows for wide-open interiors with minimal columns.
Generally yes — post frame uses fewer materials and has a faster build time, making it more affordable for large buildings. It's the go-to choice for farm shops, equipment storage, and large rural buildings.
Yes, but it requires additional insulation detailing. Post frame buildings can be insulated with spray foam or batt insulation between the girts, though stud frame or OSBlock may be more efficient for fully heated spaces.
We offer post frame kits in 19 standard sizes from 30×30 (900 sqft) to 80×120 (9,600 sqft). Post frame is especially popular in larger sizes like 50×80 and up.
Not always — posts can be embedded directly in the ground. However, a concrete slab provides a clean, level floor and is recommended for shops and commercial buildings. We pour concrete pads in-house.
A 40x60 (2,400 sqft) complete post frame kit starts at around $79,200. With installation and a turnkey concrete pad, a full build comes in around $150,000–$170,000 depending on options. Use our quote builder above for an exact number.
A 50x80 (4,000 sqft) complete post frame kit starts at around $132,000. With installation and concrete, expect $220,000–$260,000 for a full turnkey build. Steel and OSBlock options are also available at different price points.
Complete kits include: engineered trusses at 4' O/C, 2x6 or 2x8 walls at 24" O/C, 28 gauge coloured metal roofing & siding, complete trim package, R22 wall insulation, R50 ceiling insulation, vapour barrier, interior metal liner, one walk-in door, two windows, and stamped engineered drawings. Shell kits include everything except insulation and liner.
Depending on size, a typical build takes 2-6 weeks from concrete pour to final trim. Our crews handle everything — one timeline, one point of contact. No sub-trades, no scheduling gaps.
Absolutely. We offer kit-only supply — all materials, engineered trusses, metal, hardware, and structural drawings shipped to your site. You build it yourself or hire your own crew. Many of our clients go this route to save on labor costs.
Yes — we pour our own concrete in-house. 6" thick, 32 MPa, 10M rebar at 16" O/C, thickened edges, vapour barrier, Styrofoam insulation, in-floor heat tubing, and drain pits included. One crew handles concrete and the building — no separate contractors.
We serve Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Northwestern Ontario. Our crews travel to your site — whether you're in Winkler, Brandon, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, or anywhere in between.
4-year standard workmanship warranty, 40-year warranty on metal cladding paint, and 1-year limited warranty on windows, entry doors, and overhead doors.
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Other Frame Types
Not sure this is the right fit? Compare all four frame types.
Traditional wood framing — excellent insulation options, ideal for heated shops and barndominiums.
View Kits & Sizes →Premium interlocking wall system. Superior insulation and soundproofing.
View Kits & Sizes →Maximum clear-span for commercial and industrial builds. Engineered to last.
View Kits & Sizes →