OPTIONS! OPTIONS! OPTIONS!
Did you know that most of the options that many other builders sell on their buildings are strictly for looks? By choosing the correct products for the job, many of these items not only make a building more attractive to look at, but they actually provide important functions that work together to create a building SYSTEM. Ask your CSI Building Professional about how the following items provide aesthetics AND function.
- • Wainscot options ranging from steel panels to rock, stone, brick or barnwood
- • 12, 18 or 24- inch level return overhangs with vented soffit panels
- • Continuously ventilated ridge
- • Gable end special overhangs such as “Turkey Tails”, “Bird’s Beaks” or “Flying Gables”
- • Lean-to or gable style porches
- • Window options for entry doors, overhead doors and sliding doors
- • Cupolas available in 24, 36 and 48- inch sizes with weathervanes
- • Insulated Vinyl Windows
- • Seamless gutters and downspouts
- • Increased roof pitch designs
- • Insulated overhead doors with optional windows
- • Various insulation options ranging from R-8 Insulated Vapor Barrier to R-38 ceilings
- • Multiple interior finish options such as steel liner panel, wood carsiding or drywall
Whether your needs are just a simple storage building or an attractive structure that stands tall above the rest, you will be proud to own a CSI building.
Questions About Options:
Can I Insulate My Building?
Yes. And there are several insulation options available, depending on what level of comfort you are trying to accomplish. From a simple insulation method that will keep the condensation down and lessen the chance of owning a “sweat box” to insulation levels required for residential living conditions, we have options that fill all of the gaps. A typical light level of insulation in the roofline, called a condensation control barrier, will reduce condensation inside the building and help keep the building cooler in the summer as well as holding in heat during the winter. If you plan to periodically heat the structure in the winter, we suggest adding this product to the walls, as well. With a white finish on the face of this product, your building will looker cleaner and smoother inside. If you are looking for a heated or cooled shop space, or even a commercial or residential area, fiberglass wall and attic insulation under a steel liner or drywall may provide just the look you’ve been thinking of. For the real go-getter who wants it “done once and done right”, spray on foam insulation can provide a level of comfort that is second to none.
What Kind Of Doors And Windows Do You Offer?
Our stock door is a residential grade entry door that is specifically designed for post frame buildings. The White Cap frames have a vinyl coated finish over the composite substrate. Door slabs are 24ga polyurethane foam filled with composite reinforcement at the corners, hinges and handle blocks. By installing a door of this quality, you are ensured that there is no wood to rot or decay over time and your brand new building will not have parts and pieces that are just primed and still need to be painted.
Our windows are high grade residential grade self flashing vinyl with dual glazed glass and options that include Low-e and grids.
What Is A Cupola And Why Do I Want One?
A cupola is that little box that sits on top of many barns that people think are for birds to roost in. Others think of it as that “cute little tiny building that sits up on the roof and makes for a nice decoration.” On the contrary, cupolas on barns are designed for ventilation. When a cupola is properly installed and the airflow from the building is not cut off at the ridge to the cupola, additional ventilation is achieved, which is very important in building design. Most builders just screw the cupola to the top of the roof and use it for decoration, but at CSI, we want you to get the entire benefit of every product, so we don’t cut corners on installation and cheat you out of the primary function of the cupola, which is ventilation and not how cute it looks.
Wainscot Adds Character, But What Does It Do?
Wainscot (pronounced “Wayne’s Coat”) is an architectural feature found throughout history and was traditionally used as “eye candy”. In the post frame industry, wainscot panels were popularized in the early 1990’s by putting a section of base trim about 32” up from bottom of the building and putting a horizontal break in the steel. Why 32”? Because that was the standard architectural feature. CSI goes deeper, though. We use wainscot panels because of a different reason and that reason is because 95% of the dents and dings that occur on a structure occur in the bottom 3-4 feet. By using a wainscot panel, we get an architectural feature that looks good, but also serves a purpose. If a panel or two gets dinged by a mower or run into by a 4-wheeler, it is very easy to simply order a new wainscot panel and replace it than it is to order an entire full length sheet of wall steel.
What Is The Difference Between An Overhead Door And A Sliding Door?
An overhead door is a door that opens up vertically over head and a sliding door is a door that slides open horizontally. The main difference between the two doors, other than how to operate them, is the the amount of space required to operate them. While an overhead door requires 1-2 feet of clearance above it, the slider requires the width of the panel on the side to open it. In short, a 16 foot tall overhead door requires an 18 foot tall building, but only requires a couple of feet on each side for it to be installed and operate properly. Conversely, a 16 foot tall sliding door can be installed in a 16 foot tall building, but if the door is 12 feet wide, it will require 12 feet of free wall space in the direction that the door slides in order to open properly. There are other, smaller differences as well to consider such as how well they seal, architectural style and maintenance.
Do You Build Horse Barns?
Yes, we do. Not only do we build horse barns, but we also have a very wide selection of stalls and accessories to choose from. We suggest that you make an appointment to visit with one of our equestrian specialists to discuss the design of your project if you are serious about building in the near future.
I’ve Seen Pole Barns that Have Settled. Why Is This?
While it is hard to answer that question without seeing a specific situation, there are two very common issues that open the door for this problem. The first issue is poor soil capacity and this can usually be due to weak local soils or building on uncompacted fill. The second issue, and the most common one, is improper footing design. Many contractors simply dig a hole and stick the pole in the hole and then maybe…just maybe…if you are lucky, they will throw a bag of cement around the post. The problem here is that all of the weight of the building is bearing on the bottom of the post and not many soils in our area are solid enough to bear that amount of weight on such a small area, thus creating a situation where the post just gets pushed deeper and deeper into the soil by the weight of the building and any added weight loads on the roof such as snow, rain and even wind.
At CSI, we understand footings and we understand that the foundation of the building determines everything. Our standard design encompasses: (1) a surface area large enough to distribute the weight of the building plus any added loads throughout the soil; (2) concrete backfill in the lower section of the post combined with; (3) a section of rebar passing through the post and encased in the concrete. This standard footing design is the minimum design found in every CSI building.