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I started in 65 in school building etc. I find the coments very interesting. In all that time never lost a building for any reason other than one tornado that took every building for three miles. This time a large two story barn landed on my addition and did major damage. I'm not so sure it has been all luck, Many many open sided sheds in our area, usualy open to the south. Bracing is many times overlooked, knee / diaganal / truss braces etc. I have walked away from many opertunities when I insisted on all the bracing etc. as If They can't afford to over kill it the first time, they don't realy want me on there job. A safe bet is when rebuilding it isn't such a big deal. I have been in the posisition numerous times, such as -- Come rebuild a building that has failed (usualy snow load)with all the bracing and send the original builder my bill. Now I certianly expect problems from the first buildings I did years ago, because the poles are indeed rotted off. Weather a post is incased in concrete or not, it will detereate unless you used the old type of creasote poles. That is on a first time use only also because once they are moved the deteration process will start. You will probably do yourself a favor by cementing the posts in provided the poles are attatched by either rebar at the bottom or the short 2 x 6 near the bottom. Concrete cookies will speed up the pole setting and be alot cheaper, you can make them youself if you like ahead of time. Two 1/2 inch rebar forming very large staples with the flat loop of the home made staple (3 ft on all 4 sides of the pole) under the concrete cookie. Thus the wind will have to lift the concrete cookie (that is under your pole 16" diameter) out of the ground. The poles will shear first, and is very inexpensive. Beware of many of these pro built buildings as they have lots of experiance also in cutting costs. Check your state laws as to what lifetime means in years. Leave you pistol at home when asking however. For istance in a nearby state lifetime house siding in the court of law is seven years (no this is not a typo error) Then you must also understand the terms pro rated, and warranty (usualy realy refers to materials only) again leave the pistol at home. Warrenty papers years ago had some purpose but that was prior to indoor plumbing, and besides the Sears cataloge didn't cost you anyting, and was perhaps softer on your rear end. Many times you have altered the building by bumping it with a skid loader, having cattle manure on the poles,or steel, or perhaps in the past you may have high winds. SORRY SIR AGAIN. Now you could read your contract a dozen times, but if something goes wrong the courts usualy can be made aware of many factors that are not in the control of the building manufacture. And many times have nothing to do as to why the building failed. Wind shear, and snow overload are bad boys no doubt, but can be greatly reduced if precautions are taken. A joke at our local lumber yard is ---Isn't it odd that winds tend to search out and level trailer houses, and then go a block or two to the new houses and manage to change directions to lift the entire roof off the modulars. I certianly do not know local codes in your area, and they are very lax in mine. I however have a dificult time with poles three foot in the ground. NE IA Dave
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