If you're shopping for a shop, barn, or storage building, you've probably seen both steel buildings and wood pole barns (also called post-frame buildings). From the outside they can look alike, since many pole barns use metal siding. The real difference is what's holding the building up.

What Holds It Up

• Pole barn: wood posts set in the ground or on piers, with wood trusses supporting the roof.
• I-beam steel building: a red-iron steel frame bolted to a concrete foundation.

Where Steel Comes Out Ahead

• No rot, no termites. Steel doesn't decay or attract pests the way wood can.
• Stays straight. Steel won't twist, warp, or shrink as it ages.
• Wider, taller spaces. Steel frames can span wide areas, so you get more open room inside.
• Less upkeep over time. Fewer repairs means lower costs year after year.
• Built for your area. Every Duro Beam building is engineered to meet the code where it's being delivered.

When Wood Can Make Sense

For a small, simple building, a pole barn can sometimes cost less up front. It's worth comparing both. Just look past the starting price to how long the building will last and what it will cost to keep up.

Easier to Put Together
Duro Beam buildings arrive pre-cut, pre-punched, and pre-drilled. Your crew bolts the pieces together on site, with no cutting or guesswork.

Weighing your options? Request pricing and see what a steel building would look like for your project.