Direct Colors DIY Home Improvement · Episode 35
Listen to this episode
A pole barn floor has to serve whatever the building becomes — shop, storage, living quarters, event center, showroom. Pole barn owner Lisa Bickel and Shawna Turner on the cheap answer if it stays a workshop, the DIY answer if it becomes a home, and why the easiest option of all is deciding before the concrete truck arrives.
10 min 29 sec · Download MP3 (14.4 MB)
For this job you need: ProSeal Li™ · EverStain™ · Concrete Pigment
Not sure which is right for your slab? Send us the details — the free project consultation is a person, not a form letter.
The written guide on this topic, with photographs: Pole Barn Style Stained Concrete Floors.
Editor’s note. This episode was recorded some years ago. The transcript below has been corrected where the facts have changed; nothing about the technique has been altered.
- “DCI Penetrating Lithium Based Sealer Hardener” is now ProSeal Li™; “Liquid Colored Antique” is now Antiquing™ (the Chocolate mentioned is 407 Chocolate, still current); “Sprayable Satin Finish Sealer” is now EasySeal™ Satin.
- ProSeal Li™ was described as “a one-time only application… sealed and hardened permanently”. Softened: a penetrating sealer avoids the periodic recoating a film sealer needs, but we do not claim a single application lasts forever.
- ⚠ The construction cost quoted is long out of date. Lisa gives roughly $25,000 for a 30′ × 50′ (1,500 sq ft) kit including erection. That was her figure at the time of recording; building material costs have moved substantially since. Treat it as historical and get current quotes.
- The episode points at the project photo galleries; those now live in Direct Colors University. The referenced episode on staining during construction is episode 24.
- Housekeeping, applied to every episode in this archive. The spoken sign-off has been rewritten to point here rather than at the old directcolors.com/listen address. The RSS-feed line, the social-media list and any pointers to retired photo-gallery, blog or video pages have been dropped, along with pointers to pages that have since been retired or superseded by the links under What’s Next — in some episodes that removes a whole sentence or a short exchange. Every speaker says “design consultation”; the service is now called the free project consultation, and we have used the current name throughout rather than send you to a page that no longer exists. Run-on speaker turns, duplicated intro lines and obvious transcription slips have been repaired without changing meaning. Nothing bearing on technique, safety or product choice has been altered; those changes are itemized above.
Still accurate: the decision tree itself. Storage or shop → just seal and harden. Future living space or business → acid stain after construction. Not yet poured → integrally color at the plant, which is the easiest route by a wide margin.
What you need for this job
A pole barn floor takes traffic a house floor never will, so the sealer matters as much as the color.
- Color the floor
- EverStain™ Acid Stain for a one-off look, or EasyTint™ Tinted Sealer for speed
- Integral color in a new pour
- Concrete Powder Pigment
- Seal it for traffic
- ProSeal Li™ — penetrating, so there is no film to lift under vehicles
Tell us what the building will be used for through the free project consultation — a shop floor and an event space want different sealers.
Full transcript
Reagan Smith: You’re listening to Direct Colors podcast Episode 35: Decorative Concrete Floors and Patios for Pole Barns and Metal Buildings. Our customers are talking about pole barns and how to affordably finish the concrete to serve multiple functions yet still look great. Here today with a few insights into uses for pole barns and the best options for floors, patios and workshops is Lisa Bickel, pole barn owner, and Shawna Turner, General Manager with Direct Colors. Welcome, Lisa and Shawna.
Lisa Bickel: Thank you.
RS: So Lisa, what is a pole barn and what do you use it for?
LB: A pole barn is basically a metal barn that has been turned into something else. For instance, I have one that we use as a shop and mainly storage. There are many people who are now using pole barns as houses. Some people use pole barns for house and shop combos, where half of the barn is a garage or shop and the other half is their home. You can do pretty much whatever you want in one and make it as big as you want.
RS: Is it easy to build a pole barn, and do I need a professional?
LB: Yes, they are fairly easy. You can buy a kit that has everything in it. There are also several companies that will install the barn for you. If you hire someone to set it up they can have it done in a few days. If you set it up yourself it may take longer, depending on how much help you have.
RS: What am I getting myself into if I decide to build a pole barn? Typically what is the cost and upkeep?
LB: Well, of course the costs will vary on the size that you choose. For instance, I’m building one that is 30′ × 50′ — 1,500 sq ft — for a detached garage, and it’s going to cost me around $25,000. That’s for the kit and someone else to build it.
RS: What are your plans for finishing the floor in your pole barn?
LB: Right now the floors are bare concrete. I would really like to put some color on them. I want something that is low maintenance and easy to apply.
RS: Shawna, how would you recommend Lisa finishes her floors, given she’s using the building primarily for shop, garage and storage?
Shawna Turner: I think if you know that you’re only going to use the concrete for storage or the like, I’d just seal the concrete with ProSeal Li™. The concrete is then sealed and hardened, making it stain resistant and easy to clean. It’s a great option for shop, warehouse or storage building floors. Now, if you think you’ll be using the floor in the future for something else, such as a living area or maybe even for a business, there are some excellent DIY concrete color options.
RS: What would you recommend for an existing slab if a homeowner was considering living quarters or a business of some kind?
ST: Most of our customers who are planning to live in their pole barn or convert it into a business acid stain the floors after construction. We have a detailed episode on when to acid stain during construction that anyone interested in this process should listen to before beginning, for sure. But acid staining is ideal because it’s a DIY project within the reach of most people, looks truly outstanding and is a very affordable flooring option. Aside from living quarters of some kind, the most popular uses for pole barns or metal buildings in general are event centers, wedding chapels and automobile showrooms.
RS: Do you have a different recommendation for those that have not yet poured their concrete?
ST: I do! I think any time you can make a project easier, you should. Pouring colored concrete is by far easier for homeowners than acid staining later, because the color is added at the ready mix concrete plant before the truck even arrives. Concrete pigment integrally colors the concrete so it is a solid color, but the only thing the homeowner needs to do is seal the concrete after it cures — and wax if it is an interior floor. Very simple process that really looks great, is easy to maintain and can be used for any end use: residential, commercial or industrial.
RS: What about outdoor concrete? What would you suggest to dress up patios and walkways?
ST: We had a customer enter our End of Summer photo contest with a really stunning covered patio outside their barn-to-home conversion that was just fantastic. In that case they used a Chocolate Antiquing™ stain and EasySeal™ Satin. Very classy finish. Made the pole barn look very inviting, and a place you’d like to spend some time for sure.
ST: Antiquing™ or acid stain are both excellent choices for outdoor concrete. The quality of the concrete often can make the choice between the two for you. Older, more heavily eroded concrete frequently isn’t a good candidate for acid staining, so the antique concrete stain would be the better choice in that situation. I’d also check out our project photo galleries so customers can see how the products look on various projects, to help make a decision.
RS: Thanks, Lisa and Shawna. Pole barns sound like a great option for home and business owners no matter where they live. If you have questions, call one of our expert technicians at 877-255-2656 and we’ll help you select the best products and technique for your needs. If you prefer email, send in a free online project consultation and we’ll get back to you within 24–48 hours. Direct Colors DIY Home Improvement podcasts were produced twice monthly for your enjoyment, and the show notes live here in the Direct Colors listening archive. I’m Reagan Smith, and thanks again for joining us!
What’s Next
- The written guide → Pole Barn Style Stained Concrete Floors
- Barndominiums → Barndominium Floor Ideas
- Timing it against construction → Acid Staining During Construction · Pouring Colored Concrete Slabs
- Coloring the mix → Integral Color
- Shop → ProSeal Li™ · EverStain™ · Concrete Pigment
