Pole House Experiences

[TheYogi]

I know I'm new around here, but I'd LOVE to see his pole house. When I saw this thread, my imagination started running big time

[DoryGray]

Aloha Blake & Lynn,

My friend Ralph is a licensed contractor who specializes in pole houses & has been building them here in Hawaii for 20 years. He lives in a beautiful model he built here on the big island near South Point. I'm sure he would be happy to send you pictures & answer all your questions. His company is Ohana Builders 808-939-7200. He does quality work & has many references.

Dory

[Blakeyboy1]

Dory that is awesome! Thank you for the response!

-Blake
http://www.theboysgreatescape.blogspot.com/

[Blakeyboy1]

I just wanted to call out a site where we are starting to document our experiences as we plan our new pole house. I will keep it updated with costs and so forth as we continue to plan and then as we enter the building phase. Perhaps this will help others on similar paths either now or in the future.

http://hawaiianpolehouse.blogspot.com/

And if you have information or knowledge that might be useful we LOVE to get comments with this stuff. Even constructive critisism or questions about our sanity works. ;-)

We are hoping to be starting construction sometime early next year but there are a lot of factors that could affect that.


-Blake
http://www.theboysgreatescape.blogspot.com/

[Rob Tucker]

You really need to be concerned about termites when embedding wood poles into the earth. You might take note that the utility poles, pressure treated with creosote as they are, still get serious termite damage.

The utility companies have taken to wrapping the poles below grade and up to about 18" above grade with a fine stainless steel mesh. While this might cost several hundred dollars I would suggest that it is worth it. The utility companies aren't doing it without reason.

[Blakeyboy1]

Thank you for the information Rob. Fortunately the pole house we are building specifies bolting the poles on the top of poured concrete piers so the poles are not actually buried or in contact with the ground. It would indeed be a bad thing if termites went after the very poles that hold the entire house up! I am pretty sure it would be at best extremely difficult to replace one or more of these things.

Tim at Pole Houses says that the Douglas Fir poles they specify have been very successful in Hawaii for 20+ years (I hope a lot more but this is the history he knows). We are considering upgrading to Ohia poles for looks and added durability. They are sourced on the big island and are not a great deal more expensive. They do ship them from TBI to Oregon and then back however so we are not a big fan of that (the carbon footprint increases dramatically).

-Blake
http://www.theboysgreatescape.blogspot.com/

[Rob Tucker]

Okidoki. I have seem pole houses done here with poles placed in the earth.

can you clarify whether the intention is to attach these poles to piers or caissons?

Piers seem a little skimpy in this design. Kind of like balancing a mattress on a bottle of wine (Dylan).

[Blakeyboy1]

LOL - nice picture you painted for me.

The Pole House people say "Our engineers have detailed the poles to be securely bolted atop reinforced concrete footings or a slab on grade."

-Blake
http://www.theboysgreatescape.blogspot.com/

[MarkP]

I asked in another thread about the use of Ohia timbers and what it is that makes regular lumber OK to use but Ohia not OK. It sounds as though some kind of treatment is required, otherwise why are the Ohia poles sent to the mainland? Do they come back with some kind of stamp or certification? Is it enough that the engineer on the project is willing to specify Ohia poles?

[Rob Tucker]

To use Ohia posts it is my understanding that the architect or engineer of record needs to certify that they are of proper dimension and condition for the intended use.