I would not use 4x6's as primary barn posts. They'll work, but I find them to be barely up to the task.
While 3 2x6's also present more grain angles than a single piece of lumber and therefore stronger, but remember, 3 2x6's are only 4&1/2" thick, where a 6x6 is 5&1/2 inches thick.

I have used .80 CCA treated posts (used in brackish water) if conditions are demanding below ground or for piers.
The downside of 3 2x6 is the labor needed to spike or bolt them together. That's pretty time consuming in a business where just having a crew on a job for 4-6 extra hours is a lot of money.

I have a huge treated lumber plant just 20 miles from me. They have a lot of not commonly available sizes and lengths you can't easily find in most places.

I always thought the laminated 2x6 method using treated below grade and regular above would yield cost savings and add strength. You've talked me out of it,

 

I would not use 4x6's as primary barn posts. They'll work, but I find them to be barely up to the task.
While 3 2x6's also present more grain angles than a single piece of lumber and therefore stronger, but remember, 3 2x6's are only 4&1/2" thick, where a 6x6 is 5&1/2 inches thick.

I have used .80 CCA treated posts (used in brackish water) if conditions are demanding below ground or for piers.
The downside of 3 2x6 is the labor needed to spike or bolt them together. That's pretty time consuming in a business where just having a crew on a job for 4-6 extra hours is a lot of money.

I have a huge treated lumber plant just 20 miles from me. They have a lot of not commonly available sizes and lengths you can't easily find in most places.

Extra labor to spike them together? They should be bought already assembled unless someone gets the crazy idea that they want to make them themselves. A factory setting will laminate them better than someone ever would on site.

I also gladly chose a laminated product over a single board even if the laminated is only 80% of the material. The grain angle and lack of future twisting is going to be way stronger than a single grain post even if it's an inch thicker.

 

Extra labor to spike them together? They should be bought already assembled unless someone gets the crazy idea that they want to make them themselves. A factory setting will laminate them better than someone ever would on site.
I also gladly chose a laminated product over a single board even if the laminated is only 80% of the material. The grain angle and lack of future twisting is going to be way stronger than a single grain post even if it's an inch thicker.

If you go back and actually read my post, which it doesn't appear you did, because you'd see I am in agreement on the strength issue I only assumed the OP (or whoever) was spiking them together on site. It was the 4x6 I said was barely up to the task.
I didn't know anyone was buying anything PRE laminated.

All that being said, yes, I'd still rather have a cca .60 6x6 than 3 2x6's laminated. Not sure I fully trust the laminating process once it's exposed to ground water. I've already heard they have failed underground. I like a full 6x6 even more if I can get a good deal on some #1's at my supplier.

 

Are the posts typically concreted in the ground, or just buried 4-5 feet?

 

Just buried from all the ones I have seen. A lot do set on a concrete wafer in the bottom of the hole to keep the post from sinking.

 

I never knew that the 2x can be pre assembled....I had to assemble and bolt mine together, was somewhat a PITA, just took time. I'll have to check if my lumber yards offer pre fab 2x's

 

The laminated posts for my addition were factory made and it appears they were glued and then pressed together. The ends joints of the 2x6s were staggered so they didn't have two of them in one spot and also cut with a triangle pattern to lock them together. I don't know if a lumber yard would carry them, but I would expect that any building company or contractor would be able to get them or know who to call.

 

Those are the first finger jointed posts i have seen, they look very well made. If you come across the manufacturer sometime could you let us know?

 

I think the Amish guy the built the addition got all of the materials from Eastern States Metal Roofing (?) in Clymer, NY. I'd have to dig out the paperwork at home to be sure. I'm not sure where they get the laminate beams, but I doubt they make them.

 

I believe they were pre-fabed on the building I looked at. They are finger jointed like pictured above, and no visible bolts or nails holding them together.

 

Those are the first finger jointed posts i have seen, they look very well made. If you come across the manufacturer sometime could you let us know?

http://www.littfintruss.com/laminated_columns.php

This is what is in my shed built by Ram Buildings.

 

I saw permacolumn has been around to help with post rot in the ground. Definately use a cookie in the bottom.
Thinking about the 6x6, if you have a 16ft wall and we need 4ft in ground for frost, a 20ft post is likely to have defects that will drop its strength rating. Can look at a old college course manual but I'm thinking the laminated is the way to go.

 

If you go back and actually read my post, which it doesn't appear you did, because you'd see I am in agreement on the strength issue I only assumed the OP (or whoever) was spiking them together on site. It was the 4x6 I said was barely up to the task.
I didn't know anyone was buying anything PRE laminated.

All that being said, yes, I'd still rather have a cca .60 6x6 than 3 2x6's laminated. Not sure I fully trust the laminating process once it's exposed to ground water. I've already heard they have failed underground. I like a full 6x6 even more if I can get a good deal on some #1's at my supplier.

The OP is talking about buying a standing building so I'm pretty sure I'm the one that read everything.

 

Those laminated posts look nice Cy....I bet they are pricey. I glued, clamped and screwed mine together with decking screws. After that was set for a couple of days we staggered 3/8" galvanized bolts with washers and nuts. Both outside sides of the "6x6" had the bolt holes slightly countersunk to flush the hardware. The 2x6 were staggered by about 4' on one and 6' on the other with the center one being the longest. Each "post" has about 20-25 nuts and bolts. I built mine 15' high to park a camper under....did seem like it needed more gussets, especially in one direction, but I suppose I could have mitigated that by turning every other one 180*....idk. It's been up for about 8 years now and solid as a rock. It's very hard to find straight 6x6 pt in sizable lengths...

 

Those laminated posts look nice Cy....I bet they are pricey. I glued, clamped and screwed mine together with decking screws. After that was set for a couple of days we staggered 3/8" galvanized bolts with washers and nuts. Both outside sides of the "6x6" had the bolt holes slightly countersunk to flush the hardware. The 2x6 were staggered by about 4' on one and 6' on the other with the center one being the longest. Each "post" has about 20-25 nuts and bolts. I built mine 15' high to park a camper under....did seem like it needed more gussets, especially in one direction, but I suppose I could have mitigated that by turning every other one 180*....idk. It's been up for about 8 years now and solid as a rock. It's very hard to find straight 6x6 pt in sizable lengths...

The shed was a pkg deal so I have no idea what each pole cost.Sidewall poles are 22' long (6' in ground)and endwall poles are longer yet.Poles are 6' apart for extra snow and windload.

 

Are the posts typically concreted in the ground, or just buried 4-5 feet?

Depends on what you want to pay or your preferences. I've built some where saving money is most important. For those, it's a post hole dug 4' deep and back filled with 1' of 3/4" stone and tamped. Some customers want a small concrete footing. Some want a footing, post placed on footing an backfilled with stone or back filled with concrete.
Depth is dictated by frost zone you live in.
More than one way to build almost anything. It's those who think in myopic ways that usually spend too much or fubar-ing their barn project I build for them.

 

Well... that building brought $8600 at the auction today. Guess who doesn't own it .

 

Well... that building brought $8600 at the auction today. Guess who doesn't own it .

say what?????? Good grief....

 

Well... that building brought $8600 at the auction today. Guess who doesn't own it .

Someone is gonna have buyers remorse in a few days, weeks, months....

 

I am interested in having a Pole Barn put up (basically for Storage) about between 40' x 60' up to 40' x 100' depending on the cost. I currently have an Auction Barn (Pole Barn that has been insulated and has electric and a couple of bathrooms and a small kitchen (basically for sandwiches, barbecue, etc.) and some room for storage BUT I really need more storage area for my Clients that have Merchandise to Sell. We have about 2.5 Acres with Parking Lots BUT I really need more Storage space. I have lots of room around my Auction Barn ... I need IDEAS. I don't need anything
"fancy" but I need to know if I can Afford a Storage Building right now. I have 2 brothers that can assist in putting up a building and give me Ideas about lots of things. My name is Geoff Bue (Bue Realty & Auction). I live about 100 feet from the Auction Barn. I live at 2237 Afton Rd. Beloit, Wi. 53511; My phone # is 608-362-0700 and my email is gbue@charter.net. Can you help me with some IDEAS ... I'm Not sure I want to do this, yet but I really NEED to do this.
Sincerely, Geoffrey S. Bue