One of the most common questions the Jackson Metal team gets from first-time kit buyers is a simple one: what exactly am I getting? It is a fair question. Ordering a pole barn kit for the first time can feel like committing to something you do not fully understand yet, and the last thing any property owner in central Georgia wants is to receive a delivery and realize something critical is missing.

The good news is that a well-built pole barn kit is genuinely a complete package. When you understand what goes into it and how the pieces work together, the process stops feeling overwhelming and starts feeling achievable, whether you are a seasoned DIYer or hiring a crew to handle installation. This post walks through what comes in a Jackson Metal pole barn kit, what each component does, and how the installation sequence flows from an empty lot to a finished structure.

The Structural Core: Posts and Trusses

Every pole barn kit starts with its two most fundamental structural elements: the vertical posts and the roof trusses. These two components work together to create the load-bearing skeleton of your building, and the quality of both determines how your structure performs over decades of Georgia weather.

Jackson Metal kits use 6×6 posts for buildings with truss spans under 50 feet, and 8×8 posts for larger spans. These posts are set into the ground either directly into concrete or using bracket-based foundation systems, and they function as the primary vertical supports that carry the entire weight of the roof and walls down into the earth. According to the USDA Forest Products Laboratory, post-frame and pole buildings use this column-in-ground foundation approach specifically because widely spaced large posts eliminate the need for the continuous foundation walls required in conventional construction, allowing the interior to remain completely open and column-free while the posts transfer structural loads directly into the ground. USDA

Jackson Metal uses steel angle iron trusses across their kit lineup, which are mounted directly onto the post column using a platform-and-bolt connection. Steel trusses are durable, resistant to the moisture and pest pressures that Georgia’s climate creates, and engineered to handle the wind and load requirements across the southeastern United States. Because these trusses span the full width of the building without needing interior support columns, your finished structure delivers the wide open interior space that makes pole barns so well suited to workshops, garages, equipment storage, and agricultural use.

The Framing System: Girts and Purlins

Once posts and trusses are in place, the next layer of the structural system consists of horizontal framing members that tie everything together and provide the attachment surface for your metal panels.

Roof purlins are horizontal members that run between trusses parallel to the ridge, and they are what your metal roof panels actually fasten to. Jackson Metal kits include 2×6 yellow pine roof purlins as standard, sized and spaced to work with the steel truss system and support the metal roofing panels that complete the weatherproof exterior.

Wall girts are horizontal members that run between the vertical posts along the exterior walls, creating the framework that your siding panels attach to. Together, girts distribute wind loads across the wall system and give the exterior metal siding a continuous, solid attachment surface from grade to eave. On enclosed buildings, girts also create the framing that supports window and door openings.

The Exterior Shell: Metal Panels and Trim

With the framing system complete, your kit’s metal roofing and siding panels go on to create the finished exterior. Jackson Metal kits include 29-gauge painted metal roofing with a 40-year paint warranty as standard, available in a wide range of colors from Polar White and Charcoal Gray to Evergreen, Cocoa Brown, Burgundy, and beyond. Bare Galvalume is also available for customers who prefer an unpainted finish.

Every kit includes the complete trim package needed for a professional, weatherproof finished appearance: ridge cap, gable trim, eave trim, and fascia trim. On enclosed buildings, wall siding panels and door and window trim are also included. For combo buildings like the popular 24×40 Deluxe Combo with lean-to, fascia soffit is included as part of the standard package.

All fasteners and structural hardware required for assembly come with the kit, including the grade-5 bolts and carriage bolts used to connect trusses to posts, the screws used to attach metal panels to framing members, and the neoprene-washered screws that create weathertight penetrations at every panel attachment point.

Drawings, Permits, and Installation Support

Beyond the physical components, every Jackson Metal kit comes with the documentation you need to build it correctly and legally. This includes framing detail drawings that show exactly where every component goes and how it connects, conceptual software renderings of the exterior elevations, and permit-ready drawings for customers who need to pull a building permit from their county. For counties or municipalities with stricter requirements, engineered drawings stamped with your name and property address are available as well.

If you are a DIY builder, the Resource Center on the Jackson Metal website includes video content covering foundation concepts, insulation options, and roll-up door installation to help you navigate the installation process with confidence. For customers who would rather not handle installation themselves, Jackson Metal’s sister company installs buildings and certified preferred contractors are also available across the service area.

How the Installation Sequence Works

The installation process follows a logical sequence that experienced builders move through efficiently and that capable DIYers can manage with proper planning. Site preparation comes first, including leveling the ground and laying out post hole locations using a string line. Posts are set in the ground with concrete poured around them and allowed to cure before any framing begins.

Once posts are set and level, girts are attached between them to begin forming the wall framework. Trusses are then lifted and secured to the posts using the supplied hardware, with temporary bracing keeping everything plumb and stable as the truss line goes up. Purlins are installed between trusses to complete the roof framing, followed by metal roof panels installed from eave to ridge. Wall siding panels go on next, followed by trim, doors, windows, and any additional add-ons like lean-tos or roll-up doors.

The full range of available kit configurations is in the pole barn kit catalog, and you can design and price your own custom configuration using the online building tool at jacksonmetalroof.com/design-your-building.