For what it is worth - I'll toss in my vote.

I built a 9000 square foot pole barn 9 years ago. Back when it was not the thing to do in the minds of most city folk - unless you were "stacking cattle" on your farm. The building is still like new and it has ridden out a hurricane and many stronger local storms. Bugs are no problem with the new coatings and the floating slab construction is a plus when pouring large areas.

In the current day events - I just had the foundation pad put in for a new pole building that will have an apartment attached to it. With the porches (pole builders call them sheds for some reason) the apartment is 70'W 60'L - 10' walls and then there is a 20' breezeway behind the apartment and then the horse barn / super bar and night club - continues on another 190'.... We kicked the barn walls up to 16' but narrowed the width to 50'.

Now for the part that I like - it comes with 4 large slider doors - man doors - all metal wrapped eves and soffits - scissor trusses - wall and roof insulation - 5000 square feet+ of poured concrete - plumbing for wash bays extra showers in the tack rooms etc..... for less than 85 grand.... The apartment is blacked in only but wall to wall windows and upgraded wood entry doors are in the deal....

Poles are not the same treated crap like years past - and the building goes up quick enough. And to repeat myself a bit - the floating slab is a plus in my book. You pour it after the building is up - and the bottom boards used to attach the metal are capped to become the form boards for the pour.

Maybe the steel guys are right when they say that the wood structure won't last as long compared to steel - but with a 75 year warranty on rot???....

I won't care too much about the structure - hell the metal color will probably fade to a puke color way before I worry about wood problems....

ps = my Dad has a barn on his ranch - all wood and no chemical treatment - old fashioned creosote poles - and a hundred mind killing paint jobs....

It is still a strong building - but it has only been up since 1934

good luck - and sorry if it sounds like preaching.... still have a hangover but heading out to the cool day here in Texas to prepare for the next happy hour....

kemts