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Barn
This was a recent major task - July 2001 - called the barn to
differentiate it from the shed built in the 80's. After much deliberation
we elected to buy a prefab kit from 84 Lumber, largely because I figured
it would be easier than doing a stick built from scratch. The kit is a 12x16
with preassembled trusses. I opted to upgrade to 25 (standard is 20) year
shingles and 5/8 T111 for siding. The standard siding is a preprimed product
called wonderboard or similar but we wanted to stain the building - thus the
T111.
Notable
Site prep and Base
The site took very little work to prepare - it was fairly level to start
with - by choice - I hate pick and shovel work. The lumber company said I
should have four treated 4x4's under the trusses so I put five for good
measure. Additionally, the trusses are on 2' centers so I added 2x4's under
the floor on 12" centers. I felt it easier to do that with the supplied
5/8" plywood then to use 3/4 T&G to achieve the same stiffness.
Truss Frame Assembly
If you ever want to assemble a similar structure, beg, borrow or steal a
pneumatic framing nailer. I have the compressor and borrowed the nailer(thanks,
Bob).
Basically, each truss has a notch on the outer lower corners to accept a
pressure treated 2x4 that goes the length of the barn on each side. To hold
the truss and 2x4 in place while nailing it with a hammer and not having
it move around would be tough. With the framing nailer, Nancy held the truss
vertical while I secured it in place using the framing nailer.. no movement,
no sweat.
The Rest
The rest of the construction was quite straightforward. Attach the T111 on the
sides, frame the ends and side, put the sheathing on the roof, trim it,
shingle it and say "Nancy, it's ready to be stained"..lucky Nancy! T111 sucks
in stain by the gallon. I added soffit vents at the bottom of the gambrel roof
overhang and a ridge vent to allow air movement and keep it a bit cooler inside.
It's also located under a Maple tree that shades most of the roof till late
afternoon. Of course, the tree has its drawbacks - keep reading.
Electrical
I must mention hooking up the electricity only because I love digging around
here so much. This barn was built (I thought) near or over the path of the buried
electrical cable to the pool we put in in 1978 and removed a few years ago.
The plan was to dig up the cable and use it for the barn. It took two days
of digging in rocks and the roots of the Maple tree that wasn't there in 1978
to locate the line. It was under the barn as thought but what a joy to find.
Real fun is pick and shovel in roots and rocks. Almost
as much fun would be bamboo splinting ones fingernails.
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