Plank Frame Barn Construction

by John L. Shawver

In basement barns the joist bearer, A of [Fig. 1], is made to extend lengthwise of the building, and the bents of the superstructure being placed crosswise we find the sill of a bent of a superstructure as represented at F F. But in ground barns the joist bearers extend crosswise of the barn, and the post B is permitted to extend up through the joist bearer about 7 inches. Two posts are then spiked to this projecting portion, one on either side, and thus again the brace shown in [Fig. 2] may be inserted if thought necessary. If, however, the braces are properly inserted in the side walls of the frame the short braces may safely be omitted in ground barns.

Fig. 1.—Showing Method of Bracing.

Fig. 2.—One Form of Brace Employed.

The following is a bill of materials for a plank frame basement barn, 36 × 60 feet, basement 8 feet, with wall on one side, 16-foot superstructure, with a 23-foot bay at each end and a 14-foot driveway in the middle. Roof one-third pitch, plain gable, decks over driveway if permissible. Interior posts of basement to stand on stone pillars.

BILL OF MATERIALS.

		Basement: First Bent.
		Ins.		Ins.		Ft.
2	sills	2	×	8	×	60
		(or six 2 × 8 × 20)
12	posts	2	×	8	×	8
4	door posts	2	×	6	×	8
6	post fillers	2	×	8	×	8
4	nailers	2	×	6	×	12
1	nailer	2	×	6	×	14
3	joist bearers	2	×	10	×	60
		(may use 14s and 24s.)
10	braces	2	×	6	×	10
		Bents 2, 3 and 4 similar.
12	posts	2	×	8	×	8
18	post fillers	2	×	8	×	8
20	braces	2	×	4	×	6
3	joist bearers	2	×	10	×	60
		Ends of Basement.
8	sills	2	×	8	×	9
		(or four 2 × 8 × 18)
4	nailers	2	×	6	×	18
		(or eight 2 × 8 × 9)
4	nailers	2	×	8	×	18
16	braces	2	×	6	×	10
56	braces	2	×	4	×	6
28	brace blocks	2	×	4	×	16
		Superstructure: Two End Bents.
4	sills	2	×	8	×	36
		(or eight 2 × 8 × 18)
12	nailers	2	×	6	×	18
4	beams	2	×	8	×	36
		(or eight 2 × 8 × 18)
20	posts	2	×	8	×	16
10	post fillers	2	×	4	×	16
8	braces	2	×	6	×	18
8	purlin posts	2	×	8	×	8
8	braces	2	×	4	×	9
2	gable ties	2	×	6	×	18
6	stiffeners	3	×	6	×	16
		Two Interior Bents.
4	sills	2	×	8	×	36
		(or eight 2 × 8 × 18)
4	sills	2	×	8	×	2
8	posts	2	×	8	×	16
8	purlin posts	2	×	8	×	24
		(or twelve 2 × 8 × 16)
4	roof supports	2	×	8	×	22
4	sub-supports	2	×	6	×	17
4	collar braces	2	×	12	×	5
8	stays	2	×	4	×	3
4	ties	2	×	8	×	8
4	ties	2	×	6	×	5
4	ties	2	×	6	×	4
4	braces	2	×	6	×	8
		Two Floor Bents.
4	sills	2	×	8	×	36
		(or eight 2 × 8 × 18)
4	sills	2	×	8	×	2
8	posts	2	×	8	×	16
8	purlin posts	2	×	8	×	24
4	roof supports	2	×	8	×	22
4	sub-supports	2	×	6	×	17
4	collar braces	2	×	12	×	5
8	stays	2	×	4	×	3
4	ties	2	×	8	×	8
4	ties	2	×	6	×	5
4	ties	2	×	6	×	4
4	braces	2	×	6	×	9
8	joist bearers	2	×	8	×	8
		Side Timbers.
4	sills	2	×	8	×	23
2	sills	2	×	8	×	14
24	nailers	2	×	6	×	12
4	nailers	2	×	8	×	14
8	plates	2	×	8	×	23
4	plates	2	×	8	×	14
8	purlins	2	×	8	×	23
4	purlins	2	×	8	×	14
8	couplings	2	×	8	×	8
4	couplings	2	×	8	×	4
4	braces	2	×	4	×	12
16	braces	2	×	4	×	7
8	deck joist	2	×	8	×	14

Floors, siding, roofing, doors, etc., will be the same as in other barns of same dimensions.

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