Finally started on my Texas pole barn!

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Originally Posted by Megado

I hope that the other TBN's don't get bored with my project postings b/c the barn and the process of building it is going to look very similar to yours.

Howdy Jim, I appreciate it and I'm sure others will too. At 1st, I didn't think there were any pictures because I'm so used to looking for the paper clip symbol next to the thread but I'm glad I've opened it up now. You're doing a great job documenting with the thumbnail pictures.

BTW, we are practically neighbors. I'm only about 28-30 miles from Burton. (Folks, around here, you can actually drive 30 miles in 30 minutes) We go thru on the way to Brenham. There are a handful of really nice TBN'ers in these parts. Go look at the This, that and the other thread here in the Projects area.

[Megado]

Originally Posted by Kyle_in_Tex

Howdy Jim, I appreciate it and I'm sure others will too. At 1st, I didn't think there were any pictures because I'm so used to looking for the paper clip symbol next to the thread but I'm glad I've opened it up now. You're doing a great job documenting with the thumbnail pictures.

BTW, we are practically neighbors. I'm only about 28-30 miles from Burton. (Folks, around here, you can actually drive 30 miles in 30 minutes) We go thru on the way to Brenham. There are a handful of really nice TBN'ers in these parts. Go look at the This, that and the other thread here in the Projects area.

Kyle,

I had noticed awhile back that you were from Giddings. We're in Giddings for church (St. Margaret's) every weekend that we are up at our property. Our place is on the north side of Burton. Would love some company if you're ever in our neck of the woods. I'll shoot you a PM with particulars.

Jim H.

[Megado]

Originally Posted by Megado

Eddie,

Thanks but I think I'm going to try and straighten out the existing post before resorting to replacing it. I got them freshly treated from a lumber supplier (they weighed a TON!) and it was my fault for not tying it off quick enough. There were a couple of weeks that went by before I could get back to the property, and sure enough, it got hot and the post started to dry out and warp. I think I can straighten it back out using the technique that Kenneth mentioned. My neighbor had a similar problem when he was building his barn and he set one of his large trailers next to the post and used it as the anchor point. He then hooked up his come-a-long and would periodically tighten until he got the post straighten out. Of course...he just shook his head when I told him what had happened to me and he said "Dummy...didn't I tell you to tie off those post as quick as you get them in the ground?"

Jim H.

Well...below is my solution for my warped post. I tied off the top of the post to my trailer using a combination of chain and tie-down straps (only material I had on hand ) and cinched them up using the tie-down ratchet. I straightened the post just past vertical and left it this way over the long weekend. Decided to check on status prior to leaving on Monday by taking the tenson off to see what the result would be. To my relief, the post was sitting perfectly straight. I cinched it back up and will leave it this way until we're back to the property next weekend. At which time I'll set the rafter on it and call it done.

[Megado]

I had the opportunity to do some flying over the Memorial Day weekend with a buddy and shot these aerial photo's of our place. I did some editing on one of the photo's to show the location of our circular driveway and the barn project.

[Megado]

Also got some work done on the barn over the weekend. The photo's below show how (with the help of SteelDust's advice) I resolved my issue of installing the 2x6 purlin blocking between the rafters when the spacing is actually 6" wide. That puzzled me for the longest time until SteelDust said to just use clamps and pull the rafters in 1/4" each side. Duh!!! I must admit though...some were much tougher than others due to the bow in a few of the rafters.




Below are photo's of where I got by the end of the long weekend. Hoping to complete the installation of the remaining purlins on the shed portions next weekend.

[wedge40]

I/we appreciate the step by step process with lot and lots of photos. It's interesting to see (and learn) each step of the process. I really liked the photos showing how you set the poles into the ground. I had read about it on here, and figured out how it needed to be done, but it was nice to see it in action.

Thanks and keep the photos coming.. Don't know who is behind the camera, but they are doing a wonderful job.

Wedge

[EddieWalker]

On your 6x6 inch posts, are you saying that they are actually 6 inches wide and not 5 1/2 inches? I put some in last year for a porch and for the life of me, I don't remember them being six inches.

The clamp looks good for your blocking. Did you try screws? When I get a pied of lumber that wants to bend the wrong way, or has a slight twist in it, I can usually straighten it out with 3 inch screws but pulling it to another piece of lumber. Screws also have more holding power then nails, so I tend to use them quite a bit when I build.

Nice arial pictures. You have an very nice setting!!

Eddie

[Megado]

Wedge - Thanks! Appreciate knowing that my postings and photo's are useful to those who are reading them. It's a little scary though because I certainly would not consider myself an expert at any of this. A lot of what I'm doing is just applying what I've learned here on TBN from those who are more knowledgeable or have more experience than me.

Eddie - Yes...the 6x6 post are actually a true 6" wide and not 5 1/2". Same with the 6x8's. Thus my wonderment of how I could use a 2x6 stock for the purlin blocking? I angled the nails in an alternating pattern to hopefully better hold things in place, but I think I'll definitely take your advice and add some 3" screws just to be sure.

[mikim]

how I could use a 2x6 stock for the purlin blocking?
I must be getting here late ... Jim, couldn't you have just cut your 2x6 blocks 6" long? It would rotate the grain direction ... but would that matter?

[Megado]

Originally Posted by mikim

how I could use a 2x6 stock for the purlin blocking?
I must be getting here late ... Jim, couldn't you have just cut your 2x6 blocks 6" long? It would rotate the grain direction ... but would that matter?

Mikim,

Good idea, but unfortunately doesn't work in this particular application. The blocking is used to hold the purlins in place above the rafters. I cut each of the blocks 16 1/4" long and then installed them between the 2x12 rafters. This allowed them to stick up ~ 5 1/4" above the top rafters. The purlins were then then nailed to them. See photo below.




Hope that helps explain the process.

Jim H.