Round posts & attaching girts

[sd455dan]

I have finally started work on a small (16x30) tractor & implement shed, single pitch shed roof. This will be made with post & beam construction but with round poles (they were free). My question for you all is what is the best method to attach the top plates / girts to these round poles. I have seen pictures of circular nailing spike grids in pole barn construction books (like these), but my local building supply places have never heard of them..! What is the next best way? I have also seen pictures of people using a chainsaw to notch out a place for the girts but it would appear if you did this on the top of the pole, and on both sides, it would significantly weaken the pole...? Lag bolts? Carriage bolts?

Thanks for ideas & help.
Robert

Here's a shot of our 30x40 home designed and built (round pole) barn. We notched the top of the round poles and used inverted hangers for the cross poles- the bolts are just 1/2" thread all cut to length and bolted through the notched pole top. i wouldn't notch the poles anywhere but the tops either...

 

[opalko]

Thanks - I can't tell from the picture but are those 2 beams butt jointed in the center post?

 

[sd455dan]

Thanks - I can't tell from the picture but are those 2 beams butt jointed in the center post?

this may help we used hd 4"x 8" inverted hangers

 

[opalko]

Ok, I can see now. I guess what I was referring to was using 2x lumber for the beams and notching the poles (vertical poles).

 

[sd455dan]

Ok, I can see now. I guess what I was referring to was using 2x lumber for the beams and notching the poles (vertical poles).

i think the inverted hangers are actually designed for a 4x8 so it should work .. but as others have said notching the main poles anywhere but the top will weaken the pole, there may be other methods for cross beams to round poles , I considered making 1/4" L mild steel brackets and lag bolting the poles together but this was a lot less work and the brackets were only about $8 a piece...good luck with the tractor building , eventually hope to get a lean to added on- for mine:thumbsup:

 

[opalko]

I'm sorry to keep asking questions but is this a mortise & tenon type joint or does the beam simply but up to the pole and the metal hanger is the connection between the 2? My monitor can't see the detail of the hanger. Thanks again

 

[sd455dan]

It just buts up to the bracket and the bracket attaches to the vertical pole,
the inverted part of the bracket allows it to be nailed inside the bracket and they don't have to be bent to allow them to fit up to the vertical pole. If we had planned on a floor or really heavy loading of the horizontal logs , would use different mounting system.. the building is so tight it rings if you smack the vertical poles , but we used almost $1500 worth of concrete to set the poles 2' x 3 1/2' deep

 

[SPIKER]

I would notch the top (both sides) for the dual girts and thru bolt using threaded bolts. A few nails are OK to help hold them in.

After poles are set, use water level or laser level to mark all the poles set saw blade to cut the correct depth for the 2x material.

If you use a 2x6 on each side (between the girts) that will help reinforce the top of the pole some and create additional nailing surface for the splits/end joints. The 2x6 does not have to be much longer than the girts but COULD BE. Heck if you wanted to inset all the girts you can run the 2x6 fill length of the poles flush to outside of the poles.

For your shed the top of the round poles wont be hurt by notching them some as the trusses will help to reinforce them. Also use a couple doubled up 2x6 under the trusses between the dual girt to keep them from twisting and will greatly reinforce the building.

Mark

 

[MillWeld]

Not sure if this helps but when I built my sawshed I did as in the pic taken during construction.
I've built 2 sheds notching the horizontals and thru-bolting to the verticals like this and have had no problems.

 

[MillWeld]

Ok, how does it work if the total span, say 30', is longer than a single beam? Do I have 2 beams meet in the center of a post and still notch it to have 4 lag or carriage bolts go through the post? I wish I could see a picture of such a setup.

Here are more pics of my firewood shed showing details of the joining of posts. There are 4 posts in the back which allow for a span of about 30 feet.