Iplayfarmer
Super Member
Thanks for that materials list. That's nice to have.
Building an "old fashioned appearance" new barn
- Thread starter schweizer
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AxelGrease
New member
As a resident of a very (and many would say 'overly') regulated country I have to say how lucky you are to just be able to build something like this without constant bureaucratic scrutiny, before, during and after it's built.
Here in New Zealand, regardless of whether it's a non-residential structure or not, full plans, together with engineering detail would need to be submitted and approved before the first sod was even turned.
And, just recently it's become even more draconian, in that, even with a 'permit' to embark on a structure it cannot be built with the active participation of a fully-qualified tradesman.
So, you don't know how lucky you are.
The only downside of your more liberal conditions, that I can see, is if a building like this isn't scrutinised by some authority, what happens if it has a serious structural weakness and, say, the loft collapses and kills somebody - what happens then?
Please don't take this as any criticism. I have my own barn, reasonably similar in design to the one you are building. (Pic attached. Sorry that it's only the rear view).
I did build it myself (about twenty years ago) - and they watched me like hawks every step of the way.
Best of luck.
Ed
Here in New Zealand, regardless of whether it's a non-residential structure or not, full plans, together with engineering detail would need to be submitted and approved before the first sod was even turned.
And, just recently it's become even more draconian, in that, even with a 'permit' to embark on a structure it cannot be built with the active participation of a fully-qualified tradesman.
So, you don't know how lucky you are.
The only downside of your more liberal conditions, that I can see, is if a building like this isn't scrutinised by some authority, what happens if it has a serious structural weakness and, say, the loft collapses and kills somebody - what happens then?
Please don't take this as any criticism. I have my own barn, reasonably similar in design to the one you are building. (Pic attached. Sorry that it's only the rear view).
I did build it myself (about twenty years ago) - and they watched me like hawks every step of the way.
Best of luck.
Ed
No one to blame but myself if the loft collapses, I guess. As soon as you classify a barn as a shop, there are all kinds of permits, though. For an "Ag" building, many counties in the US are kind and give permits w/o plans or engineering. Of course, most of the Ag buildings that are erected are wood kits which are pre-engineered or metal buildings.....no DIY from scratch. And I had to sign an affidavit that it's not a shop w/ insulation, etc.
With prescriptive engineering, you can just look at load tables for wood, i.e. 2x8 will be adequate for rafters at "x"/12 roof pitch over "y"-span at "z"-on-center. I was a physics major in college and have a reasonable knowledge of engineering, but reading load tables isn't too difficult. I'm building the loft to handle 70 psf load.
With prescriptive engineering, you can just look at load tables for wood, i.e. 2x8 will be adequate for rafters at "x"/12 roof pitch over "y"-span at "z"-on-center. I was a physics major in college and have a reasonable knowledge of engineering, but reading load tables isn't too difficult. I'm building the loft to handle 70 psf load.
DuckHunterJon
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 50
Love the design, but I might be biased!
Was just thinking, axelgrease, I worry like you do about lofts collapsing. A lot of people may design the loft to handle a high load by looking at the load tables, but then they hang the beams on brackets. That's where I see problems. Unless the brackets are thick, engineered steel structural plates held w/ big lag screws or bolts, something is going to fall! My loft will be kept above my head by 3/4" through bolts x 12.
DuckHunterJon
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 50
Thanks. Yes, my wife and I built it about 6 years ago. Not a kit, all my design. At the time, it housed our belongings while we built our house. Now it is my wood working shop.
AxelGrease
New member
I wasn't for one moment suggesting that the loft was likely to collapse. I was merely using it to illustrate the only postive benefit that I could see to the bureaucratic overview/meddling that we in NZ have to live with.
I'm certainly no advocate for the bureaucracy. In fact, I seriously lean towards being a closet anarchist.
The difficulty that the average diy builder always confronts is just how strong to make things. Usually, because of their uncertainty, they make it 'overstrength'.
However, there are also a few people who skrimp on the quality and/or quantity of materials - and that's all very well if they simply continue to dwell within their own follies. But, what happens if and when they sell?
As I said earlier, I have no desire to knock anything. I think it's just dandy that you are able to simply go ahead and raise a barn, in the old-fashioned, uninhibited fashion.
I was ruing the fact that I couldn't do the same.
Ed
forgeblast
Elite Member
I have board and batton on my barn, and on my shed, and chicken coop. I like the look of it. I was searching the net for old fashioned siding and came across these sites. I dont know the price but it sure is interesting.
Old Kentucky Logs
EverLog Concrete Log Siding
Old Kentucky Logs
EverLog Concrete Log Siding
Domush
Platinum Member
I want that to be my next house! I love the look and it's the perfect size!