planning to re-roof large pole hay barn

[ellasc]

The storm took a swipe at our hay barn. It is approx. 30x60 with dirt floor, wire sides. The current roof was just tin on framing wood, with no osb. The framing is damaged and also not heavy enough to support the osb needed. We don't want to go back with just tin over rafters but feel it is going to be out of our range money wise. Wondered if anyone has used metal rafters, and how it compares with wood framing? We are older and will have someone else do the work but I am researching ways to provide strength and perhaps save money. Your experience and comments would be appreciated.

 

[doohicky]

Most, if not all current wood pole barns are built the same way as yours is now. I built a 30 x 56 a couple of years ago and that is how mine was, wood trusses with 2 x 4 wood purlins on top of that then the steel roofing is screwed to that. I really don't see the need to add osb underneath anykind of roofing other than shingles, this is done primarily for substance to nail into when roofing. With full sheets of metal roofing every 4 foot(iirc, could be less on mine) screwed down should be more than enough. The key thing is to finish off the edges correctly so the wind does not have anything to catch hold of.

You biggest expense is going to be the purchase of the roofing itself(not counting of course the hired people to do all this for you).

 

[smiley]

If you want to add strength, consider using the "R" panels that are used in much commercial construction, right on the rafters without OSB. They're 26 gauge rather than the 29 at most retailers and much stronger.
This is going to sound like BS but I bought the heavier gauge cheaper than the light stuff, by ordering it out of state from;
Kevin Brown
METAL BUILDING SUPPLY CO.
P.O.BOX 388
PIEDMONT, SC. 29673
The strange part is that although I ordered it from South Carolina, they were affiliated with our local fabricator ABC, in Rome NY., which where it was made and where we picked it up.
This was 3 or 4 years ago but it's worth a try.

 

[Kendrick]

ive looked in to the metal beams some. depending on the size you need they are going to cost more then using wood. 2 benefits from it though. they can be coated for rust resistance, they dont rot the same as when the wood does. I will have to replace the whole roof on my barn in about 2-5 years right now im just patching the ones that have blown away. had 2 support beams crack. I ended up replacing them with wood because i couldent get steel ones for any where near the same cost. when I do the whole roof at that time I will put the steel beams in. I was looking at one brand that seemed to fit the bill well but they just closed appairently. "litesteel beams is on average 40% lighter, and easier to instal"

 

[newbury]

I just had a 40x60 metal roof replaced in Fulton, Mississippi, the one with the red front.

I got three quotes for the final product. 26 gauge metal, a decent pitch and insulation so it didn't rain inside all spring (which it just had). Plus tearing off the old roof. One was from Lowes, the other two from highly recommended local roofers.

If you look at the roof it had no pitch, so they HAD to raise the rafters or put in new rafters.
Lowes quoted me $6K for 29 gauge metal ALONE. When the installer came out he said he wouldn't use wood, but would replace it with metal trusses. then they figured in installation and it went up to something like $11K.
I had them redo the bid with 26 gauge, and insulation because that's what I had the others bid on and the final price with taxes and everything was like $17K or $18K.

One other bid said he would redo a lot of the wood $18K
The winner, Tim Steele, was $17.1K. He raised the center ridge about 4" (and of course all the other angles) and put in insulation bats between the metal and the purlins.

It looks like the metal trusses weren't that expensive.

I'd strongly recommend the insulation to prevent condensation.

The entire job took a pretty well trained group of 4 just a smidge over 3 days, in beautiful weather.