Spencer's Pole Barn Project

[Cacinok]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

I framed houses in the Wasatch Mountains in Northern Utah, during my undergrad days. Every builder in the valley used 1/2" OSB on 24" for the roofing. The crew I worked with had been using it for as long as they could remember and had never had any complaints.

Only caveat is to keep it dry. We would shovel snow off of the floor decking and continue building, but if it got too saturated it would swell quite a bit and we would have to quit until it dried enough to (hopefully) shrink back down to normal dimensions.

Clint

 

[beenthere]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

<font color=blue> ""until it dried enough to (hopefully) shrink back down to normal dimensions""<font color=black>

And you have made the point quite well - as it does not dry back down to normal dimensions, once it is wet. Wood has something called "hysterisis" which has something to do with never quite coming back to an original size after wetting and then dried.

As well, in climates that have high humidities, or where moisture condenses on the cold side of the roof sheathing (northern climates), the sheathing swells and also does not shrink back down.

 

[pajoube]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Spencer,
How is the pole barn coming along?
PJ

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

I haven't had any time to get back on the project. I have been away on business for most of the last week. I now have to focus on my refrigeration class and getting ready for Christmas. Between Christmas and the new year I have all of my year-end book keeping to do (one of the joy's of being self-employed). When I do get back on the project I have to dig two holes and set the middle two posts on the front of the barn. After that I will set the last 32 foot truss and put all the rafters on for the lean-to. Once I get that far I will probably put the sheathing up on that side of the barn.

 

[Mosey]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

"dig two holes" Isn't the ground frozen up there?

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Mosey, No I don't think that the ground is frozen yet. I'm pretty confident that I will be able to get holes into the ground until at least mid January.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Spencer,

IF frozen ground is a concern...

Just a thought, but if you think the place where you want to put those two posts might freeze too hard before you get there...

You could put something on the ground to help keep it from freezing too fast...mulch, straw, even a pile of snow would help.

Scoop it off later, and dig the holes easier than had you not covered the spots with something...

Just a thought... more important if it gets really cold where you are...

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[Spencer]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Macher, Thanks for the suggestion. I was just over in your area this week. I added some equipment into an existing Kentucky Fried Chicked to make it a Taco Bell also. It was over on Sproul Road in Springfield.

OOPS, I see you are in Pittsburgh. I was near Philadelpia, my mistake.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

Spencer...

Yep...This place has the "h" on the end...

Just remembered that I forgot to mention that I planned on using your "I'm having beer because I'm afraid a soft drink might freeze" reasoning sometime, someday, somewhere.../w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif.


Now that has to be a classic! Why didn't I ever think of that one???

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[DUMBDOG]

Re: Spencer\'s Pole Barn Project

If the ground is frozen, you can do what the guy who built my barn does, (mine was built during the summer so I am taking his word on it). This builder does pole barns year round in ND.

Start a charcoal fire in the spot where you want to dig the night before. Next day, dig down as far as you can until you hit frozen ground again, do another charcoal fire until the desired depth is reached.