What size beam to use for 16' doors on polebarn?

[plumboy]

Re: What size beam to use for 16\' doors on polebarn?

John howdy.I used 2 lvl's on each side notched in 2 3/4" in the beams.All the top band is notched in flush with the poles face.What a chore!I'll snap some more but until I get the trusses and a crane lined out there aint much to do.This weekend Ill get the aircompressor out and shoot it full of ringshanks.So far I have only used a passload for ease to put it together.

 

[johnday]

Re: What size beam to use for 16\' doors on polebarn?

plumboy; Excellent! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Figured you figure it out. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bugstruck]

Re: What size beam to use for 16\' doors on polebarn?

Plumboy, now that's some pretty sweet looking carpentry/framing for a Plumber. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Real nice job. Keep the photos coming.

Regards,

 

[plumboy]

Re: What size beam to use for 16\' doors on polebarn?

Well,After a year I am done with the barn,allmost.I will take some pics and put up,got a couple of newer ones when I started on the siding in there tho.Its all done but the doors.Going with 2 9' sliders on each side with metal siding.Got the track up and all the metal siding and hardware.Need advice on a good way to keep these things from flopping in and out when shut.I'm thinking I need to pour concrete so I can run them in grooves.Whats a good way to tackle this.Also when I frame these doors up,I would think if I use 2x4's on edge it would make the most ridgid frame for the metal.Any suggestions.Its gotten cold and all my equipments in it and dry so I find I'm not in a hurry. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif actually this barn has taken over a year to complete,so me not being in a hurry is an understatement. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Thanks John and to all for the help in the beginning.

 

[bugstruck]

Re: What size beam to use for 16\' doors on polebarn?

I've been longer on my basement than that and I'm in the business. Hard to find or make the time. Glad to see you're close. What is the metal siding for the doors? Corrugated of some sort? Let us know and we'll try to offer some suggestions.

Looks good! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[plumboy]

Re: What size beam to use for 16\' doors on polebarn?

The metal is the same stuff as on the roof.

 

[bugstruck]

Re: What size beam to use for 16\' doors on polebarn?

You could just bend or weld up some steel plate into a U-shape or buy something like this: door guide

You will need a solid piece of continuous wood or synthetic wood at the bottom front and solid continuous wood at the bottom back of the door. Not a problem as that's how barn doors are basically constructed anyhow. Then you should hold that metal siding up a couple of inches above the top of the guide or roller.

Reason you hold the siding up is that it's obviously not a suitable surface for most types of guides to work with. There is a center guide and continuous track hardware that is available, but that's more for interior sliding doors or those with precision hardware roller systems. Typical barn door hardware is not in any way precision hardware and the bottom track is subject to movement over time in a barn situtation. The center guided door hardware is not too forgiving of movement.

You could make that front piece of wood removable in the event you want to replace it a number of years down the line due to weathering, etc.. You could set up the outer board as a water table to receive the metal siding and cant it slightly, then caulk the siding to it. Frankly, I'd just let the siding butt or overlay slightly a removable/ replacable bottom front board. Just don't get your shins in the way when sliding it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

HTH