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Author Topic: Methods for self-building a timber barn/ pole barn....  (Read 17958 times)

SteveA

  • Joined May 2013
Methods for self-building a timber barn/ pole barn....
« on: May 22, 2013, 09:23:15 pm »
We're at the design stage for building a DIY 4 bay timber barn on our smallholding.

I've noticed that the vast majority of technical information & products are in the USA or Canada, but there appears to be little info or products in the UK.
So, if you have any useful (sensible & non troll) build suggestions and/ or UK DIY pole barn hardware supplier links, please share! thanks

Most farming folk seem to either;
a) go straight for an off the shelf steel barn package, or;
b) use telephone poles sunk into the ground

that's fine for some, but for various reasons we've decided to;
c) use our own trees to build the barn, luckily we have 16 acres of various trees to choose from (no plans to use any wood preservative/ creosote/ tar, etc).

We haven't decided if we'll be building in the round (in the footsteps of Mr Ben Law) or with squared off beams, which we can mill ourselves with an Alaskan ChainSaw Mill http://www.madsens1.com/sa_mill_works.htm

One thing for sure is that we won't be sinking our untreated timbers in the ground/ underground.... they'd just rot within a few years. We'll be using a rubble or cement foundation pier for each and every structural timber upright to stand on. Not decided how we'll be attaching the uprights to the concrete pier or padstone yet. I've been considering this through the centre of the beam method (which uses an adhesive).... Simpson Strong-Tie http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/cps-pbv_apg.asp

There are quite a few other styles for a standoff: http://www.vermonttimberworks.com/joinery-5-timber-frame-post-bases.html

Something I've just found today seems like a pretty nifty idea for speeding up the build.... and seems to use less timbers, which means more available space for hay, etc.... have a look here: Socket Systems LLC http://socketsystems.com/products.php?sku=K2000 .....Any thoughts on this?.... anything similar in the UK?

For roofing we're considering Standing Seam Zinc roofing sheets, possibly with insulation underneath, or we may insulate separately. Zinc sheets look like this: http://www.kingsleygroup.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/100_1021-2.jpg

.....but we may go for wood shingles. hmmmm..... time to get the Gransfors froe out?!.....  :excited:

Thoughts & advice appreciated....





henchard

  • Joined Dec 2010
  • Carmarthenshire
    • Two Retirees Start a New Life in Wales
    • Facebook
Re: Methods for self-building a timber barn/ pole barn....
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2013, 09:45:45 pm »
I did go down a similar route myself and posted links to our blog


http://lizburton.co.uk/wordpress/work-on-the-smallholding/building-a-pole-barn-part-1/


http://lizburton.co.uk/wordpress/work-on-the-smallholding/building-a-pole-barn-part-2/


Since then I have had the frame cut by a local timber yard and am just waiting to assemble it; but got sidetracked by building work on our house. Hoping to get the frame up in the next month or two when I'll post more details!

FiB

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Bala, North Wales
    • Facebook
Re: Methods for self-building a timber barn/ pole barn....
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2013, 10:04:47 pm »
we have found the same and are aspiring to the same (we have a load of sitca to fell and hoping to get someone to come and show us suitable jointing techniques...)  - so THANK YOU for your links.

lachlanandmarcus

  • Joined Aug 2010
  • Aberdeenshire
Re: Methods for self-building a timber barn/ pole barn....
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2013, 11:25:38 pm »
I think we should all go round to your house and finish it so you can then show us how to build the pole barn part 3  :excited: :thumbsup: :idea:

spandit

  • Joined Mar 2013
  • East Sussex
    • Sussex Forest Garden
Re: Methods for self-building a timber barn/ pole barn....
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2013, 08:03:49 am »
Where's the Amish when you need them? :D

I like the idea of shingles although making that many would certainly be a labour of love - would look fantastic, though

Are you thinking of hardwood or softwood for the poles? Either way, a wooden pegged construction would be lovely but quite labour intensive
sussexforestgarden.blogspot.co.uk

henchard

  • Joined Dec 2010
  • Carmarthenshire
    • Two Retirees Start a New Life in Wales
    • Facebook
Re: Methods for self-building a timber barn/ pole barn....
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2013, 08:38:47 am »

Are you thinking of hardwood or softwood for the poles? Either way, a wooden pegged construction would be lovely but quite labour intensive
The frame has been cut from larch, by the local sawmill, and has been Tanalised. It cost around £600 from memory including delivery on site. The columns are 200mm square with 100mm notched out at the top for the cross beams to sit on. These will then be bolted together. Sorry no pegs etc. This will be utilitarian not artisan!


As I say I hope to get this erected in the next two months; so will post more photos as we go.


The extensions to the house took over our lives for best part of a year (but that is now finished)
http://lizburton.co.uk/wordpress/everyday-stuff/no-so-grand-designs-part-1/
http://lizburton.co.uk/wordpress/everyday-stuff/not-so-grand-designs-part-2/
http://lizburton.co.uk/wordpress/everyday-stuff/no-so-grand-designs-part-3/
http://lizburton.co.uk/wordpress/everyday-stuff/no-so-grand-designs-part-4/
http://lizburton.co.uk/wordpress/everyday-stuff/not-so-grand-designs-part-5/




clydesdaleclopper

  • Joined Aug 2009
  • Aberdeenshire
Re: Methods for self-building a timber barn/ pole barn....
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2013, 08:46:57 am »
There was lots of discussion on the Permies.com forum about charring the bottoms of the poles so that they don't rot as this can happen even when you use concrete. I haven't got time to check for a link right now but it would have been in the Roundwood and Timber Framing sub forum. there is loads of info on there  :thumbsup:
Our holding has Anglo Nubian and British Toggenburg goats, Gotland sheep, Franconian Geese, Blue Swedish ducks, a whole load of mongrel hens and two semi-feral children.

FiB

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Bala, North Wales
    • Facebook
Re: Methods for self-building a timber barn/ pole barn....
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2013, 08:51:51 am »
and Steve - Grunsfors or not - have you made many shingles? ???  I spent a weekend making them for a Viking longhouse once and made about 20 (well maybe a few more, but not many!!)!!! I think ben law did them for his house over many winters evenings over many years   I did get slightly faster but still - a barn???!!!  I was thinking of shingling my logshed - that might be doable!  Great idea re finishing henchards - couldt we be honorary amish and travel around helping each other do our barns - 1 a year?  I can wait a year or 2...

henchard

  • Joined Dec 2010
  • Carmarthenshire
    • Two Retirees Start a New Life in Wales
    • Facebook
Re: Methods for self-building a timber barn/ pole barn....
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2013, 09:02:43 am »
There was lots of discussion on the Permies.com forum about charring the bottoms of the poles so that they don't rot as this can happen even when you use concrete.


I'm putting standard d.p.m. between the concrete and the bottom of the columns. I'm pretty certain that it won't rot in my (rest of anyway) lifetime!


Helping others out locally build their barns is of course a nice way to work but I suspect that  the logistics of organising work against it.


I topped some of my neighbours land with my small tractor yesterday (where he can't get access) and he's coming over with his big tractor and fore end loader to lift the beams for me sometime. That's how it works in country area!


FiB

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Bala, North Wales
    • Facebook
Re: Methods for self-building a timber barn/ pole barn....
« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2013, 09:28:01 am »

I topped some of my neighbours land with my small tractor yesterday (where he can't get access) and he's coming over with his big tractor and fore end loader to lift the beams for me sometime. That's how it works in country area!
great init!  But sadly not in the way of barn raising - those skills have long gone here - everyone buys prefab steel.  They are all proper farmers and so have tax to offset!

ferretkeeper

  • Joined May 2013
  • Carmarthenshire
    • Brecon View Farm
    • Facebook
Re: Methods for self-building a timber barn/ pole barn....
« Reply #10 on: June 12, 2013, 04:45:14 pm »
Just found this thread, really interesting!

I saw an idea at a local tree nursery where they built a shelter, and in order to minimise the amount of concrete and also make the building dismantlable (is that a word?) because they only rent the land.

They put concrete pads down and set threaded steel into it, the bottom of the timber uprights was drilled to suit and I think a couple of bolts held things in place.

I took this photo but it's not easy to see...the red you can see is an old carpet they've laid over the mud!



I really like this idea, and combining it with some of the options suggested for floors, could be a winner!
breconviewfarm.co.uk Rare breed, free range.

 

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