Today... was a good day.

It's amazing what you can get done with a good sized, well motivated crew. We put well over 1000 board feet of lumber and 23 sheets of plywood and who knows how many nails into the barn today. The loft floor is complete, the rafter plates are in place (just need to finish drilling and bolting) and if it wasn't for lack of material, all the truss plates would be up (always something to slow us down...). All in all a good day.

Finally some Photos!

Is it level?

It's a big chunk of woooood....


















Shear factor!



Every post junction where a top plate
comes together or runs over, requires a scab (length of 2x8 nailed to the post) and a minimum 1/2 thru bolt with 2" diam. washer and lock washer. This is to prevent shearing forces from tearing the barn apar. All total there are 24 posts, but as in the photo, most have a junction, so require 2 bolts. Add to that the plates required to support the loft, and the side roof sections, and the final top truss plate it adds up to a whole lot of Tylenol.

Still not a barn...