John L. Shawver

“ Suppose we cut off 18 inches of an 8 × 8 we have lost 8 feet of lumber, which is worthless for any purpose save for fire wood. If a given piece is too short it is spliced in a moment’s time and no loss of strength is sustained. In an old style framing if a piece was too short it required considerable labor to remedy the matter, and a loss of both timber and strength was sustained. [Pg 7]
Fig. 1.—Interior Bent of Plain Gable Barn with Basement.
Herewith are illustrated two bents of a barn, Fig. 1, showing a plain gable barn with basement. ”

“ In my opinion, with the hay mow filled with hay, the gable will bulge or spring out, as the weight, 45 to 50 tons, will exert quite a pressure. As to the remedy I am not so clear. He might use a flat truss or a beam large enough to stand the pressure; one, say, 16 inches wide at the center and tapering to 8 inches at each end. I will say, in conclusion, that I have had no experience with plank frames.
Is the Barn Frame of
Sufficient Strength? ”

“ Let me say, however, that that is one of the most prevalent mistakes in the construction of a barn. There are too few braces, and the first baby tornado that happens to pass that way will “lay it out in fine shape.” While we use plenty of braces, they are usually only 2 × 6 inches, and so do not take timber very rapidly. The geometrical triangle is the strongest figure one can secure, and it is with that idea always in mind that we do our barn work.
Bents for 12-Sided Plank Frame Barn. ”

“ In our experience we never use any staging, and we do most of the work from the ground before beginning to set for the frame. Most men can work more rapidly on the ground, with all materials handy, than they can aloft, where materials must be drawn up with ropes. I believe “S. H.” can save enough on labor alone to pay his expenses to go to some point and see one of our plank frame constructions. Besides, he will find wherein he can greatly improve upon his method of construction. Those who are within convenient reach to do so can visit the barn of Dr. ”

“ The full benefit of the self supporting arch roof, a construction of combined triangles, long braces and perpendicular timbers.
8. Durability, arising from the fact that there are no mortises in which moisture may accumulate and cause the tenons to decay.
9. The strongest possible support for the track of the hay fork or sling.
10. Ease of addition to the main building should any ever be required.
Changes and variations in plans need cause no loss of timber, as is certain to be the case where a bill of materials has already been placed on the ground. ”

“ I shall be glad to have the friendly criticism of practical builders given in the columns of Carpentry and Building. Any suggestions which may lead to further improvements in the system will be appreciated very much, and due credit will be given to those who suggest them. ”

“ First Test of Strength.—A small model made of linden strips 3-16 inch thick and 1⁄2, 3⁄8 and 1⁄4 in inch width, made on a scale of 1⁄2 to 12 and representing a barn 40 × 60, with 8-foot basement and 20-foot superstructure, was found strong enough to support four men of average weight. ”

“ It will be seen that the system is especially adapted to large grain and hay barns, to cover barnyards, which are becoming so popular in many sections of the country, to tool sheds, tobacco barns, amphitheaters, &c. ”

“ The plate is made of two 2 × 8 plank spiked together to form a trough and inverted over the tops of the posts. The manner of constructing the bents of the basement is indicated in Fig. 5. If the posts can stand on solid pillars of stone no sills are necessary, and the fillers extend down to the lower ends of the posts and up to the joist bearers. A side view of the purlin [Pg 13] plates, which are made of two 2 × 8 or 2 × 10 plank with a 2-inch space between them, is shown in Fig. 6. The coupling or splicing block extends either way from the roof support a to the dotted lines b b. ”

“ The drawings of the correspondent indicate that the nailers are cut to fit between the posts, in which case they must be mortised, gained or toe nailed. The first two require unnecessary work, while the latter is not strong enough. If the bents are constructed in three sections, they [Pg 29] will be tedious to raise in position. If completed before raising, they will be weak at the purlin plate. ”