Constructing a Plank Frame Barn.

By John L. Shawver.

The growing interest in the plank frame barn, as manifested by inquiries which have emanated from many quarters, calls for specific information which will enable every builder and farmer to avail himself of the many advantages offered by this system of construction. The system has been in use in Central Ohio for the past 20 years, and has been rapidly growing in favor wherever people have had an opportunity of investigating its merits. During these years the system, which was at first somewhat crude and undeveloped, has been gradually improved, until to-day, after many of the most severe tests, it is believed to have reached very near perfection as regards economy of material and labor, strength of frame, convenience of arrangement and durability of structure. The advantages offered by this method of construction are:

1. A saving in timber of from 40 to 60 per cent.—a not small item in many localities where timber for building purposes has become a scarce article.2. An opportunity to employ for the building of barns timber that could scarcely receive consideration if solid timber mortise and tenon frames were to be built.3. A saving in the cost of sawing, cutting and hauling of about one-half of the timber.4. A saving in cost of framing, ranging from 50 to 90 per cent., according to the plan of the building and the efficiency of the builders.5. In cases where farmers’ wives are expected to board and lodge the builders, a saving in labor and vexation of two or three weeks’ unnecessary time for framing old style barns.6. A riddance of practically all of the interior timbers, which are usually an interference with the use of the horse forks and hay slings, as well as a source of constant vexation at threshing time and all other times when the barn is in use.7. 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.

1. A saving in timber of from 40 to 60 per cent.—a not small item in many localities where timber for building purposes has become a scarce article.

2. An opportunity to employ for the building of barns timber that could scarcely receive consideration if solid timber mortise and tenon frames were to be built.

3. A saving in the cost of sawing, cutting and hauling of about one-half of the timber.

4. A saving in cost of framing, ranging from 50 to 90 per cent., according to the plan of the building and the efficiency of the builders.

5. In cases where farmers’ wives are expected to board and lodge the builders, a saving in labor and vexation of two or three weeks’ unnecessary time for framing old style barns.

6. A riddance of practically all of the interior timbers, which are usually an interference with the use of the horse forks and hay slings, as well as a source of constant vexation at threshing time and all other times when the barn is in use.

7. 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. If a piece of timber is too long the piece cut off is used at some point, though perhaps not over 18 inches in length and containing only 2 or more feet of stuff. 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.

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. Referring to it, 1 1 1 are posts of basement bent, consisting of five 2 × 8 planks, two of which are 8 feet long and three of which are 7 feet 2 inches. Upon these rest the joist bearers, marked 2 2 2, which consist of three planks 2 × 10, extending lengthwise of the barn. These basement bents are thoroughly braced by a method which will be illustrated hereafter. The braces 3 3 3 are made of two 2 × 4 inch stuff the required length, with a short piece of the same material forming a clamp brace somewhat similar in shape to a clothes pin. The sill of the superstructure, marked 4, consists of two2 × 8 inch plank, with 6-inch space between them. The posts 5 5 are made of two 2 × 8 inch plank, with intervening 2-inch space. The purlin posts, 6 6, are made of two 2 × 8 inch plank, with intervening space; 7 7 are roof supports, consisting of a 2 × 8 inch plank. The collar beams 8 are two 2 × 12 inch plank with intervening 2-inch space; 9 9 are sub-supports, made of a 2 × 6 inch plank; 10 10 are stays of two 2 × 4 inch plank, with intervening 2-inch space; 11 11 are the main ties of one 2 × 8 inch piece; 12, 13 and 14 are braces and ties of 2 × 6 inch plank; 15 15 are purlin plates, made of two 2 × 8 inch plank, with intervening 2-inch space into which couplings and braces enter.

Fig. 2.—Barn Bent, Showing Gambrel Roof Construction.

At 16 16 the main plates, made of two 2 × 8 inch plank, are placed into a V-trough and inverted over the top of the post. The rafters 17 17 may be spliced on the purlin plates. The topmost intersections are bolted, as shown by means of the dots. The upper ends of the purlin posts are cut down 4 inches, on a line parallel with the roof supports, and again at right angles with the first cut, forming a saddle, into which are placed the purlin plates.

Fig. 3.—Outside View of End Bent of Superstructureand Basement Bents.—Scale, 3-32 Inch to the Foot.

Fig. 4.—Side View of Plank Frame Barn.—Scale, 3-32 Inch to the Foot.

InFig. 2is presented a view of an interior bent of a gambrel roof basement barn, which is constructed on the same general principles as shown in the previous figure. Hip roofs, gothic roofs, etc., are as readily provided for as either gable or gambrel roofs, so any man’s taste may be fully met in this respect.

Fig. 5.—Detail Showing Section of Frame.—Scale, ¼ Inch to the Foot.Fig. 6.—Section of Purlin Plate.—Scale, ¼ Inch to the Foot.

Fig. 5.—Detail Showing Section of Frame.—Scale, ¼ Inch to the Foot.

Fig. 6.—Section of Purlin Plate.—Scale, ¼ Inch to the Foot.

An outside view of the end bent of the superstructure and an end view of all the basement bents are shown inFig. 3of the illustrations. The braces in the basement are permitted to extend up and between the sills of the superstructure, thus binding both basement and superstructure into one solid frame work. In the interior of the basement, where long braces will not interfere with the arrangement or convenience, they are to be preferred to short ones, but where short braces are necessary they are inserted in such a manner as to give greater strength than when mortised in as is usually done.

Fig. 7.—Detail at Peak of Barn.—Scale, ½ Inch to the Foot.

A side view of the frame, which is of such a character as to fully explain itself, is presented inFig. 4. 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 inFig. 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 purlinplates, which are made of two 2 × 8 or 2 × 10 plank with a 2-inch space between them, is shown inFig. 6. The coupling or splicing block extends either way from the roof supportato the dotted linesb b. Atcis represented a sectional view of the sub-support, to which the staysd dare secured, and also the lower end of the bracese e. This arrangement gives sufficient strength to the purlin plates to sustain a slate or any other roof desired.Fig. 7shows the manner in which the peak of the arch is constructed. The roof supports, which are usually of 2 × 8, are indicated by A A. The sub-supports, usually of 2 × 6 plank, are indicated by B B, while the dotted lines represent the collar beams, C, constructed of 2 × 12 inch plank, there being one on either side and bound together by ½-inch carriage bolts 6½ inches in length, their position being indicated by the small crosses.

Fig. 8.—Detail Showing Construction of Posts in End Bent ofFig. 3.Fig. 9—Sectional View of Plate.

Fig. 8.—Detail Showing Construction of Posts in End Bent ofFig. 3.

Fig. 9—Sectional View of Plate.

Three posts of the end bent, shown inFig. 3, are constructed of two 2 × 8 plank, one 2 × 4 and one 3 × 6, all as indicated by the cross section inFig. 8of the engravings.

Fig. 10.—Side Elevation of Barn Having Two Driveways and Bay at Either End.

It will be noticed that all of this work is easily and quickly done and that there is not only a saving in the timber, but also in the labor. As an example of the time required to erect a frame, I would state that I was recently called to another county to assist in building a basement barn, 40 × 80 feet in size, 8-foot basement and 16-foot superstructure, with plain gable roof. With three carpenters we commenced work on Wednesday morning, and on Saturday of the same week we raised the barn complete. In other words, it took four carpenters three days to frame a barn 40 × 80 × 24 feet.

InFig. 10is shown a side view of a barn with two driveways and bay at either end. A A are duplicated on inside of posts, with bridge blocks at dotted lines; B´ is main plate; C is purlin plate of two 2 × 8 plank set at right angles with roof and also braced at right angles; D is roof supports, forming the arch of the barn, and E the collar beams.Fig. 11shows interior bent of a “ground” barn with decks above driveway. Should stables be desired in one or both ends joist bearers may extend entire width of barn.

There are doubtless many who would like some evidence of the strength, durability and popularity of this system of barn building, and I therefore submit a few facts in relation to these points.

First Test of Strength.—A small model made of linden strips 3-16 inch thick and ½, ⅜ and ¼ in inch width, made on a scale of ½ 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.

Second Test.—Several years ago a number of persons at a barn raising were discussing the frail appearance of the frame, and a test was made with chains and levers in an effort to crush the frame by drawing at opposite angles, but without the slightest effect.

Fig. 11.—Interior Bent of “Ground” Barn with Decks Above Driveway.

Another example is found in a barn which was put up with a minimum quantity of spikes, because the owner did not wish to take time to go to town for more. The barn has been standing 14 years, within whichtime a number of destructive wind storms have passed over it without damage, though much damage to fences, forests and buildings resulted in the vicinity.

As evidence of the rapidity with which the framing may be done, I will refer to a basement barn, 40 × 80, 24 feet to the square, recently erected in Union County, Ohio. I began with three carpenters on Wednesday morning, and on Saturday of the same week the barn was raised complete. We were compelled to work under the disadvantages of considerable mud on the newly graded foundation site, necessity of carrying the timber some distance, and the short days in mid November. None of the hands had any previous experience in this work, so had to learn as they proceeded.

A large dairy barn was built the last week of October, 1896, just out of New York City. It is 100 × 36, with 8-foot basement and 16-foot superstructure. We had four house carpenters and two laborers. Began work Monday morning, but were delayed by the non-arrival of the spikes till nearly noon. The basement bents were each 100 feet in length, and there were nine bents in the superstructure. Both basement and superstructure were raised on Friday of same week in six hours with the help of 30 men.

Still another example may be given to show the difference between the plank frame and the mortise and tenon frame. With three helpers I framed a barn, 40 × 72, with 20-foot posts, while two carpenters, one of them a foreman, framed the sills for a corn crib, 5 × 40.

The system has been introduced into 32 States and some fair sized barns have been built in this way. One in Kentucky, 56 × 100; one in Colorado, 60 × 70; one in Wisconsin, 40 × 120, with wing 40 × 60; onein Ontario, 56 × 96, and one in Virginia, 60 × 100. I have yet to learn of any who, having built strictly to specifications, are dissatisfied with the frame. On the contrary, we are frequently in receipt of letters from those who have thus built stating that they are delighted not only because they have saved both money and timber, but at the same time have obtained a thoroughly strong frame without the usual interior timbers, which are so much in the way in handling hay or grain.

I shall be glad to have the friendly criticism of practical builders given in the columns ofCarpentry 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. 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.

While there is not so large a saving in the timber of the basement as in the superstructure, there is yet a fair saving of timber even here, and at the same time there is great saving of labor. The timbers are employed only where they can serve a useful purpose, and special effort is made to so place the timbers as to secure the maximum amount of strength with the smallest possible amount of timber.

The following communications were brought out as the result of Mr. Shawver’s invitation to the readers ofCarpentry and Building:

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