I need to build a building

[Jeff]

I need to build something to use for storage and also some sort of workshop space. I'd also like it to serve as a pavilion of sorts.  I have thousands of cedar trees available and a bunch of dead larch. The larch as it turns out, is not in very good condition. We sawed a bunch of it up this spring, but the way it died, and the way the bark fell off of it while standing, almost all of it is checked horribly.

Any ideas on construction? I love the look of peeled cedar poles, so it would be great if I could build with round wood, but I don't want a log cabin barn. More of some sort of pole construction?

[Woodchuck53]

Morning Jeff. When I was a kid I helped dad and papa frame up a pole barn with peeled pine. Headers, rafters and even the laths for the tin. Of course later when I was older I under stood that was all papa could afford. It's still standing and holds all the hay and two stables for a cousins horses. From the yard you would never know there isn't much milled lumber in it. About 30x40 I would guess with a lean to loafing shed added on.

[Jim_Rogers]

When someone comes to me with a need, we begin by deciding on the size.
A floor plan.
What are the dimension you want?

How high does the ceiling need to be inside?

What shape roof do you want? Gable? Shed? Gambrel?

Do you want a loft? for storage?
If so what will you be storing up there? light stuff or heavy stuff like lumber?

You said a pavilion. Does that mean all four sides have no walls?
If not then where are the walls? all the way around or on two or three sides?

Let's get your ideas out of your head and down on paper, so we can all look at it and make it for what you need.

Jim Rogers

[LOGDOG]

Jeff,

Have you heard of Ben Law and his round wood timber framing? I really like the look of his buildings. Very nostalgic. Also did the cordwood style of building which cedar is perfect for and you may even be able to use that larch that's checked up. Better that it's checked and dry before doing cordwood construction so the voids can be filled during the building process and the shrinkage away from the mortar and chinking is minimized. A combination of the two methods could even be employed. I have friends up in WI that built using the cordwood method and their homes are awesome. It's like walking into a different era.

I know you love links ...  ... so here's a few for you....

http://www.undercurrents.org/benlaw.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH2V6VUhz1M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elF7W_kKi4E

[thecfarm]

Jeff,I suppose you have cut some of your cedar? Most if not all of mine are rotted on the butts. Have to cut at least 4 feet off. On the bigger stuff it can be 8 feet. But with 1000's,I guess you will have enough. Will peel better next spring too.We all need buildings.  ;D

[Chilterns]

Hi Jeff,

Re your shaken larch - I wonder if this might be a good candidate for splitting rather than sawing to produce useable timber since if a heart check is present then you will only now have to split half a tree along its length.

LogDog,

If you like Ben Law's buildings then check out Dave Elliot's blog at :-

http://swanbarnfarm.wordpress.com/

where you can follow the entire process from tree felling through to a completed cruck type building that employs sweet chestnut (38 years old), larch & dougals fir (50 years old) for the main structural components.

Chilterns

[LOGDOG]

Thanks for that link Chilterns. Got it bookmarked. I'll check it out. And welcome to the Forum by the way...

[Jeff]

Its not shake, its checks. from the outside to the inside. Shake is a separation of the grain, the checks go across the grain.  If I get up there this weekend, I'll try and get photos.   thecfarm, my cedar is sound, at least for the most part. We cut a few down to make supports for Burlkraft's porch a couple years ago, and they were all sound.

[sprucebunny]

My first questions would be : how long do you expect it to last and what are you thinking about for a foundation ???

I'm fond of not taxxable. Pole barns or minimal pads. I built a travel trailer roof by burying Pressure treated 4x4s as far as I could with an auger on a tractor, cutting them off even at around 24", sill/plate and then 4x4 again, 2x4 or 2x6 stiffners from ground to 6'. It's Tall; 12' walls and 12/12 pitch and has survived several winters.

After the foundation, the techniques you used to make a bed would work well... saw some flat spots and screw it together  ;D

[Jeff]

Honestly, I don't care if it last past me, long as it looks good until then.  :D   We have great ground to build on here, so I'm thinking pilings and wood floor.  for the main structure, Tammy wants a loft with plenty of storage for seasonal stuff (Lots of totes),  I want to use as many natural materials I can get from my land as possible to save money. I have plenty of windtrown cedar that would never make lumber, but sure could make shingles.

[Brad_bb]

Remember that a lot of moisture comes up from the ground which leads to rust, mold , mildew etc.  If it's a workshop, you definitely want to protect your stuff.  If it's sealed well you can run a dehumidifier too.  I like concrete, and after it's cured for 6 months, you can seal it properly, paint it, epoxy it, whatever.  You could even put a wood floor over it once sealed. 

Will you be putting it where your current shed is that the tent was attached to at the pig roast?

[Jeff]

Yup. moving the shed. I'm putting up one of those garage in a box round top shelters to move the stove in the little barn into until I get it moved. Chet is coming down this fall to take out several big oaks that are near the site.

Our place is on a gravel pit. The original land tract was purchased for that purpose, only to find that the gravel vein was only 7 feet deep, so it was subdivided for homes. You can run a hose on the ground full blast all day long and never get a puddle. Any top soil here was hauled in.

[Jim_Rogers]

When someone comes to me with a need, we begin by deciding on the size.
A floor plan.
What are the dimension you want?

How high does the ceiling need to be inside?

What shape roof do you want? Gable? Shed? Gambrel?

Do you want a loft? for storage?
If so what will you be storing up there? light stuff or heavy stuff like lumber?

You said a pavilion. Does that mean all four sides have no walls?
If not then where are the walls? all the way around or on two or three sides?

Let's get your ideas out of your head and down on paper, so we can all look at it and make it for what you need.

Jim Rogers

Any ideas yet?

[Jeff]

Still formulating that Jim. Once I get this other building moved, it will be much easier to visualize the space and determine the size we want to go with.

[submarinesailor]

Go big or stand at home.... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Bruce

[Jeff]

There is a green limiting factor.

[SwampDonkey]

Just don't build bigger than the house, you might have to charge rent. ;)

[WDH]

With your creativity, I know that it will be unique and exceptional.  Building it with as much natural material from your property will be awesome, not that I am trying to be suggestive  ;D.

[4speed]

Jeff,
This is a church that a friend of mine built on his property. It is built entirely with ERC. I realize it may be a little larger than what you may need, but he built it in a pole barn style. If I recall correctly, he removed the bark from the cedar posts with a pressure washer. 

  

  

    

[beenthere]

Looks great, and I think that is just the size Jeff had in mind.  ;D

[LeeB]

I think that's a size we all have in mind. Too bad reality steps in.

[Jeff]

This past week I started the process.  We got one of those Garage in a box jobs to put up to temporarily store the stuff we are taking out of the existing storage barn, so I can move that barn to a new location, in preparation for a building site for a new building.

Can anyone tell me, how in the world can you take the stuff out of a 10 by 12 barn, and have it almost completely fill a 12  by 20 area?  I look in there and can't believe all of that stuff just came out of that small barn.

Now here is my plan for moving the old barn to a new location. Okay, I ain't got a plan. ;D   I'm goona wing it.

[nas]

Now here is my plan for moving the old barn to a new location. Okay, I ain't got a plan. ;D   I'm goona wing it.

Hey.... That's the Canehjun way :D

[WDH]

I knew that there was a bunch of stuff in the Woodshed, just not that much stuff  .

[DouginUtah]

Let me sneak in here while talking about building a storage shed...


 
^ Prepping the base for the slab



^ Forms set for the pour (3.75 cu. yd.)



^ Slab poured with anchor bolts placed. (-1  )

 

^ Four wall erected 


 
^ Double top plate

 
 
^ Rafters in place and blocked

 

^ Door in place and building painted

 

^ Just some touch up painting left to do 



^ Architectural shingles on the roof