A wood framed barn is a balancing act. The best barns are those with a wide open span and a steep roof for storing hay, but wide spans an steep roofs need to be built on a solid framework of post and beams and cross ties. The trick is, how to use just enough framing to hold the roof up, without giving up the space for stacking hay?
Briliantly simple, a single bolt secures at each joint secures a honeycomb framework of short, weatherbeaten 2 x 10 rafters. Running at an angle to the arch of the roof, the topside of each is scribed to an ellipse. No beams, no posts, no cross ties, what holds this roof up is absolutely brilliant engineering.
Located in western Idaho, I came across this barn while working as an owl pellet collector. I was told the barn was built in the 1930's, and at the time a patten was taken out on the engineering of the roof framing. I have never seen another like it. 80 years later, the roofing long gone and completely exposed to rain and snow, this roof is still dead solid straight as the day it was built. What more can you say?
Wow, that's an intriguing design! It reminds me of a cross between a geodesic dome and some 19th century French framing ideas I have seen by Philibert De Lorme. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds complicated, but by way it looks, it turned out to be amazing! If I didn’t saw its damage, I couldn't have guess that this is an old structure. But I think standing still until today is already an achievement for this old barn. Not all barns that was built in the 1930’s are still in good shape. Anyway, thanks for the information. :-)
ReplyDeleteLue Madson