Patrick's Barn: Merry Christmas to Us

comments (2) December 15th, 2011 in Blogs

Patrick McCombe, Associate editor

Thanks, Mom! As I get older, I feel increasingly Grinchy about the holiday season, but Im grateful to my mom for getting us this full-lite entry door for our new barn. Even though so much glass comes with an energy penalty, we didnt want to block the view of our little stream in the backyard.

Last weekend, I framed and foamed the triangular wall sections on the upper part of the shed lean-to. Now that those are closed up and we have an entry door, the opening for the planned carriage doors on the front of the building is the only remaining hole in the envelope. I plan to start the carriage doors soon.

While I framed and foamed the holes in the lean-to, Fine Woodworking associate editor Steve Scott and my wife, Carol, nailed up some siding. It looks great. I really like the random widths and rough-sawn texture of the native pine, although each board sucks up a ton of paint.

Heres what our vertical pine siding looks like up close. I love the texture of the saw marks, and Im sure the rough surface will provide extra grip for paint. Its only primer on there now, but the top coat will be white also.

Thanks, Mom! As I get older, I feel increasingly Grinchy about the holiday season, but I'm grateful to my mom for getting us this full-lite entry door for our new barn. Even though so much glass comes with an energy penalty, we didn't want to block the view of our little stream in the backyard.

Photo: Carol Collins

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At the risk of upsetting my very kind mother, who loves Christmas more than anybody I know, I have mixed feelings about the holiday. I love the good food, good cheer, and even most of the music, but I really dislike the crazy consumption that comes with the season. Wrapping paper, cheap plastic toys, and tacky decorations put me in a holiday funk.

Of course I'm being a hypocrite, as home (or barn) building is among the most consumptive things we do as Americans. It's estimated by the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) that the construction of a 2000-sq.-ft. American home generates 8000 lb. of waste. Even our own barn-building project has tripled our weekly trash output, even though I feel like we hardly produce any waste at all compared to a typical residential construction site.

Somehow I see the trash produced by building as less upsetting, because a properly constructed building can last for generations, unlike the trinkets we accumulate every holiday season. So thanks, Mom, for the door--and Merry Christmas. And I hope you like the present we got for you. Money is a little tight right now, so I can honestly say that your new door is perhaps the best Christmas present ever.

Happy Holidays,

Patrick and Carol

You can read more about my barn here.

posted in: Blogs, patrick's barn

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Comments (2)

patrick_mccombe writes: That's right, Res. The siding is right on top of the 30-lb felt. With the first wetting, the felt wrinkles up creating a natural drainage space. I love the system because it's fast, easy, and there are no wacky details to work out. The siding is coated all all six sides and we have a real overhang. Personally, I think rain-screen is overkill in most situations.

You're skeptical?
Posted: 11:11 am on December 19th