Editor's Notepad

Patrick's Barn: Wrapping Up the Exterior

comments (0) February 27th, 2012 in Blogs

Patrick McCombe, Associate editor

The front gable was easier to side than the rear gable, which is several feet higher. Using 2-in. deck screws, I mounted the pump-jack brackets to the subfascia so I could reach everything at the bottom and go as high as possible. I got the 14 ft. of planking I needed by bolting 2x12s together. Small cleats screwed to the bottom help the two sets of boards share the load.

Photo: Carol Collins

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When we broke ground on our new barn back in May, I hoped that the building's exterior would be pretty well buttoned up before the brunt of winter. With almost no winter to speak of here in Connecticut, I guess you could say we've finished right on schedule. I finished the siding this past week, but there's still work to do on the exterior, including applying two coats of paint to the wood siding, installing the aluminum fascia, and hanging gutters to funnel roof water into our planned rain garden. We also have to build two sets of barn doors.

My inspector asked that I call him back before we start wiring in earnest. It's been months since he looked at the place. The last time he was here, he asked me to do a better job of nailing the two plies of the loft floor's main girder together and to add ground rods for the subpanel. I've since corrected those items. He's really been very easy to deal with, and it's reassuring to have another set of eyes checking the place over as we progress. In addition, if we ever have to sell the place, his regular inspections should appease concerns from prospective buyers over whether or not we did a good job on the barn.

You can read more about my barn here.

posted in: Blogs, patrick's barn

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