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A friend has salvaged a bunch of long, rough sawn true dimension 2×6’s. We plan to use these as rafters to make several shed roof pole buildings for ag use only.Pich 2:12 and even less.
I cant seem to find any span charts that cover this in my old books. I’ve got old USDA plans that show them being used in 12′ spans, and there is a 20yr+ 16′ stickframed shed down the road that still looks good using them 16″OC.
Rafters will be covered with 1×4 nailer 2’OC and metal roofing. The 2×6’s are pretty much knot free, tight grained old growth doug fir (happy dance).
Any charts or rules of thumb would be appreciated.
Thanks, JonC
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Hi JonC
I don't know where you're located so I don't know if snow loads are a problem with your plans.
Even if the sheds are to be used for agricultural use only, you may still have to get a building permit and have plans approved. Your local building inspector will be able to help you with the local table interpretations.
A 2/12 pitch is very shallow so you may as well check your tables for a flat roof application in order to determine the span allowed in your State.
Gabe
*Gabe,Thanks for the quick response. I just checked with my county building dept to see if there had been any recent changes in their ag-use only policys. I have to get a permit but most ag-use only buildings are exempt from code and permit fees. They do come out and look at the finished product in most cases "if it's not too remote". i.e. They're not climbing any big hills to see if your little cattle shelter is well built. Their main concern is general safety and if you're building something big or that they consider potentially dangerous, like say a big open 20'at the eaves hay shed they'll want to come out during construction and check post embedment etc.The inspector I spoke to said current code here would be 10'span 24"OC, 12.5' span 16"OC. In regard to my old USDA plans, he felt that the spans have been reduced due to the degradation of our current framing lumber and that he'd feel fine with 12' spans 24"OC with our old stuff. But as I said, codes dont apply.We do get some snow here occasionally but not much and not for long. Shame to cut down some of those 24' rafters for clear span buildings.JonC
*JonC, man, you are gonna use beautiful, clear, old growth fir 2x6s for WHAT? SACRALIDGE! Man, I'm gonna be mumblin' to myself all afternoon now... - yb
*Hi JonActually the rules are pretty much the same here regarding permits for ag. use.Snow loads are a different story though.Seems a shame to cut those piece of fir, maybe you can trade them for standard 2x8's and make a few extra bucks instead.Gabe
*Young Bob,I'm almost afraid to ask, but what would you do with them?JonC
*Is there much hardware in them? - yb
*Nope. I think they were mostly rafters in a couple old barns he tore down. Rumor is that the trees were cut on the farm and milled locally. I've got an old leaner barn with some nice 2x6 in it too, nothing that long though.JonC
*well, if they really are clear and the grain is anywhere tight - say 12 rings per inch - they are worth about 2.50 to 3.00 per brd ft. And of course the vertical grain ones are worth about 4.00. Any vg would be most valuable to someone who builds custom doors if they are full 8/4 stock.Seriously, if I hadn't made a big score on vg fir last Summer I would be very interested in buying them or at least trading you some other lumber for them like Gabe suggested. If you have a few hundred feet, it might be worth your while to put a classified ad in FWW. I'd for sure call around to millwork shops and put an ad in local paper, maybe even one in Portland. Or how about stickering this stuff and sitting on it until the price of fir goes off the charts. It's getting really hard to find decent stuff now, in ten years I bet it will be 8-10.00/ft. - yb