Today’s “Ask the Guru” covers questions regarding the use of sheathing on walls, and roofing with trusses 2′ on-center, if a combo residence/horse barn can be built, and a question asking what the “typical” size of animal confinement barns might be.
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I am planning to build a pole barn garage with sheathing on walls and roof. Do I need to use purlins on the roof if I use the sheathing instead? The trusses will be 2 ft on center. Thank you, BRUCE in BIG RAPIDS
#12×1-1/2″ Diaphragm Screws
DEAR BRUCE: While there are people who will screw steel roofing directly to sheathing. I would be none of them. Most certainly not OSB, as it will not hold a screw. Personally, I would lay 2×4 purlins flatwise (3-1/2″ face towards sky) on top of sheathing – screwing purlins through sheathing into tops of each truss with structural screws. Then use diaphragm screws to attach steel to purlins https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2024/03/thru-screwed-steel-screws/
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Can you put a residential and horse barn together. JARED in WAPAKONATA
DEAR JARED: Absolutely, however there are some considerations to keep in mind:
Dust, insects, rodents, noise and odors.
Fire separation – your jurisdiction may require as great as a two-hour fire wall between these two conflicting uses. You will likely not be able to directly pass between these two, so plan upon an outside entryway.
Insurance will be costly, if even available.
Most clients opt to have these two uses as individual structures.
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: What are the typical sizes of the animal confinement pole barns? Small and Medium including the doors. GARRETT in PAGOSA SPRINGS
DEAR GARRETT: There are no “typical” sizes for animal confinement as animals vary as much as do their owners. In general, you will find best bang for your investment is multiples of 12′ in width and length.
DEAR KIMBERLY: No you do not have to add OSB and a Weather Resistant Barrier to your exterior walls.
Now, I’ve been told to do closed cell insulation on my walls 1” thick. I wanted an opinion on whether to go every inch of the walls top to bottom all the way to the roof? Would I benefit from the insulation at all by just going to the 10’ mark (my lowest wall height) because that’s as high as my interior osb is going anyway. I guess what I am asking is it any benefit to insulate closed cell up to 10’ mark from the floor and then just bubble foil the main shop above 10’ to give a finished look? THOMAS in PLEASANT HILL
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: We are looking to build a 40×90 pole barn, with 1/3rd being used for storage and 2/3rds for a vehicle maintenance. Both will be heated and storage cooled. Concrete floor, shingled roof, insulated, vertical metal siding, no windows, 5 overhead doors on the same side. Can you span the trusses from wall to wall and provide the above with no center columns? Thank you, ROD in CLEVELAND
Well Mark, as I am sure you are finding out, an entire plethora of issues now exists from the conversion being done without proper permits. Your slab issue just being one of many.
Chances are excellent the roof trusses in your building are not designed to support a ceiling load, so you are probably looking at needing an engineered truss repair.
