Barn Raising Blog

This photo shows how the framework of the 3 stalls took shape. You can also see the planer in this photo. And more snow; it was the 2nd week of March. [ posted 9/28/07 ]

Knowing he had a big wood project ahead of him, Kenny received a planer for Christmas. A planer shaves off a very thin, flat layer of wood to make rough lumber even, smooth and finished. We planed the boards for the front of the stalls, so they looked uniform and smooth. This photo shows the start of the front of Reggie's stall. Kenny also sunk the 4"x4" oak posts in cement, using the same method as the poles set by Pioneer Pole Buildings when they built the barn (see post "Holey Moley"). He set the pole(s) vertical using a 4' level and anchored them to the roof trusses as well. He topped off the front stall wall with a 1"x4" cap.

I had been kindly prodding the crew to finish the barn by the 28th of February as I had to go on a business trip on March 1st. They accommodated my schedule, and off I went. While I was away, Kenny purchased rough-cut lumber from a nearby mill, and started working on the stalls. He was able to get Poplar - the mill happened to have just gotten some in, and it's nearly as durable as Oak without the price. Kenny is a whiz at figuring out lumber measurements (board feet and all that). I, on the other hand, am NOT good at it at all - thankfully we make a great team! If you have any questions about how he came to the numbers and measurements he did, I will get the answer for you.
This photo shows what I came home to - beautiful wood lining along the stall edges for kick-walls, so no leg potentially goes through the metal siding. He left the lumber in it's rough stage for this portion of the stalls. He pieced it to fit, making economical use of all the lumber, saving the better pieces for the stall fronts (see next post).

So, in a day and a half, we have our finished product!! It was so terrific to stand inside and be completely enclosed. Now, on to the INSIDE! (posted 9/21/07)