Can anyone tell any book titles on how to design timber frame barns? I desire to build myself a timber frame horse barn for us in the next 3 years. I love old timber frame dairy barns. My granny had a large timber frame dairy barn on her place.
I used to help her out. After my grandpa died from luekemia in 1962.
I sure have some nice memories from those days working in that barn. I have the classic books on barns from Lee Valley Tools. But I can not find any good books about the designing and various animal husbandry concerns for timber frame barns.
Thx. Eric Wolfe

Hi Eric,

You could do no worse than consult the various books written by Richard Babcock (Mr. Barn and mentor of Jack Sobon) a number of which give details of the internals fitted into barns for the animals.

His self published book was called "Barns of Roots America" and this is available on Open Library at :-

http://openlibrary.org/b/OL859960M/Barns-of-roots-America

Regards

Ken Hume

Ken,

I couldn't read or access any of the text of Babcock's book at that site. Perhaps I didn't click in the right place...looks like it's not in the public domain. Can you access it?

Cedar:

A great way to get a feel for design is to go visit some barns. Not only is this a lot of fun, but a real learning experience.

Many barns in this area are not quite symmetrical: the center isle is offset a foot or two, sometimes more...must have been for the animals. Cows and horses on opposite sides... horses are longer than cows, etc.

Regulations eventually put a stop to housing cows and horses in the same barn here in N.England (if you were selling milk). Diseases like TB were thought to be spread through cow manure.

Talk to some old farmers, too. They may have a love/hate relationship w/ old barn layouts w/ all the interior posts, which were not as user friendly after "The War" when tractors and other modern equipment hit the scene.

And I guess that's part of the question: what will you be using it for? Do you want something old and historic, or something more "modern?"

I'd be interested in seeing some books out there if someone has references.

Good topic.

Hi Don,

I think that maybe one has to have a Google account to be able to access this site. Are there any Googlers out there who can confirm or denay this supposition ?

Regards

Ken Hume

Just checked into Open Library, Google Books, and Project Gutenberg. No luck with online previews.

The book "The Pennsylvania Barn" by Robert Ensminger surveys a very wide variety of styles out of the Swiss and Southern German building tradition, barns that are very common in the Mid-Atlantic states.

For information on floor plans try the state or county agricultural extension service. Numerous plans have been developed through the agencies of USDA and design groups of many land grant universities. Timber framing takes a back seat with USDA plans. Here is a catalog of plans from NoDak, http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/

Hi Cedar;

If you are still looking, google books can access numerous historic publications with floor plan design information, particularly the series called "Farm Buildings". There are numerous barn books available, but not too many show floor plans. BARNS by John Michael Vlach is expensive but has some floor plans and measurements in addition to numerous photos. And then there are the how-to books which help with joinery and timber sizing, layout, cutting, etc. An agricultural extension agent can help with modern design information.

Good luck
Jim

Thanks for the information Housewright. I will look for the books. I am looking for plans to use to cut my first small barn frame.
Cedar:)

Derek,

Are you saying that books are not valuable? I would disagree with that.

cedar,

Is your grandparent's barn still standing? Perhaps you could base your design on it?

As for book recommendations, I'll throw in Jack Sobon's Historic American Timber Joinery -- it won't help too much with the overall design, but when you get into the details of the joinery, it will be invaluable, as many of the connection details are from historic barns. you can get it through the Guild's online store. Here's a link -- Historic American TImber Joinery

Precious little if we dismiss good questions and legitimate quests for imformation as misguided or irrelevant without providing meaningful input.



Absurd question. I assure you my library is more than ornament. Although I do think it's pretty He's asking for recommendations of books on a specific topic and you question "if books are needed", rather than offer any real advice, information, or reasonable alternative.



That, I would agree, is priceless. Why don't you take some pictures of it and share it with the OP, rather than dismiss his inquiry as misguided.

Derek,

Your first post could have been stated in a little more positive and supportive manner e.g.

"If you can't find a book on this topic then please keep checking into this forum from time to time. Many competent timber framers regularly turn up here to contribute towards our better understanding of timber framing including traditional timber frame design and construction. You could also try searching through previously posted topics and threads to find some that might come close to answering your question. You could also do some local field research. Most owners are likely to be ammenable to granting permission for a genuine researcher to view their barn."

Its not really your place to question or berrate people who post on this forum. When you find that you can't help them (or yourself) then I would suggest that you please just take your hands off the keyboard and give us all a little respite.

Ken Hume

Eric;

After more thought, "how to design a barn" is such a big question I will add the advice to just pick a style you like. Copy a local barn or there are Dutch, German, side entry, gable entry, forebay, swing beam barns, etc. I think "The Old Barn Book" by Allen Noble and Richard Cleek presents the most types of barns, "Field Guide to New England Barns and Farm Buildings" is very good for us New Englanders.

Sorry about the flap with Derek, it's nothing you did.

Derek, I have been offended by your antics before, but I said nothing. Your attitude is not acceptable to me. Please be positive and respectful.

Jim Derby

I'd also consider what your intended use will be - and look for historical examples that match that use or can easily be adapted to it... the style and type of barn often had to do with the function of the space, available lumber, lay of the land, etc. etc.

I'd like to interject for a moment.
I have not been a member for long,, a year and a half or more.
The forum is a valuable resource. And it is open to All members to voice their opinions. My opinion may not be the same as derek's, but I value imput from all sides.
Let's not allow this to be a manure fling. Sometimes people post values opposing ours,, and we should all be allowed a rebuttal,, but let's proceed in an adult manner.

We are all adults here aren't we?

Here is a link to the Small Farmers Journal, somewhere there should be some info on horse barns. You may have to buy a book or ten.

http://www.smallfarmersjournal.com/.docs/pg/animalpower.html

Doc Hammill has a wonderful approach with horses, in this link, the stick, used in a caring manor can create a peaceful relationship with the team as a whole.

Tim

Thanks for the suggestions and defence. There are nice people on the forum. But someone has to try and hurt the feelings of new guild members like me. This is sad and does not say much good for our GUILD.
Cedar

Cedar,
I don't think there was an intentional attack. Some people just shoot from the hip.
These forums can be like that. Water off a ducks back I say,, you're doing just fine!