DEAR POLE BARN GURU: The Hansen Pole Buildings Construction Manual indicates the roof insulation is installed eave to eave over the ridge. How does this affect the ridge vent, seems like it would defeat the purpose and not allow proper ventilation. Can you advise me on this, I’m ready to install my metal and don’t want to mess it up. Robert in Slidell
DEAR ROBERT: It is fortuitous for you, Chapter 47 of the Construction Manual deals extensively with vented ridge caps. With reflective insulation, cut insulation flush with ridge purlin uphill (towards peak), then staple to ridge purlins.
Prior to Ridge Cap installation, use glue (any good construction adhesive which will work with painted metal surfaces is adequate) to attach cutoff insulation pieces to Ridge Cap underside (foil towards Ridge Cap). Failure to properly do this will result in condensation forming on Cap underside and dripping inside building.
The Hansen Pole Buildings Construction Manuel indicates the roof insulation is installed eave to eave over the ridge. How does this affect the ridge vent, seems like it would defeat the purpose and not allow proper ventilation. Can you advise me on this, I’m ready to install my metal and don’t want to mess it up. Robert in Slidell
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Looking to add a loft in my barn. The outside wall beams are 3-2×8 nailed together 12’ on center. I am wondering what I would need to use to attach the 2×12 headers that will carry the floor to the beams without having to put cripples underneath them? Can I just lag bolt them? Do I need to use some kind of angle iron bracket. GARRETT IN BURLINGTON
DEAR GARRETT: There is a very simple answer to your question – you really need to hire a registered professional engineer to investigate what you have, as well as what you propose to do.
Do NOT, under any circumstances, attempt to install a loft (or second) floor in any building, without the involvement of a professional engineer. The guy at the local lumber yard is NOT qualified to do the design for you. Even with my schooling, training and years of experience, I would not want to give you advice without being able to do a thorough investigation (and frankly, you cannot afford to have me travel to your building to do so).
The life you save could very well be yours. This is nothing to take lightly.
To begin with, the footings underneath the building columns are probably woefully inadequate to support the weight you intend adding. Not just the weight of the loft itself (dead load), but also the live loads (what you intend to use the space for).
Depending upon the wall height of your building, building width and design wind and snow loads, it is very possible the columns would be over stressed, when adding in the loft loads. In which case, cripples would need to be added under each end of the horizontal beams to transfer the loads to the ground.
DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I have reviewed the plans provided by Hansen Pole Buildings for my new building. It all looks good to me accept I am wondering about the attachment of the trusses to the columns. I thought that these would be through bolted to lock the truss to the columns and it looks like there is only 4-5″ lag bolts that lock that together. I don’t know that it makes that much of a difference but I am just curious. Is this something that I should worry about or is it not that big of a deal. Let me know so I can approve these plans Give me a call I have my phone by me today. RYAN IN SNOHOMISH
DEAR RYAN: The Ledgerlocks called out for are far superior in strength and holding ability than a through bolt and will perform admirably in resisting uplift forces, while allowing for installation without the need to drill a hole or holes for a through bolt (one of which would be inadequate to resist the imposed loads).
