This Monday the Pole Barn Guru answers reader questions about installing cedar boards on to a steel tubed hanger door, the best practice for painting a 30 year old steel roof, and “Pole Barns for Dummies?”

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: Any tips on installing cedar board 1″ x 12″w with 1×3 batten on a 20’tall x 40′ wide 3″ x 4″ steel tubing hydraulic hanger door? GROVER in KEWANEE

DEAR GROVER: Step #1 is to confirm with whomever manufactured your door of it being capable of support extra weight of wood, as opposed to steel.

Step #2 Dry cedar boards to eight to 12% moisture content prior to installation to minimize shrinkage.

Step #3 Apply solid body stain (or whatever your finish will be) to all sides, edges and ends of boards.

Step #4 Simpson makes a Self-Drilling Siding Screw for attaching wood siding to steel. Features include a trim head, #3 drill point and a #1 square drive. Invest in them.

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I have converted a pole barn into a home and the metal roof is 30 years old. I don’t want to replace it but was wondering what type of roof coating or paint I can use? I’m hoping to water proof and sound reduction. Please help. And thank you. Lori

DEAR LORI: You can follow this process to repaint: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2013/01/repainting-steel/

While I have no experience with these products, it may also be an option: https://www.conklin.com/product-catalog/roofing-products?cat=60

For sound reduction, if there is no condensation control between roof purlins and steel, you could have two inches of closed cell spray foam applied.

DEAR POLE BARN GURU: I just have to ask her so you know about the books for dummies right so is there a book for dummies on how to build a pool barn Sorry I just had the laugh but it’s a good question I see a lot of them out there Thank you. GARY in GOLD BEACH

DEAR GARY: Probably your closest thing to “Pole Barns for Dummies” would be our Hansen Pole Buildings’ Construction Manual. At just over 500 pages, it covers nearly every common post frame building assembly features. If interested in acquiring an advance copy (one is shipped with every building) please reach out to Bonnie@HansenPoleBuildings.com.