CHAPTER XVII 



BUILDING THE BABN—THE SUPEBSTBUCTUBE 



The kind of superstructure best to be 

 adopted for the barn depends on many condi- 

 tions. The balloon construction may be used 

 for small barns, but large ones naturally require 

 large timbers or many small ones, hence the 

 old style of frame -work, with some modifica- 

 tion, is usually adopted. In modern barn 

 buildings the main timbers are reduced in 

 size, more and lighter braces are used in lieu 

 of the large mortised and pinned braces. They 

 are cut with smooth, angled ends and spiked to 

 posts and beams. A brace of 2 x 4 inches is 

 inexpensive, and allows of following the old 

 rule of placing a brace in every angle made 

 by the principal timbers. 



Another modification should be adopted : the 

 joists, so far as possible, should rest on sills 

 and beams and not be gained into them. It is 

 unwise and unscientific to cut gains for the 

 reception of the ends of the joists at consider- 

 able expense, since such gains weaken both 

 joists and sills. In most cases the joists may 



(288) • 



