in process of construction, you would realize that this type of barn is so easy 

 to build that a skilled carpenter is hardly required to do the work. 



H. A. Bennett, Ridgewood, N. J., writes: "We have built a dairy barn 

 from the plans which you prepared for us, and must say that we are well 

 pleased with the plank frame barn; the erection of it was very cheaply done as 

 to labor, and we saved lots of heavy lifting, besides the economy in construction 

 of the plank frame cannot be compared with the old heavy timber frame." 



No scaffolding of any kind whatever is needed, and if the right method 

 of raising the trusses is followed, no difficulty will be experienced. 



The first step, of course, is the excavation for the foundations, and good 

 practice requires that this extend below the frost line. 



Sometimes the first story is built of concrete or stone. Where this is done, 

 the ventilatmg intake flues may be of tile or galvanized pipe, set in place and 

 the concrete poured or the stone laid around them. 



Many object to the concrete wall, however, on the ground that it transmits 

 too much moisture. It is also somewhat more difficult and more expensive to 

 set window frames and intake flues in the stone wall than in frame construction. 



The way preferred by many is to build the foundation of tile, stone or 

 concrete to the window bases, completing the first story with a frame wall — 

 2 X 8s or 2 X 1 Os forming the studding up to the ceiling. With such a wall 

 it is easy to set in the window frames; and the space between the studding 

 gives room for the proper installation of the ventilating intake flues, tapping 

 the outside for the register face, and the inside for the complete register. 



By using the joists or other timbers for the concrete forms, the cost of 

 lumber for this special purpose can be saved. 



Experience makes it clear that where anything but tile or wood is used 

 for the wall or foundation extended to window level, it must be furred out 

 to give the necessary dead air space. Only in this way can such walls be 

 made satisfactory. 



After the foundation is in and the frame for the first story wall completed, 

 the columns are next put in place, the proper footings for same having been 

 provided. It is important that the footings be of ample size; if they are not, 

 the building may settle, cracking the concrete floor and doing other damage. 



Metal columns being used, the bottom of the column should be two to six 

 inches below the finished floor line, depending on the method of finishing the 

 floor. When these columns are in place the girders may be laid. 



As suggested before, there are two kinds of girders — one of solid timber, 

 the other continuous built up from two-inch planks. 



The latter are usually preferable, being stronger because any defects in 

 the lumber are apt to be better distributed. Care must be used to so stagger 



