porkpal said:They are especially good at helping build fence.

We couldn't do any work around the barn or fences without the cows, horses or goats trying to help.
Do you have any horses or goats?

great looking barn!!

I keep thinking I'd hate to have to climb up and shovel snow off of those lower sections and then I remember y'all don't have to worry about that.

That's true. And any snow we do get will slide off easily. The pitch is 5/12 and the roof will be metal covered.

When the top roof slides off on the bottom roof it will give you quite a scare, if you ever get that much snow. On our barn the big roof slides off on to the milkhouse roof and it is thunderous, even in the house. If you're in the milkhouse, it is quite startling.

I'll bet!!!

It doesn't have to be a barn roof to get that great snow slide, my sister and her husband have a metal roof on their house, the snow builds up, then a thaw, and it is thunderous as the snow slides, scares the heck out of the poor cat.

same here!!the whole house shakes!!

After last Friday, the rain started and it rained all weekend and much of Monday, so we didn't get much work done until Tuesday. So the last couple days were busy finishing off the roof and then blocking up the inside rafters.

First, a bonus photo of Elsie:


Finishing up the roof:


Now yesterday afternoon the roof framing is basically done:



You can see where we have framed out windows under the top eaves - there are 3 windows on each side of the barn, above the lower roof but below the upper roof. The windows are 1' tall by 4' wide, fixed pane. They are there to let light infiltrate into the loft and then down below.



You can also see the framing for the 6'x6' front door that will go into the upper loft.



We're putting blocks below the rafters to add strength and longevity:



Standing on the peak and looking down, you are about 20 feet high:


The metal will be arriving sometime today, but the windows aren't ready yet so I think we're going to wait on hanging metal until the windows arrive. Today is a day of interior work. We're putting walls up to separate the stalls and rooms from each other. We're also building a stair/ladder to get from downstairs up to the loft.

That's just beautiful ( a barn can be beautiful, right?) and sturdy. As much as the animals will appreciate it, I bet your children are going to have a good time playing in there too!

Batten down the hatches. We're sending a lot of wind your way today. It's really cold too.

Barns can absolutely be beautiful!

You're right about the cold wind.

Even DH is enjoying watching your barn go up.

It's looking good Dave.

It looks wonderful!!

Barns are beautiful. They are the things of childhood imaginings.

Very nice. Love the little Brown Gersey. Best cream (to me) there is....

Dave, what a beautiful barn!

I can almost smell that pine. Ummmmmmmm!

In my eyes, barns are very beautiful. : )
And this one is particularly beautiful.

Dave, can the windows pose a fire hazard from sun shining through onto the hay? Just wondering.

I wondered the same thing about the windows Lynn. Dave I am really enjoying watching this project ! Barns are beautiful and fun places. Your kids will have a blast !

I don't foresee a problem with that. The windows are flat and aren't going to be magnifying the light. Nevertheless, I'll do a bit of research. I can always drape shade clothes over the windows.

Interior walls going up between the stalls:


Another view:


The walls are 4' tall and hung 5 inches off the ground, so I can sweep and spray out between the stalls.

Our mow has windows in the north end and the south end and we've never had any trouble - it's wet hay you have to watch out for, but then I'm sure you know that.