The Star Trussed Roof Barn

THE plank frame construction has taken the place of the old style timber frame construction for the following reasons : 1. It is stronger. 2. It is cheaper. 3. It is easier to build. 4. It provides more loft room. The timber frame construction depends for its strength on careful work in making the joints and on the heft of material used. A timber frame is no stronger than its weakest tenon. The plank frame is heavily braced. It is made up of several trusses. These trusses are placed at intervals length-wise of the barn ranging from 10 to 14 ft. apart, depending on the height of the building. The plank frame is so trussed and knit together that the strength of every fiber is brought into use. Heavytimbers are scarce and consequently ex-pensive. In the plank frame construction, nothing heavier than 2 in. planks are used. In erecting a plank frame barn, no scaffolding is required. When the first truss is completed, it serves as a pattern for the others which are made exactly like it. It is an easy matter to erect the trusses, this being accomplished either with a small gang of men or a horse and tackle. The plank frame construction makes easy the putting away of the hay in the mow with the hay carrier as there are no crossed beams or heavy supporting timbers in the way. Therefore, requires less help to put away the hay and it can be done in much less time—which is an important factor in hay making. This construction also provides for much more storage space in the loft. Page One Hundred Forty-seven