Posts for lean-to

[bowtiebubba]

I want to build a lean-to on the side of my pole barn garage. This is probably a stupid question,but, i got to ask. I want the posts to be square with my building but cant figure out how i know where to put them. I want the corner posts to be lined up with the corners of my garage,but dont know how to do that.I hope im explaining this right. Thanks guys

 

[Stuart in MN]

Use a tape measure to mark out a 3' -4' - 5' triangle from the corners of the building, and you can get a nice straight line for locating the corner posts. The angle between the 3' side and the 4' side is exactly 90 degrees.

You can also use multiples of 3-4-5; for instance, if you want the posts 8 feet from the building use a 6' - 8' - 10' triangle.

 

[lasalle gearbox]

I want to build a lean-to on the side of my pole barn garage. This is probably a stupid question,but, i got to ask. I want the posts to be square with my building but cant figure out how i know where to put them. I want the corner posts to be lined up with the corners of my garage,but dont know how to do that.I hope im explaining this right. Thanks guys

or you could get a spool of mason's line (tough string, usually orange) and hook it or nail the end of it to the far end of the barn. Pull it along the barn and out into the area where your new add'n will be. Mind that it is tight and skimming along the side of the barn, just touching it. Measure out how long you want that end of the shed and drive a stake. Do the same on the other side. Measure the diagonals and make sure that they are exactly the same to ensure square.

 

[xsponge]

Quote:
Originally Posted by bowtiebubba
I want to build a lean-to on the side of my pole barn garage. This is probably a stupid question,but, i got to ask. I want the posts to be square with my building but cant figure out how i know where to put them. I want the corner posts to be lined up with the corners of my garage,but dont know how to do that.I hope im explaining this right. Thanks guys


or you could get a spool of mason's line (tough string, usually orange) and hook it or nail the end of it to the far end of the barn. Pull it along the barn and out into the area where your new add'n will be. Mind that it is tight and skimming along the side of the barn, just touching it. Measure out how long you want that end of the shed and drive a stake. Do the same on the other side. Measure the diagonals and make sure that they are exactly the same to ensure square.

This is the way I would do it with one exception, I would put a piece of 2x material between the string and the existing shed where you attach it, and a piece of 2x material or a nail driven horizontally into the near corner of existing shed to a depth that leaves 1 1/2" of the nail exposed. Pull the string tight and line up with the head of the nail, then set your stake 1 1/2" inside the string. That way if there is anything in the way along the side of the existing building it won't effect your string, or if there is by chance a slight bow in the side of the existing building, etc.

 

[bowtiebubba]

Thanks for the help guys. I think i will try the string and the triangle method.
Can i ask one more question? When you mount the rafters to the pole barn, do you put a ledger board on the building wall so there is something to mount the rafters to? If so, how does the ledger board go over the metal siding?

 

[lasalle gearbox]

Thanks for the help guys. I think i will try the string and the triangle method.
Can i ask one more question? When you mount the rafters to the pole barn, do you put a ledger board on the building wall so there is something to mount the rafters to? If so, how does the ledger board go over the metal siding?

generaly around here you put a 2x10 or some such on each side, inner and outer, of the poles. use pole barn spikes. you can close off the top with a 2x somethng, width to match the poles plus the two 2x's. lay the ends of the rafters on this platform, after having cut the appropriate bird's mouths in on the underside so they'll lay flat & transfer the load down to the poles. outside, under the rafter ends, you can put 1/4 inch luan plywood as a soffit to close it off. on the **** ends of the rafter put a 1 x something facia board to close the ends. caulk and paint.

on the other end, or barn side of the rafters, some people nail a 2x6 or something to the barn wall and set the rafters on that. i've seen snow pull that sort of deal down. when i did my shed, i stuck 4x6 treated poles on concrete, tight to the barn wall. spike to the barn wall to maintain plumb. I angle cut the tops to match the slope and laid a 2x4 on top of the poles. this was the perch i set my rafters on. then i toe-nailed the rafters to the barn wall and up through the 2x4. to make it look rustic and give some more support, i ran braces up from the poles at 45degree angles. i hate those little folded metal joist hangers but i guess some people trust them to hold things up.

on top of the sheathing, i covered the whole thing in grace ice & water shield. i don't like leaky roofs. then 30 year shingles because i wanted to match the rest of the barn, although a rubber membrane would do as well. at the barn end, i sliced a slot above the roof level by a few inches. into this i stuck aluminum flashing, caulked well. this i then folded down onto the roof, nailed and caulked.

then poured concrete floor. makes a good work shop.