How to Build You Own 16X16 Barn

A 16-foot by 16-foot barn is a versatile structure suitable for storage, housing animals and a functional, weather-shielded workspace. While building your own barn is considerably less expensive than purchasing a prebuilt structure, it is still necessary to invest in the correct materials, tools and equipment for the task if you don't already have them. Building a barn should not be attempted by carpentry amateurs and it is advisable to enlist the help of a few friends or family members with carpentry experience.

Tape measure
Spray paint
Shovel
4-inch by 4-inch posts, 16 feet long
Concrete mix
2-inch by 6-inch boards, 8 feet long
Drill
3-inch long exterior screws
Cultivator
Bookshelf girts
28 - 4-foot by 8-foot siding panels
4 roof trusses, 16-foot base
Roofing cover boards, 4-feet by 8-feet
8 L-braces
2-inch by 4-inch boards, 8 feet long
Tin-roof sheets, 24-inch coverage
Ridge pole
Roofing caps
Roofing nails
Roofing nailer or hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Measure and mark 4-foot intervals around the outline of the planned barn site using bright orange spray paint. Dig post-holes at least 5 feet deep on each mark with a shovel.
- 2
  Prepare concrete mix with water and pour a small amount in the base of each hole to serve as a post foundation. Insert a post in each post hole and pour in additional concrete to fill any remaining space in the hole and keep the posts upright. Allow 24 hours for the concrete to dry.
- 3
  Attach eight 2-inch by 6-inch beams to the corner and interior posts of each barn side with 3-inch exterior screws to create the frame for the floor. Level the dirt within the frame using a cultivator and shovel.
- 4
  Install bookshelf girts every 2 feet up the height of the corner posts and secure with 3-inch exterior screws. Insert 2-inch by 6-inch beams so the wall framing resemble a fence with crosswise beams.
- 5
  Align siding panels with walls framing and attach with screws every 24 inches on three sides of the barn. Wood, metal and vinyl are all good barn siding materials, so compare prices and life expectancy to determine which is best for you.
- 6
  Set the first roof truss upside-down across the frame to check for equal overhang on opposite sides of the building. You will need several friends to help raise the truss onto the roof and turn the truss upright once it is lined up on the frame. Push the truss to one end of the roof.
- 7
  Place the remaining trusses every 4 feet along the roof line. Use L-braces where the truss meets the wall to hold the trusses in place and secure to the wall frame with screws. Install roof cover boards along both sides of the roof with screws, allowing 1 inch to 3 inches of overhang for rain run-off. Choose boards with an energy-efficient rating to help maintain a comfortable temperature inside your barn.
- 8
  Align tin-roof pieces against the bottom of the roof cover boards and attach with roofing nails. Cap the roof ends and ridge pole with roofing caps that can be purchased at your local hardware store.
- 9
  Cut the four remaining wall panels in half to create paneling squares. Install on opposite ends of the open wall, leaving the center open as the entryway.
- 10
  Measure the opening dimensions. Subtract 3 inches from the height to allow for clearance and order a custom-built barn door to fit. The door should be installed by a professional. Most major hardware stores offer custom-built doors

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