New Sawmill Shed

s219 · Dec 30, 2020

Got a gutter on the rear edge of the roof earlier this week. I had planned for one downspout, but after doing the math for the roof area, I went back and bought a second downspout.

We're forecasted to get rain for the next 4 days, so I'll get to see how this works out.

Yesterday I framed up the front upper wall and installed blocking in various spots so that I could put siding up.

I got a start on the siding this morning, and got everything done except the center section of the front wall. I hope to get that finished between rain storms over the next couple days, then need to put battens on all the joints.

I nailed all the siding boards to the wall girts with 2.5" ring shank siding nails placed directly in the center of the board's width, to allow the edges to float as the wood shrinks. When I remembered, I oriented the grain so the board should crown instead of cup. The battens will do the final job of holding down the edges. I may use my framing nailer with 10D 3" ring shank nails for the battens, or maybe hand nail them. Some people also recommend using 3" deck screws. Need to think about the best option. The framing nailer would do a nice quick job but it's awful heavy and could be awkward while handling battens.

On the front wall, I let the siding on the gussets float above the center section. Joints were lined up above and below that character line, so the battens will also line up. I think this will give a nice look in the front, as opposed to having the siding all in the same plane.

Citydude · Dec 30, 2020

That is going to be a nice looking saw shed! Nice job.

fried1765 · Dec 30, 2020

s219 said:
Got a gutter on the rear edge of the roof earlier this week. I had planned for one downspout, but after doing the math for the roof area, I went back and bought a second downspout.

View attachment 681594

We're forecasted to get rain for the next 4 days, so I'll get to see how this works out.

Yesterday I framed up the front upper wall and installed blocking in various spots so that I could put siding up.

View attachment 681595

View attachment 681596

I got a start on the siding this morning, and got everything done except the center section of the front wall. I hope to get that finished between rain storms over the next couple days, then need to put battens on all the joints.

I nailed all the siding boards to the wall girts with 2.5" ring shank siding nails placed directly in the center of the board's width, to allow the edges to float as the wood shrinks. When I remembered, I oriented the grain so the board should crown instead of cup. The battens will do the final job of holding down the edges. I may use my framing nailer with 10D 3" ring shank nails for the battens, or maybe hand nail them. Some people also recommend using 3" deck screws. Need to think about the best option. The framing nailer would do a nice quick job but it's awful heavy and could be awkward while handling battens.

View attachment 681592

View attachment 681593

On the front wall, I let the siding on the gussets float above the center section. Joints were lined up above and below that character line, so the battens will also line up. I think this will give a nice look in the front, as opposed to having the siding all in the same plane.

Looking sharp!
Next: close in the front and add a floor.
Then: Advertise for a renter!

shooterdon · Dec 31, 2020

Very nicely done!!

Hilbilly · Dec 31, 2020

Looks too nice to be a sawmill shed. Great job!!:thumbsup:

EddieWalker · Dec 31, 2020

That siding really makes it look nice!!!!!

s219 · Dec 31, 2020

Between rain showers, I finished up the front siding, made caps to protect the exposed ends of the LVL, and started putting trim on the top edge of the siding. The switch on my portable tablesaw died, then it started raining again, so I didn't finish trim or get to any battens. I figure the battens need to be cut and put up immediately, otherwise they'll twist and curl. So I'll wait until we have a dry day and I can make progress.

user.69169 · Dec 31, 2020

Now here de funny thing.
Looks like some coward moderator slid in here and poofed (removed) legitimate post.

Dummy must not know Screen shots last forever.

Hilbilly · Jan 1, 2021

That shed is a thing of beauty. Do you plan on treating the siding with anything or just let it naturally weather?

s219 · Jan 1, 2021

Hilbilly said:
That shed is a thing of beauty. Do you plan on treating the siding with anything or just let it naturally weather?

Thanks! I am wondering about that, and when it can be done. I might put red barn stain on it to match my barn that is just across the driveway. I am also interested in a timber oil product that has linseed oil and tung oil. Some people claim you can put it on green wood but I have my doubts. This wood is so wet right now that it squirts at me when driving fasteners or using the table saw. I can't imagine oil could soak in very well in this condition.

I have left other pine siding alone and it sort of gets dingy and dirty looking, and weathers unevenly depending on exposure. If it could turn gray uniformly that would be great, but it doesn't, at least not quickly enough for me.

The other thing is, some of the boards were spalted on the ends and look a little yellower there. I don't know if that will even out. An oil or stain product would probably help blend everything.

Citydude · Jan 1, 2021

I follow a YouTube guy that lives not to far from me. He built a post and beam barn from rough sawn ponderosa pine. Beautiful build. He used a mixture of diesel fuel and used oil to stain it.

s219 · Jan 2, 2021

Got all the battens on today and had to work past sunset to finish up the front. Rain is coming tomorrow, and I was so close to finishing it would have been a shame to put away all my tools with just a dozen battens remaining to put on. So I broke out the spotlights and kept going until about 7pm. Looks real good.

I used GRK construction screws to put the battens on, #9 (slightly narrower than a deck screw) 3-1/8" long. Worked out very well and gave me nice control.

Last thing to do -- I need to figure out how to put on some corner trim that will adapt as the wood shrinks, and not tear apart or gap. I have a few ideas that might work, need to ponder a bit...

GLyford · Jan 3, 2021

Make an "L" with two pieces of trim stock with closely spaced fasteners, then mount them on the building with just a few?

s219 · Jan 3, 2021

Yeah for sure I would pre-fab an L. What I am leaning towards is making the corner trims out of seasoned white pine (have a few boards left over from siding my barn) then attach them with screws that pass through the siding boards. I can either aim the screws through the joint between the corner boards, or I can drill holes through the siding and wallow them out (to make a slot) so those screws don't fight against the siding when it shrinks. I am estimating 1/2" to 5/8" shrinkage for the siding boards in width.

Other option is to do nothing for a few months until most of the shrinkage happens, and deal with the corners afterwards. I have read that most of the shrinking happens in the first 2-3 months.

EddieWalker · Jan 3, 2021

What about using Hardie for the trim and painting it a nice accent color to the natural color of the wood?

s219 · Jan 3, 2021

Yeah, Hardie would work too, I'd just need to be real careful it doesn't get tugged on by the shrinking siding boards, or that fasteners don't constrain the boards from moving under the Hardie.

This is my first time building with green wood and I am paranoid about what is going to happen, so I am pre-thinking about all the movements. I think about what I have seen with wet treated lumber when it dries out, and this will be even worse!

fried1765 · Jan 3, 2021

s219 said:
Yeah, Hardie would work too, I'd just need to be real careful it doesn't get tugged on by the shrinking siding boards, or that fasteners don't constrain the boards from moving under the Hardie.

This is my first time building with green wood and I am paranoid about what is going to happen, so I am pre-thinking about all the movements. I think about what I have seen with wet treated lumber when it dries out, and this will be even worse!

I think your idea of WAITING for several months of natural drying before doing anything is a good idea.
I would wait until August or later!

s219 · Jan 3, 2021

By the way, I cut the battens on the mill yesterday by stacking and clamping 9 boards up against the log stops. The boards were 7" wide and I planned to cut them into three 2-5/16" battens with two passes. The first pass cut nice but the 9 battens spread out like spaghetti. Second pass was even crazier. It was like the Play-doh barbershop with the hair squirting out in all directions.

I had seen a little bit of movement while sawing the boards last week, but the wood really went wild when cut down into battens. These were from logs that had sat a year, and I was told that builds up a lot of stresses in the wood. Sure enough, when I ran out of those battens and cut another dozen from a fresh green log, they stayed completely stable and straight.