What is the widest I can span a gambrel barn?

by Kim Petersen
(Winnemucca, NV)

What is the widest I can span a gambrel barn?

I am looking to build a post and beam wooden barn to use for weddings and special events. I want to be ready to build early spring.

I am from Winnemucca, Nevada so good temper beams are hard to come by.

Is there a way to purchase a kit with materials?

I am also considering a wood floor to dress it up from concrete. I am hoping to find a way to insulate it so I can use it in the winter. Thanks for your help.

Hi Kim,

Thank you for your question.

The widest we will design a barn to clear span is 20 feet.

Of course we can design your barn to be wider but there will be interior posts to support the weight of the roof and loft. Now, we could hypothetically clear span much wider distances, but that would require special beams, and engineering, that are way beyond the scope of what we do here. It is our goal to design simple and affordable traditional barns.

We try not to ship whole kits out of state because of the cost of shipping, and we believe in strong local economies. In Nevada I understand that there probably isn't a great deal of local lumber available. However, I know that there are some really nice Douglas Fir timbers available from sawmills in Oregon or Washington. There is also Ponderous Pine available in the Dakotas.

Have a great day!

Aaron Esch
BarnGeek

Comments for What is the widest I can span a gambrel barn?

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Oct 29, 2013

Would love a barn in Texas!
by: Linda Meuth

I love your barns and found them with the same idea in mind...a wedding venue...for my daughter's wedding. I, too, wanted a wood floor. I live in Texas. So if I find a sawmill here, I just need to order the plans and hardware from barnqeek? Would the plans have a spec list...to place the order for lumber? Thanks

Oct 31, 2013

Cut List
by: BarnGeek

Yes, on the right column of this page you will see many different plans we have available. They all come with cut lists that you can send to your local sawmill and have your timbers cut from local trees.

Jan 28, 2014

Interior posts NEW
by: Laura

How far apart can the interior posts be?

Jan 29, 2014

Disregard last question NEW
by: Laura

Thanks

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Jan 16, 2017

Barns NEW
by: Bob petrusha

Do you have an actual barn that can be viewed ? I am interested in a kit. I live in the Detroit area. Would very much like to see the actual built kit, thanks so [email protected] Looking forward to hearing from you. This would be built over a basement and attached to an existing 100yr.old barn, looking for something in the 36x36'size. Bob p

Jan 18, 2017

Responding to Bob P NEW
by: John

Bob P, we've attempted to reach you through the email you posted but the message would not deliver. Please contact me at [email protected] to arrange a visit to our barn in Howell, MI. Also featured in "A Barn Wedding" on the site.

Thank you. John

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***Please note: Our full barn kits are only available within a limited shipping area. We are sorry if you are out of that shipping area, we are working on solutions for you that would include, hardware packages, templates for cutting your own timbers, lists of local timber suppliers, lists of local contractors, etc. Sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date on the progress of these resources.