[AT] Snoow load

[robinson at svs.net]

	I have noticed in driving around this last week that this part of Central Indiana has 
lost a lot of barns and tool sheds this winter. That roughly 2 foot snow fall earlier 
which is so rare here was just too much for a number of them. It was not windy when it 
fell and it was a little sticky so it just piled up on the roofs. I did wonder a little 
about a few of my roofs especially the 28'x64' tool shed which has one open face. It is 
pretty flat and that shed was built with light framing (by a previous owner of that 
property) about 1959. The 3 large barns all have fairly steep roofs and since they are 
all metal roofs if the snow gets too heavy it generally slides off. They are also framed 
heavy. A few of the tool sheds/pole barns that went down didn't look all that old. I 
didn't see any that looked like the tractors and stuff stored inside had been uncovered 
yet. Of course it rained during much of January on the days that it was not an icy/snowy 
mess or zero temps.
	I have promised myself that I will do a little work on that tool shed to make it a 
little stronger before next winter.$100 or less worth of lumber can do a lot to beef up 
the trussing (of which it has almost none) in the rafter area and is pretty cheap 
insurance. I also want to tie the rafters down better with a few anchors all the way down 
to the foundation. It seems like we have been getting a lot more high winds over the last 
few years. Again very cheap insurance.

-- 
"farmer", Esquire
At Hewick Midwest
      Wealth beyond belief, just no money...

Paternal Robinson's here by way of Norway (Clan Gunn), Scottish Highlands,
Cleasby Yorkshire England, Virginia, Kentucky then Indiana.


Francis Robinson
Central Indiana USA
robinson at svs.net