Finishing The Bottom Of A Pole Barn

[AMcRae]

Hello,

I am looking for some advice as to how we should finish off the bottom of our pole barn. It’s been finished since last November but we were short on funds and didn’t finish the bottom (below the tin) off.

We are located in Southern Ontario and definitely get winter weather.

I have heard that pressure treaded 2x6’s is the way to go - but not sure how to transition from the tin to the 2x6’s.

Any suggestions or past experience would be helpful.

I will try to attach a photo of the barn - before it was complete - to give you an idea of the situation.

Thanks.

[Mosey_2003]

If you aren’t a paying customer of the forum/magazine you can’t attach a photo.

Upload it to somewhere like http://www.tinypic.com or http://www.photobucket.com and copy the link over to here.

I’m no help on the actual barn, mine is concrete three feet up.

[Calvincrowe]

Do you mean a baseboard or a the whole wall inside so horses can safely be stalled? Our pole building (wood posts, trusses and 2x6 purlins (horizontal boards that the metal is attached to between posts) has a pressure treated 2x10 at the bottom of the metal, with the last inch of the metal covering it on the outside (If my memory serves). We placed 3/4inch marine grade plywood on the inside of the posts inside the barn to create walls for the stalls we built.

[AMcRae]

Just on the outside of the barn - the inside is fully insulated and has stalls all built. We are just trying to finish off the bottom of the outside - just below the tin.

Sounds like you used pressure treated 2 x 10’s?

[Calvincrowe]

Yup, pressure treated. Here in the PNW, if it isn’t PT wood, it’ll rot in under 5 years if exposed to rain or wet soil. And PT won’t last forever, either.

[gumtree]

Based on your description it is called the “skirt board”. The "starter board that is in contact with the grade (ground). This is almost always put on first then the siding goes on above it. The bottom of the siding is lapped over it so water running down the siding will not end up on the inside also.

2x pressure treated should always be used.The width of the board is dictated by how much “back fill” will be used. Usually the back fill is sloped away from the building to help drain/run the water away. Use of gutters is important also.

1x pressure treated could be used also depends on the things. The higher off the grade the metal siding is the less likely it will rust out over time due to rain water back splash.

I am guessing this is what you are referring to. A picture speaks a 1000 words.