Johannes Decker Barn — materials
A rough list to take to a sawmill. The frame is cut green — full-sawn timbers straight from the log — and pinned with dry oak pegs: as the timbers dry they shrink onto the pegs, and the drawbored joints pull tighter. The mill cuts every stick to its section and length; the framer cuts the joints.
Each length is the piece’s cut length plus 10 in for tenons and trimming, rounded up to the foot. A piece longer than 24 ft is ordered in two or more lengths joined by a scarf (A2-16), except a post or a rafter is not scarfed. Board feet are full-sawn: width × depth × feet ÷ 12. Sizes follow the model, which is proportioned from measured drawings, not engineered — a frame that will carry a load is sized by an engineer first.
The workshop's own mill (critical, to be graded to NELMA)
Bur oak (white oak group)
| Section (in) | Length (ft) | Pieces | Board feet | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 × 9 | 26 | 2 | 273 | wall sill |
| 7 × 9 | 25 | 2 | 262 | wall sill |
| 7 × 9 | 14 | 2 | 147 | wall sill |
| 7 × 9 | 12 | 4 | 252 | gable sill |
| 10 × 6 | 26 | 2 | 260 | sill under the H-posts |
| 10 × 6 | 25 | 2 | 250 | sill under the H-posts |
| 10 × 6 | 14 | 2 | 140 | sill under the H-posts |
1,584 board feet of green timber in 16 pieces.
Ordered at full length, longer than a 24 ft stick with its laps — the drawings set its scarfs: 2 × sill under the h-posts (22 3/4 ft to its joints); 2 × wall sill (22 3/8 ft to its joints); 2 × sill under the h-posts (22 5/8 ft to its joints); 2 × wall sill (22 5/8 ft to its joints).
Eastern white pine
| Section (in) | Length (ft) | Pieces | Board feet | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 1/2 × 15 | 30 | 1 | 356 | hayloft beam |
| 8 × 15 | 30 | 1 | 300 | hayloft beam |
| 8 × 12 | 30 | 1 | 240 | hayloft beam |
| 6 1/2 × 9 | 26 | 2 | 254 | purlin plate |
| 6 1/2 × 9 | 25 | 2 | 244 | purlin plate |
| 6 1/2 × 9 | 14 | 2 | 136 | purlin plate |
| 10 × 5 1/2 | 11 | 10 | 504 | lengthwise tie |
| 6 × 9 | 12 | 12 | 648 | aisle beam |
| 6 1/4 × 7 1/2 | 26 | 2 | 203 | wall plate |
| 6 1/4 × 7 1/2 | 25 | 2 | 195 | wall plate |
| 6 1/4 × 7 1/2 | 14 | 2 | 109 | wall plate |
| 5 × 9 | 30 | 6 | 675 | upper beam |
| 5 × 7 | 34 | 40 | 3,967 | rafter, hewn, tapered |
| 5 3/4 × 4 3/4 | 11 | 10 | 250 | low girt |
| 3 × 5 1/2 | 13 | 30 | 536 | hayloft joist |
| 4 × 3 1/2 | 12 | 12 | 168 | aisle tie |
8,786 board feet of green timber in 135 pieces.
Special lengths — a post or a rafter is not scarfed: 40 × rafter, hewn, tapered (32 3/8 ft).
Ordered at full length, longer than a 24 ft stick with its laps — the drawings set its scarfs: 2 × purlin plate (22 3/4 ft to its joints); 2 × wall plate (22 3/8 ft to its joints); 2 × purlin plate (22 5/8 ft to its joints); 2 × wall plate (22 5/8 ft to its joints).
Ordered long, never scarfed — a tension tie, a post, or a beam whose scarf would fall mid-span: 6 × upper beam (28 1/2 ft); 3 × hayloft beam (28 5/8 ft).
Oak (red or bur)
| Section (in) | Length (ft) | Pieces | Board feet | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 1/2 × 17 | 34 | 5 | 2,770 | anchor beam |
| 15 1/2 × 10 | 23 | 12 | 3,565 | h-post |
| 10 × 6 | 16 | 2 | 160 | wall post |
| 9 1/2 × 6 | 16 | 2 | 152 | wall post |
| 7 1/4 × 5 | 16 | 8 | 387 | wall post |
7,033 board feet of green timber in 29 pieces.
Ordered long, never scarfed — a tension tie, a post, or a beam whose scarf would fall mid-span: 5 × anchor beam (32 3/8 ft).
Pegs: 406 dry oak, counted from the timber files (350 at 1 in, 56 at 3/4 in), 14 in long; order 10 % over.
Subtotal, the workshop's own mill (critical, to be graded to NELMA): 180 timbers, 1,584 board feet bur oak (white oak group), 8,786 board feet eastern white pine, 7,033 board feet oak (red or bur): 17,404 board feet of green timber; 406 dry oak pegs.
The Amish mills (non-critical)
Bur oak (white oak group)
| Section (in) | Length (ft) | Pieces | Board feet | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 1/2 × 5 1/2 | 24 | 18 | 1,881 | sleeper |
| 9 1/2 × 5 1/2 | 13 | 9 | 509 | sleeper |
2,390 board feet of green timber in 27 pieces.
Eastern white pine
| Section (in) | Length (ft) | Pieces | Board feet | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 × 8 1/2 | 11 | 6 | 280 | brace |
| 5 × 5 | 12 | 10 | 250 | brace, long |
| 12 1/2 × 2 | 19 | 1 | 40 | threshing plank |
| 12 1/2 × 2 | 13 | 1 | 27 | threshing plank |
| 12 1/2 × 2 | 19 | 53 | 2,097 | threshing plank |
| 12 1/2 × 2 | 13 | 53 | 1,434 | threshing plank |
| 4 × 4 1/2 | 6 | 20 | 180 | brace, purlin plate |
| 8 × 2 | 19 | 1 | 25 | threshing plank |
| 8 × 2 | 13 | 1 | 17 | threshing plank |
| 3 × 5 | 6 | 12 | 90 | brace |
| 3 × 4 3/4 | 7 | 20 | 166 | brace, wall plate |
| 10 × 1 1/4 | 18 | 1 | 19 | hayloft board |
| 10 × 1 1/4 | 15 | 1 | 16 | hayloft board |
| 10 × 1 1/4 | 14 | 1 | 15 | hayloft board |
| 10 × 1 1/4 | 11 | 1 | 11 | hayloft board |
| 10 × 1 1/4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | hayloft board |
| 10 × 1 1/4 | 18 | 12 | 225 | hayloft board |
| 10 × 1 1/4 | 17 | 13 | 231 | hayloft board |
| 10 × 1 1/4 | 15 | 1 | 16 | hayloft board |
| 10 × 1 1/4 | 14 | 25 | 365 | hayloft board |
| 10 × 1 1/4 | 11 | 1 | 11 | hayloft board |
| 10 × 1 1/4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | hayloft board |
5,529 board feet of green timber in 238 pieces.
Oak (red or bur)
| Section (in) | Length (ft) | Pieces | Board feet | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 × 2 | 7 | 30 | 70 | grille rod |
| 1 1/2 × 2 | 2 | 20 | 10 | wedge |
80 board feet of green timber in 50 pieces.
Saplings (straight, peeled; any local hardwood)
Poles: 274 × 3 1/2 in, 13 ft (sapling pole) — cut and peeled, not sawn; not in the board feet.
Boards: roof boards 3,721 sq ft at 1 in ≈ 3,721 board feet (plus waste).
Subtotal, the Amish mills (non-critical): 315 timbers and 274 poles, 2,390 board feet bur oak (white oak group), 5,529 board feet eastern white pine, 80 board feet oak (red or bur): 7,999 board feet of green timber; boards ≈ 3,721 board feet.
Not in this list: stone, brick and mortar; siding, trim, windows and doors; roofing; nails. Nothing here is priced.
Cut list, piece by piece
| Piece | Qty | Section (in) | Cut length (in) | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bur oak (white oak group): Sill under the H-posts | 2 | 10 × 6 | 273 | on the west pier · scarfed A2-16 over a bent |
| Bur oak (white oak group): Wall sill | 2 | 7 × 9 | 268 7/8 | lapped at the corner (A6-17) · scarfed A2-16 over a bent |
| Bur oak (white oak group): Sill under the H-posts | 2 | 10 × 6 | 271 1/2 | scarfed A2-16 over a bent · scarfed A2-16 over a bent |
| Bur oak (white oak group): Wall sill | 2 | 7 × 9 | 271 1/2 | scarfed A2-16 over a bent · scarfed A2-16 over a bent |
| Bur oak (white oak group): Sill under the H-posts | 2 | 10 × 6 | 138 1/2 | scarfed A2-16 over a bent · on the east pier |
| Bur oak (white oak group): Wall sill | 2 | 7 × 9 | 142 5/8 | scarfed A2-16 over a bent · lapped at the corner (A6-17) |
| Bur oak (white oak group): Gable sill | 4 | 7 × 9 | 129 1/4 | A6-17 tenon into the wall sill · A6-17 tenon into the sill under the H-posts |
| Bur oak (white oak group): Sleeper | 27 | 9 1/2 × 5 1/2 | 138 1/2 – 273 | on the earth · on the earth |
| Eastern white pine: Threshing plank | 1 | 12 1/2 × 2 | 134 1/4 | pinned on a sleeper (A6-66) · butted on a sleeper, pinned (A6-66) |
| Eastern white pine: Threshing plank | 1 | 12 1/2 × 2 | 207 3/4 | butted on a sleeper, pinned (A6-66) · pinned on a sleeper (A6-66) |
| Eastern white pine: Threshing plank | 53 | 12 1/2 × 2 | 134 1/4 – 207 3/4 | pinned on a sleeper (A6-66) · butted on a sleeper, pinned (A6-66) |
| Eastern white pine: Threshing plank | 53 | 12 1/2 × 2 | 134 1/4 – 207 3/4 | butted on a sleeper, pinned (A6-66) · pinned on a sleeper (A6-66) |
| Eastern white pine: Threshing plank | 1 | 8 × 2 | 134 1/4 | pinned on a sleeper (A6-66) · butted on a sleeper, pinned (A6-66) |
| Eastern white pine: Threshing plank | 1 | 8 × 2 | 207 3/4 | butted on a sleeper, pinned (A6-66) · pinned on a sleeper (A6-66) |
| Oak (red or bur): H-post | 12 | 15 1/2 × 10 | 263 | A6-22 tenon into the sill under the H-posts · A6-02 head tenon into the purlin plate |
| Oak (red or bur): Wedge | 20 | 1 1/2 × 2 | 8 | driven through the tongue (A6-21) · bearing on the H-post (A6-21) |
| Eastern white pine: Brace | 12 | 3 × 5 | 60 7/8 | A6-03 brace tenon into the H-post · A6-03 into the upper beam |
| Oak (red or bur): Wall post | 2 | 10 × 6 | 170 1/2 | A6-22 tenon into the wall sill · A6-02 head tenon into the wall plate |
| Eastern white pine: Aisle tie | 12 | 4 × 3 1/2 | 130 1/4 – 131 1/4 | A6-05 tenon into the H-post · A6-05 tenon into the wall post |
| Eastern white pine: Aisle beam | 12 | 6 × 9 | 130 1/4 – 131 1/4 | A6-05 tenon into the H-post · A6-05 tenon into the wall post |
| Oak (red or bur): Anchor beam | 5 | 11 1/2 × 17 | 388 | A6-21 tenon through the H-post, wedged · A6-21 tenon through the H-post, wedged |
| Eastern white pine: Upper beam | 6 | 5 × 9 | 342 | A6-05 tenon into the H-post · A6-05 tenon into the H-post |
| Oak (red or bur): Wall post | 8 | 7 1/4 × 5 | 170 1/2 | A6-22 tenon into the wall sill · A6-02 head tenon into the wall plate |
| Eastern white pine: Brace | 6 | 6 × 8 1/2 | 116 | A6-03 brace tenon into the H-post · A6-03 into the anchor beam |
| Oak (red or bur): Wall post | 2 | 9 1/2 × 6 | 170 1/2 | A6-22 tenon into the wall sill · A6-02 head tenon into the wall plate |
| Eastern white pine: Low girt | 10 | 5 3/4 × 4 3/4 | 114 3/4 – 121 | A6-05 tenon into the H-post · A6-05 tenon into the H-post |
| Eastern white pine: Lengthwise tie | 10 | 10 × 5 1/2 | 114 3/4 – 121 | A6-05 tenon into the H-post · A6-05 tenon into the H-post |
| Eastern white pine: Brace, long | 10 | 5 × 5 | 124 7/8 | A6-03 brace tenon into the H-post · A6-03 into the lengthwise tie |
| Oak (red or bur): Grille rod | 30 | 2 × 2 | 68 1/4 | stepped into the sill (A6-67) · stepped into the low girt (A6-67) |
| Eastern white pine: Purlin plate | 2 | 6 1/2 × 9 | 273 | square at the gable · scarfed A2-16 over a bent |
| Eastern white pine: Wall plate | 2 | 6 1/4 × 7 1/2 | 268 7/8 | square at the gable · scarfed A2-16 over a bent |
| Eastern white pine: Purlin plate | 2 | 6 1/2 × 9 | 271 1/2 | scarfed A2-16 over a bent · scarfed A2-16 over a bent |
| Eastern white pine: Wall plate | 2 | 6 1/4 × 7 1/2 | 271 1/2 | scarfed A2-16 over a bent · scarfed A2-16 over a bent |
| Eastern white pine: Purlin plate | 2 | 6 1/2 × 9 | 138 1/2 | scarfed A2-16 over a bent · square at the gable |
| Eastern white pine: Wall plate | 2 | 6 1/4 × 7 1/2 | 142 5/8 | scarfed A2-16 over a bent · square at the gable |
| Eastern white pine: Brace, purlin plate | 20 | 4 × 4 1/2 | 58 3/8 | A6-03 brace tenon into the H-post · A6-03 into the purlin plate |
| Eastern white pine: Brace, wall plate | 20 | 3 × 4 3/4 | 62 3/4 | A6-03 brace tenon into the wall post · A6-03 into the wall plate |
| Saplings (straight, peeled; any local hardwood): Sapling pole | 160 | 3 1/2 in pole | 134 1/4 – 144 1/4 | laid on the aisle beam · laid on the aisle beam |
| Saplings (straight, peeled; any local hardwood): Sapling pole | 114 | 3 1/2 in pole | 143 1/4 – 145 | laid on the anchor beam · laid on the anchor beam |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft beam | 1 | 8 × 15 | 344 | A6-82 let into the H-post, spiked · A6-82 let into the H-post, spiked |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft beam | 1 | 8 × 12 | 344 | A6-82 let into the H-post, spiked · A6-82 let into the H-post, spiked |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft beam | 1 | 9 1/2 × 15 | 344 | A6-82 let into the H-post, spiked · A6-82 let into the H-post, spiked |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft joist | 15 | 3 × 5 1/2 | 145 3/4 | on the hayloft beam at the west gable · on the hayloft beam of bent 2, lapped beside the other length (A10-08) |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft joist | 15 | 3 × 5 1/2 | 143 | on the hayloft beam of bent 2, lapped beside the other length (A10-08) · on the hayloft beam of bent 3 |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft board | 1 | 10 × 1 1/4 | 146 3/4 | nailed to a hayloft joist (A6-83) · butted on a hayloft joist (A6-83) |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft board | 1 | 10 × 1 1/4 | 195 1/4 | butted on a hayloft joist (A6-83) · nailed to a hayloft joist (A6-83) |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft board | 25 | 10 × 1 1/4 | 146 3/4 – 195 1/4 | nailed to a hayloft joist (A6-83) · butted on a hayloft joist (A6-83) |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft board | 25 | 10 × 1 1/4 | 146 3/4 – 195 1/4 | butted on a hayloft joist (A6-83) · nailed to a hayloft joist (A6-83) |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft board | 1 | 10 × 1 1/4 | 19 3/4 | nailed to a hayloft joist (A6-83) · cut short of the anchor brace of bent 3 |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft board | 1 | 10 × 1 1/4 | 116 3/4 | cut short of the anchor brace of bent 3 · butted on a hayloft joist (A6-83) |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft board | 1 | 10 × 1 1/4 | 159 1/8 | butted on a hayloft joist (A6-83) · cut short of the anchor brace of bent 3 |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft board | 1 | 10 × 1 1/4 | 19 3/4 | cut short of the anchor brace of bent 3 · nailed to a hayloft joist (A6-83) |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft board | 1 | 10 × 1 1/4 | 19 3/4 | nailed to a hayloft joist (A6-83) · cut short of the anchor brace of bent 3 |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft board | 1 | 10 × 1 1/4 | 162 1/8 | cut short of the anchor brace of bent 3 · butted on a hayloft joist (A6-83) |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft board | 1 | 10 × 1 1/4 | 113 3/4 | butted on a hayloft joist (A6-83) · cut short of the anchor brace of bent 3 |
| Eastern white pine: Hayloft board | 1 | 10 × 1 1/4 | 19 3/4 | cut short of the anchor brace of bent 3 · nailed to a hayloft joist (A6-83) |
| Eastern white pine: Rafter, hewn, tapered | 40 | 5 × 7 | 388 5/8 | A6-19 tongue and fork at the ridge, pinned · A6-20 seated on the wall plate |