Post & Beam Building Kits Keep The Past Alive

Post & Beam Building Kits Keep The Past Alive BUILDINGS Livestock Metal storage buildings look out of place on rural homesteads to Len Dickinson So about four years ago he decided to offer barn kits based on historic post and beam timber framing methods He calls the business Sand Creek Post & Beam and it s headquartered in Wayne Nebraska     Until now homeowners have only had two choices Dickinson says Build a metal building or rebuild an old barn which is very expensive and difficult      There was no one offering a structure that had the traditional look of turn-of-the-century barns he says     The retired developer had always had an interest in post and beam construction and had once taken a course in it He discovered he didn t have the talent to do it himself but he was able to find skilled craftsmen who could     Sand Creek Post & Beam offers four basic designs that are sold as kits suitable for barns garages workshops horse barns and even barn homes: salt box four square walls horse barn and gambrel roof By varying roof pitches eave lengths and other details each building can be customized for every customer Dickinson says     Sand Creek Post & Beam craftsmen use full dimension rough-sawn ponderosa pine They cut and assemble the post and beam frame for the structure at their Nebraska headquarters Instead of the labor intensive mortise and tenon pegged corners Sand Creek uses 1/4-in steel plates and nuts and bolts to secure the frame Traditional barn windows doors and cupolas are also custom made After assembling the frame to ensure a perfect fit it is disassembled and shipped with lumber to finish the walls and roof along with doors windows Eastern red cedar for sills complete assembly plans and instructions Lean-to and insulation packages and other options are available     The business has sold barn kits in 15 states and has a network of dealers who can erect the kit or recommend a builder to do the work The Nebraska business provides support to builders unfamiliar with post and beam construction A few customers choose to build themselves Dickinson says      People are looking for the traditional classic rural styles Dickinson says They re drawn to that Ponderosa pine works well It has a Western look appealing knots and finishes nicely     The buildings work well for human habitation too One Des Moines bachelor farmer built a barn house Dickinson says complete with river rock on the outside     Sizes start at 18 by 18 ft and go as big as the customer wants A Kansas City customer had a 10 000 sq ft barn built and an even larger building was ordered recently     Prices start at about $10 000 for material for an 18 by 20-ft building Most buildings kits average $30 000     Dickinson and his partner and wife Jule Goeller have been pleased with their business so far      We really pride ourselves in preserving our heritage Dickinson says     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Sand Creek Post & Beam 215 N Pearl Street Suite 200 Wayne Nebraska 68787 ph 402 833-5600; toll free 888 489-1680; sandcreekpost@conpoint com; www sandcreekpostandbeam com

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