How to Build a Monitor Barn Roof

Monitor barn roofs are elevated in the center to allow for additional storage, natural light and ventilation. The full monitor barn roof is made up of two shed sections, housing stalls and other necessities for your animals, and a gable section in the center. Building a roof for a monitor barn is a matter of framing the shed sections and adding a truss for the gabled center section. You can find kits and designs for building monitor barns and monitor barn roofs online.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Treated wood posts
• Ceiling trusses
• Tin roofing sections
• Treated plywood
• Straight nails
• Roofing nails
• Hammer
• Tape measure
• Level
• Metal base anchors
• Treated wood beams
• Metal brackets
• Treated wood boards
• Drill
• Circular saw
• Wood sealer
• Gloves
• Safety glasses

1. Attach the roofing posts to the wall posts of the shed portions of your monitor barn structure using metal brackets. You should have already obtained any necessary building permits and building codes before you built the sheds and center part of your monitor barn.

2. Add the side wall posts of the gabled center structure in preparation for the roof trusses. Make sure your walls are plumbed, squared and straightened. Roof trusses can be made to order from your local home-improvement store. You will need to provide them with the dimensions, pitch and style, which can be found on your design plans. You will only need trusses for the center gabled portion of your monitor barn.

3. Measure and mark each cap plate to indicate where the heel of each roof truss will land. Roof trusses are typically secured 24 inches on center, so start on one end and mark the first truss flush with the outside edge of the cap plate. Make a mark for the remaining trusses at 24-inch intervals. Don't forget to include a mark for the last truss at the other end of your monitor barn roof.

4. Mark the truss positions on the opposing cap plate so that the trusses line up correctly. It is best to start marking from the same end where you started measuring off the first cap plate.

5. Raise one of your two gabled end trusses, making sure it is flush with the outside of the cap plate it is resting on, and nail it in place. Make sure the truss is level and straight. Secure the end truss temporarily with two-by-fours running to the ground on the outside of the monitor barn. Raise the other truss in the same manner.

6. Add the remaining roof trusses. Depending on the height and overall size of your monitor barn, you may need a crane.

7. Add treated plywood sheets to the shed portions of the monitor barn roof, then to the gabled section.

8. Add tin sheets to the gabled section of the monitor barn roof, then to the shed sections.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember the rule of thumb for any type of construction: "Measure twice, cut once."
• Wear safety equipment.

Resources

• Gabled Roof Information