After timbers were milled into beams they had to be hoisted in the air and connected together to build the frame of the barn. Most antique barns were connected with a mortise and tenon joint with wooden dowels driven through the joints to hold the barn together.

Once the frame was built the exterior of the barn was constructed. This wood over time has been weathered, painted or weathered and painted. Real barn wood normally brown, grey, red or white or a combination of colors. This wood is known as weathered siding or weathered 1x material.

Many barns were built with a second story. To support the floor and roof, it was common that beams or materials at least 2 inches thick were used. Common size two inch barn wood material is 2X4, 2X5, 2X6, 2X8, 2X10 and 2X12. The wider the 2x the less common.

Once the exterior and floor supports were built additional 1x material typically was used to build hay loft floors and supports for the inside of the barn. Animal stalls were typically made from one inch material as well. Most 1x material is brown in color. Sizes can range from 2 inches wide to over 20 inches wide. Though wider boards are less common, 6 to 10 inch boards are the most common. Barn wood planks are know as 1x’s.

It was very common to cover a roof with corrugated barn tin. The two most common types of corrugated barn tin is small wave and large waive. Typically the longer the tin has been on the barn the more rusty it is. Real barn tin also has nail holes, along with dings and dents from normal ware.