In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Traditional barns are typically stick-framed, the same way that most homes are. Arrange your wall studs vertically along the top of your foundation’s sill plate, spacing them at a distance of 16–24 inches (41–61 cm) on center. To secure each stud, drive two nails down through the bottom of the interior edge and into the sill plate. Complete your wall frame by attaching a top plate that mirrors your sill plate, sinking a pair of nails into the top of each underlying stud.  The sill plate is the first piece of lumber you'll put down for your foundation. On most structures, the sill plate consists of a series of boards laid out around the outer edges of the foundation and secured with bolts, masonry nails, and/or steel straps.  For a more rustic look, try framing your barn with rough-cut 4x6 oak posts spaced 8–12 feet (2.4–3.7 m) apart on center. Call your local saw mill to ask about having custom posts cut to the exact specifications you need. to frame the roof. Choose a type of roof that suits your aesthetic preferences and spatial needs, as well as the typical climate conditions where you live. Barns in high-rainfall areas, for instance, may benefit from steeply-sloped roofs. Once you’ve decided on a particular style, measure the roof and use the dimensions you get to plan the layout of your trusses, which you can then cut and fasten assembly-line style.  In the past, barns almost always featured gambrel roofs, which consist of four flat planes that come together in a point at the center. If you prefer, you could also go with a simpler style for your barn, such as a gable, skillion, hip, or even a flat roof.  The roof is one of the most important parts of the barn, as it serves to provide shade, deflect precipitation, and keep the interior of the structure covered. If you’re not confident in your ability to build a sturdy, watertight roof yourself, it’s best to hire a contractor to come in and make sure the job gets done right. Start by cutting sheets of 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) plywood into sections and nailing them into place on your roof trusses. Then, roll out overlapping sheets of roofing felt and nail or staple them along the edges to secure them. From there, you can put down shingles or standing seam metal sheets, which are the two most common types of materials used to roof traditional barns.  Roofing felt acts as a buffer to protect your roof’s sheathing from damage, block out moisture, and insulate against heat and cold. Plan on putting down a layer of roofing felt no matter what roofing materials you ultimately go with. Corrugated metal roof panels can provide a simple and long-lasting option if you have a little more money to spend. They’re easy to install, environmentally-friendly, and capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, sun exposure, and precipitation for up to 70 years! Board & batten siding is a type of pre-cut wood siding responsible for giving old-fashioned barns their distinctive appearance. Purchase your siding in individual panels pre-cut to the desired size for ease of installation. Fasten the panels to the exterior walls of the barn by driving nails into both ends of the top and bottom.  It may be necessary to trim the final board on each wall to comfortably fit the remaining space. If you prefer the DIY approach, you can also create your own board & batten-style siding by nailing 2x10 boards onto your wall studs with 2x4 boards positioned perpendicularly in-between. Last but not least, you’ll need a way to get yourself and your livestock in and out of the barn. Barn doors are available in both swinging and sliding styles, though sliding doors are far more common. To install sliding barn doors, mount a narrow backing board over the entrance cutout and screw on the metal track hardware included with your door’s installation kit. Attach the roller straps to either side of each door’s upper edge, then carefully lift the doors and set them down in the track, making sure the wheels are aligned properly.  Barn doors can be quite heavy, and may be too cumbersome to manage by yourself. Ask someone to give you a hand hoisting the doors up onto their tracks once you’re done installing the mounting hardware.  Don’t forget to measure the wall you want to put your door in so you’ll know what size doors to buy and how far they’ll be able to open in either direction. This will be especially important if you’ll be herding large animals through the entrance.
Summary: Construct a standard stick wall frame out of 2x6 studs. Build a series of trusses Install your roofing materials of choice. Cover your barn’s frame with board & batten siding. Mount a set of large sliding doors for the main entrance.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Some cooks have a bad habit of turning the burner up all the way anytime they need to heat something. Instead, try to only use as much heat as necessary to reheat or cook your food through. Anything beyond the minimal required temperature will be a waste.  Water, for example, boils at 212 °F (100 °C). Once it’s boiling, leaving the cooktop on full blast won’t make it any hotter—it will only use up more gas. When cooking from a recipe, always follow the instructions to a T. Most recipes specify what level of heat to use (“low,” “medium,” “medium-high,” “high,” etc.). If you can see the flames licking the sides of the pan, it means the stove is turned up too high. Lower the temperature until the flames are confined to the bottom surface of the pan. Otherwise, their heat will escape into the surrounding environment.  For best results, only use flat-bottomed cookware. With these pieces, the entire heating surface will remain in contact with the flames at all times.  If your stove has multiple burners of different sizes, choose a burner that’s smaller than the pot or pan you’re using to ensure that it’s not putting off excess heat. To clean your burners, first make sure they’re off and cool to the touch. Then, remove the protective grates and wipe away any lingering debris with a damp paper towel. Finally, scrub the area around the burners with soapy water until they’re completely free of residue.  The flames emitted by your gas stove should burn a bright blue color. Yellow or orange flames could be a sign of incomplete combustion, which means that the gas in the lines isn’t being used to its full potential.  If cleaning the burners doesn’t solve the problem, call a repairman to come take a look at it and replace it if necessary. A weak burner isn’t just irritating, it’s actually dangerous—incomplete combustion can result in the release of hazardous carbon monoxide gas. Pay close attention to strange smells or faint hissing sounds originating from around your stove. These symptoms could indicate a leak. If your stove has a faulty gas line, you’ll be losing gas even when you’re not cooking.  The simplest way to test for a leak yourself is to pull out the stove enough to access to the gas line and brush the fittings with soapy water using a cotton swab. If one of them begins to bubble, you’ve got a leak on your hands.  Leaks should be dealt with immediately, as they can pose a serious safety risk.
Summary:
Reduce the heat as much as possible. Make sure the pot or pan is covering the flames completely. Keep your stove’s burners clean to ensure that they’re working properly. Check for potential leaks.