It was a lot of fun building this kiln because 100% of the materials were new. It seems like most of the time we use a lot of scrounged up bricks that need to be cleaned. The shed is also very large. There was plenty of room to work even with al the materials under the roof. This kiln was not built as a workshop, so I could make the short drive over the mountain and work on it whenever I had time.

You can se from the pictures that I like to build very open bag wall. These spaces get filed with pots that usually end up being some of the best in the kiln. I also put sheets of concrete board like WonderBoard or Durock on the frame above the kiln. This acts as a heat shield protecting the rafters above the kiln. It wasn't really needed on this kiln as the trusses are 2 feet above the kiln, but a lot of kiln sheds aren't as tall and the extra security is welcome.

In December of 2007 David called me and said his shed roof collapsed in a wind storm the night before. Wind speeds were clocked at 90 mph that night on nearby Beech Mountain. David and his wife had just finished an 11 hour firing when the roof came down. The sturdy steel frame on the kiln protected it and the pots that were still inside. I've always thought the kiln is the best place to seek shelter in a tornado.