What have you done with your silo?

[weedsportpete]

We have a small horse farm, still getting off the ground, but the 'converted' dairy farm has a silo that we are not using, yet...

It has lost its top and there is some junk and shrubs in the bottom. It is made out of concrete blocks with rebar running through it ( or at least I can see rebar sticking out where this strange opening is that runs all the way up the side about 3-4 feet wide).

I am wondering what I could do with it, and especially what you have done with silos (if you don't use them for silage anymore).

I could use it for storage, and I probably will in the bottom, but I'm thinking of using the top for an observatory, with a spiral staircase.

Any comments?

Pete

 

[gws]

Saw one turned into a real nice telescope platform. Saw one up near a barn converted to a home that they make a room in the bottom of the silo and turned it into a "pool house for changing."

 

[exeter_acres]

Not sure exactly where you are but you could turn it into a climbing wall!! They are all the rage nowadays. You could have your own climbing gym in your yard.
Here's a link about someone who did it:
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.outsidemag.com/magazine/0496/9604dicl.html>http://www.outsidemag.com/magazine/0496/9604dicl.html</A>

Also.. don't claim to be an expert but I think the opening is simply for ventilation

Good Luck

Curtis

 

[MossRoad]

I was just talking to my wife about this. My father was an avid astronomer and had several telescopes. He always said if he moved to the country he'd like to get an old silo and make an observatory out of it. Sounds like the thing to do to me /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Also, if I had an old silo, I'd paint it with one of those "drink milk" murals with the baby on it.

 

[Carl_NH]

Pete,

The concrete silos I know usually have:

- an enclosed outside chute 2'x3' to guide the silage down as well doors every 3' or so to unload the silage

- galvanized bands around the exterior with a al/galv dome roof

- possibly a external ladder to the top to put up the fill pipe

The junk in the bottom might be the unloader device just rusted up.

These silos are 16-24' in diameter and 30-60' tall usually and make a neat place for a really large hot tub and sauna, and even living quarters if you're so inclined.

I would get a roof of some sorts on it first possibly a trapezoid with windows for the observatory mentioned before, then decide what you want for the interior.

Search the web too for silo conversions - I know there are plans and interesting options out there.

Carl

 

[MossRoad]

Here's some links that I found.

http://www.hwy.com.au/~sjquirk/obscopes/fro_obs.html

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://ottawa.rasc.ca/astronomy/rmeier_obs/observatory.html>http://ottawa.rasc.ca/astronomy/rmeier_obs/observatory.html</A>

Now none of these seem to be a farm silo, but you might get some ideas.

 

[weedsportpete]

Great stuff.. one of those pictures on the observatory construction even includes a tractor.

I'll search for silo conversions.. glad to know I'm not the only one thinking of that. And thanks for the info on the silo. Maybe I can use the silo domes for the top.

I'd love to have the hot tub/sauna, but right next to the horse barn, with boarders coming in and out, might not be the best thing. On the other hand, maybe we can charge more..

Peter

 

[chim]

There's a local company making silo parts you may find interesting.............chim

www.lancasterlevel-flo.com