tcreeley
Elite Member
A general contractor should be fine- take a look at some of his work. Good luck.
Any barn geeks out there?
- Thread starter USAFpj
- Start date
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John Dougherty
Bronze Member
USAFpj,
As a PJ, I'm sure you are up for anything you decide to do. I'll say up front, good luck with whatever you decide to do! A piece of advice is don't step over a dollar to pick up a dime. Be realistic in the outcome. I am a retired building contractor and I have seen people attempt to alter something because it exist. I think that you already got advice on getting a quote on new and I agree. Be realistic and make sure you can live with the results. It will have to serve you in the future. Also, be concerned that you may need something beyond your present requirements. Have the ability to expand or alter for future needs. That's the hard part. Good luck!
As a PJ, I'm sure you are up for anything you decide to do. I'll say up front, good luck with whatever you decide to do! A piece of advice is don't step over a dollar to pick up a dime. Be realistic in the outcome. I am a retired building contractor and I have seen people attempt to alter something because it exist. I think that you already got advice on getting a quote on new and I agree. Be realistic and make sure you can live with the results. It will have to serve you in the future. Also, be concerned that you may need something beyond your present requirements. Have the ability to expand or alter for future needs. That's the hard part. Good luck!
riptides
Super Member
On the work we did to our farm house and some outbuildings, we went with certified engineering firms for opins, then chose the GC's accordingly. The engineering companies provided the needed "blue prints" for the work that was undertaken.
John, than you for the accolades, but I'm just barely smart enough to know that for me to be successful, I need to elicit you guys for sound advice. I have always gotten that here.
RIPTIDES, thanks for the input. I have a GC who is building our current home, and says he would love to take a look. He's a smart enough guy that would probably recommend your same advice.
RIPTIDES, thanks for the input. I have a GC who is building our current home, and says he would love to take a look. He's a smart enough guy that would probably recommend your same advice.
Eric Salop
Elite Member
Think my friends would call me a barn geek.
A few years back we converted an old (1780's) brick built barn into a house. It has turned out to be a nice home so I have no regrets at all, however the conversion cost more and took longer than building a new house from scratch. In addition we had to make a few compromises to work with the shape of the existing building. The windows are not quite the size, nor in the position you would choose if building from new.
I also have a "newer" (1905) building alongside that I'm just finishing off into a small workshop. Again, the work on this was expensive compared to putting up a new agricultural style building.
With all conversions you never can be sure how much money it's going to take until the work is underway and then it's too late to change your mind.
Not sure how regulations go where you live, however here if that lovely barn became part of a house, it would then become subject to a lot of expensive building code requirements. Keeping it separate may make it easier to retain the character that you treasure and also turn out to be the most cost effective approach.
What a great opportunity you have, however you decide to do it.
A few years back we converted an old (1780's) brick built barn into a house. It has turned out to be a nice home so I have no regrets at all, however the conversion cost more and took longer than building a new house from scratch. In addition we had to make a few compromises to work with the shape of the existing building. The windows are not quite the size, nor in the position you would choose if building from new.
I also have a "newer" (1905) building alongside that I'm just finishing off into a small workshop. Again, the work on this was expensive compared to putting up a new agricultural style building.
With all conversions you never can be sure how much money it's going to take until the work is underway and then it's too late to change your mind.
Not sure how regulations go where you live, however here if that lovely barn became part of a house, it would then become subject to a lot of expensive building code requirements. Keeping it separate may make it easier to retain the character that you treasure and also turn out to be the most cost effective approach.
What a great opportunity you have, however you decide to do it.
Depmandog
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2010
- Messages
- 2,038
- Location
- Buckner MO, LaPlata MO
- Tractor
- 2005 Kubota L5030 GST; Farmall 706, 756, 806 & 1086
Love your barn! Did your family ever grow tobacco? The slatted portion reminds me of some of tobacco barns I have seen.
Good luck with your project, and if that proves too expensive - keep up with the maintenance. It's a travesty the number of barns that we have lost.
Good luck with your project, and if that proves too expensive - keep up with the maintenance. It's a travesty the number of barns that we have lost.
