Barn Renovation Project
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OP
rancar
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Tom...
<font color=blue>"...do you know of any groups or organizations in or close to So. Michigan that lists barns that need salvaged. I would like to move a barn to my place, but around here many are just pulled down and burned"</font color=blue>
Do a search on google for 'old barn salvage' There are a ton of links that pop up. You may find something there that will give you some good direction.
Bob
<font color=blue>"...do you know of any groups or organizations in or close to So. Michigan that lists barns that need salvaged. I would like to move a barn to my place, but around here many are just pulled down and burned"</font color=blue>
Do a search on google for 'old barn salvage' There are a ton of links that pop up. You may find something there that will give you some good direction.
Bob
Bob, some beautiful work you've done here. Both in the barn and the before/after pictures.
One thing missing that you brefly mentioned in one of your first post there, was the inscriptions on the copula. Some pictures would be a good way to document these writings.
My father would allways write something on the furniture he restored, usually the history of the piece, when and where he got it, and usually the price he paid(if anything) for it.
These are really as interesting to read as the furniture itself.
thanks for keeping these pieces of history alive and well.
gary
One thing missing that you brefly mentioned in one of your first post there, was the inscriptions on the copula. Some pictures would be a good way to document these writings.
My father would allways write something on the furniture he restored, usually the history of the piece, when and where he got it, and usually the price he paid(if anything) for it.
These are really as interesting to read as the furniture itself.
thanks for keeping these pieces of history alive and well.
gary
OP
rancar
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Thanks for the suggestions Gary. I too have been initialling and dating inside the cupola every time I have painted the barn....so far three times. But you've given me now further thoughts to preserve the memories this barn holds. Thanks again.
Bob
Bob
AndyR
Gold Member
Nice job! From what I could see of your beams it looks like a canted queenpost frame. Do you have any good dates for the original erection of the frame? Also, have you seen any "marriage marks" near the joinery where 2 pieces come together? I just returned from 2 weeks on the road - the first week being a member of the repair and raising crew of <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tfguild.org/rendezvous/cuvilly702.html>this barn in Ipswich, Ma.</A> I have a 40x80 barn built in 1852 that I am working on as time permits and I may end up taking it down in order to fully repair it. I'd be interested in hearing about what repairs you made to the post feet and sills in your barn.
OP
rancar
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Hi Andy....
These were great pics of the barn raising in Ipswich, Mass. My wife was born in Ipswich and she was most intrigued when I showed her these pics.
To answer your first two queries...no and no. I'm not saying they're not there. I just haven't found them. It's just been very difficult finding dates as most of the framework has been white washed on the ground level. This, plus accumulated decades of cobwebs and dirt hide an aweful lot. That's why I've had such a difficult time dating this building. Where did builders typically put these marks?
Apart from the front end of the barn that was razed because it was too far gone, the rear of the barn was where I had much of the water and dry rot damage. About half of the post feet were repaired or entire posts replaced. Barn was jacked up and new posts were installed or post feet spliced in where appropriate. Sill plates were also replaced with pressure treated 2"x8" or 8"x8". I would have preferred to go with something more original that matched the original framework of the barn but the fellow doing this work recommended the pressure treated due to rain and moisture problems that were impacting the sills. I was fortunate in that my foundation was still in relatively good shape.
What can you tell me about a 'canted queenpost frame'? I'm not that well read up on the different building techniques from the 1800s. Is this a typical or atypical frame builders used during this time?
Bob
These were great pics of the barn raising in Ipswich, Mass. My wife was born in Ipswich and she was most intrigued when I showed her these pics.
To answer your first two queries...no and no. I'm not saying they're not there. I just haven't found them. It's just been very difficult finding dates as most of the framework has been white washed on the ground level. This, plus accumulated decades of cobwebs and dirt hide an aweful lot. That's why I've had such a difficult time dating this building. Where did builders typically put these marks?
Apart from the front end of the barn that was razed because it was too far gone, the rear of the barn was where I had much of the water and dry rot damage. About half of the post feet were repaired or entire posts replaced. Barn was jacked up and new posts were installed or post feet spliced in where appropriate. Sill plates were also replaced with pressure treated 2"x8" or 8"x8". I would have preferred to go with something more original that matched the original framework of the barn but the fellow doing this work recommended the pressure treated due to rain and moisture problems that were impacting the sills. I was fortunate in that my foundation was still in relatively good shape.
What can you tell me about a 'canted queenpost frame'? I'm not that well read up on the different building techniques from the 1800s. Is this a typical or atypical frame builders used during this time?
Bob
RobS
Super Member
Beautiful restoration work Bob and splendid barns you have to work with! Add that nice setting and you've got quite the place there. I'm truly impressed. One of these years we hope to build a barn on our place. It will be in the style of your main barn, but won't be anywhere near the construction methods.
How big an operation was your farm in it's heyday? Any vintage photos?
Thanks for sharing your work /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
How big an operation was your farm in it's heyday? Any vintage photos?
Thanks for sharing your work /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
hazmat
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Bob,
thanks for the Barn Encouragement.
Andy,
Great pics on the Ipswich project. I'm not far from Ipswich and read about the raising in the Newburyport Daily News. I was sad that I read about it after it was already done, I would have loved to go see it. I guess I'll have to periodically check in on the Timber Guild web page to see if any more barns / houses are being raised in my area.
thanks for the Barn Encouragement.
Andy,
Great pics on the Ipswich project. I'm not far from Ipswich and read about the raising in the Newburyport Daily News. I was sad that I read about it after it was already done, I would have loved to go see it. I guess I'll have to periodically check in on the Timber Guild web page to see if any more barns / houses are being raised in my area.
OP
rancar
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Hi Rob....
Thanks for the kind words. The post and beam barn is truly worth the money if you decide to build. I've always thought this type of construction is superior to regular stick builts or pole barns that are commonly built today. One way to economize, especially if the barn isn't all that big and you're handy with the hammer is to have a professional barn builder install the foundation and erect the post and beam framework. Then, you do the rest....roofing, siding, windows, and the rest. I've always thought this latter was the fun part of building anyway.
The farm in years gone by was not a very big operation. The main barn's old milking parlor could only accommodate approximately 30 milkers and a half dozen heifers/calfs. There was also an old hog barn on the property until the middle 1980s. This fell down one day as the roof was shot and rainwater rotted out some of the support posts. I was sorry to see this go as this was a real nice barn. I did salvage the old hog scalding pot. This is in nice condition, no cracks. Will be painting it up and bringing it out for flower planting one day. Sorry, I have no photos earlier than the 1950s. And these look not much better than the 'before' shots that I've posted. This barn was in real sorry shape as I don't think anyone maintained it for a good 75 years or so.
For what's it's worth, if I was building from scratch and looking to erect a barn, I would spend the extra amount and build post and beam. The barn could be combined with an attached workshop, small apartment, etc. It has character, it's stronger and more durable, and it's more versatile than stick builts.
Bob
Thanks for the kind words. The post and beam barn is truly worth the money if you decide to build. I've always thought this type of construction is superior to regular stick builts or pole barns that are commonly built today. One way to economize, especially if the barn isn't all that big and you're handy with the hammer is to have a professional barn builder install the foundation and erect the post and beam framework. Then, you do the rest....roofing, siding, windows, and the rest. I've always thought this latter was the fun part of building anyway.
The farm in years gone by was not a very big operation. The main barn's old milking parlor could only accommodate approximately 30 milkers and a half dozen heifers/calfs. There was also an old hog barn on the property until the middle 1980s. This fell down one day as the roof was shot and rainwater rotted out some of the support posts. I was sorry to see this go as this was a real nice barn. I did salvage the old hog scalding pot. This is in nice condition, no cracks. Will be painting it up and bringing it out for flower planting one day. Sorry, I have no photos earlier than the 1950s. And these look not much better than the 'before' shots that I've posted. This barn was in real sorry shape as I don't think anyone maintained it for a good 75 years or so.
For what's it's worth, if I was building from scratch and looking to erect a barn, I would spend the extra amount and build post and beam. The barn could be combined with an attached workshop, small apartment, etc. It has character, it's stronger and more durable, and it's more versatile than stick builts.
Bob