Hayloft is Crashing Down! Help!

[brin]

I'm not a lawyer but I have been around the block a few times....In my opinion at this point the Lease rules...whatever is written on a check matters not, it is not a contract and the Landlord can always say he never noticed it...he can say he has no recollection of any hay storage being discussed and so it becomes...he said...she said.....get an atty involved now just for a brief discussion so you are prepared...this is going to cost some money.

 

[GPintheMitten]

A local farmer came over to check it out. He is the one my daughter bought the hay from. He's going to bring a hydraulic barn jack over
and we are going to shore it up.

 

[murphy1244]

A local farmer came over to check it out. He is the one my daughter bought the hay from. He's going to bring a hydraulic barn jack over
and we are going to shore it up.

Good on him, its nice to get the help she needs. Now get the hay outa there.

 

[sdkubota]

I would not get anywhere near below those joists...the connections have failed but by the grace of God the floor hasn't collapsed, yet.

 

[LD1]

That's gold Jerry!...(Seinfeld episode)

It appears the owner had full knowledge about the hay and probably dropped the ball when having the building built to handle those loads. I would guess your daughter is an innocent participant although legal matters don't always end in justice. I would pay close attention to the owner and at the slightest hint of shifting any blame...get an attorney. Hopefully it will never come to that and I would guess he will try and sue the builder etc.

We actually agree on something I dont think I could have sumed it up any better myself.

IMO...Daughter is innocent since owner had knowledge of storing hay. Now wether the courts, owner, and insurance see it that way is a different story. So far, it sounds as if the owner is going to be cooperative. (contacting the insurance and builder, etc). But I agree at the slightest hint of shifting blame...lawyer up. But for the time being, it appears daughter is in the clear and owner is taking matters into his own hands.

Ya, when she told me that, I was more at ease. The current owner was not the owner at the time the barn was built.

It is highly doubtful that morton built that loft. That just dont look like their work IMO. BUT...there is a good chance that a contractor (and not the previous owner) did build the loft. But even so, regardless of WHO built the loft, MOST lofts in pole barns certainly arent built for handling 100psf or more. Typically they are built to more of a housing standard of 50psf as it appears this was designed (not counting faulty technique). In that case, I dont see how a builder could be liable. (unless there was a sign or something posted that said something like "rated for 100psf"). Kinda like if one were to try to hold GM accountable because they tried to haul 5000lbs in their S-10 p/u and wrecked.

 

[Artisan]

This is no doubt a bummer, you do not own it but you (well) caused issues.
I am not there but prob best to unload 100%, clean up, fix up...Done w/ some thought
it may not be to bad. Indeed that construction was not designed for that much
of a load, I almost see fault by both parties.

Put it back the way it was then add beams UNDER those joists. A good framer is
alls you need. Here are a bunch of links to materials close to you;

10 x 10 H Beams

barn beams 40ft

Hand Hewn Barn beams Delivery available!

3 steel I beams

2 Iron Beams 45ft by 18"

I-Beams 3 x 5 x .210 14ft

BARN BEAMS

Trailer 8x16' HD Flatbed

wood beams

I Beam

Be Carefull...

 

[GPintheMitten]

Started shoring up. Here's what we have so far.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I really appreciate all the help guys. I'm starting to feel a little better with the 6x6 under the dropped side. More to do to shore it up properly but we've made some progress. My son is coming out tonight and we will brace it better.

 

[sdkubota]

Looks good...based on the photos the span between beams is not that great. It also appears it would be easy to double up those joists since they are exposed. The other thing is the beams carrying those loads need to be sized correctly with better joist connection methods. Like I said, thank God nobody was hurt.

 

[Localmotion]

Started shoring up. Here's what we have so far.

I'm not going to try and guess who is to blame / not to blame - accidents happen and that is what this is...

Someone should have known that the loft wouldn't take the weight, be it the owner, previous owner, constructor, or possibly your daughter if she had not first clarified that the loft could be used for hay. The fact is that there is a breakdown in communication somewhere, and my guess is that it probably took place a long time ago - probably long before your daughter started renting the barn.

That breakdown in communication has led to this accident now.

If within the next day or two the owner does try to shift the blame (which in my opinion would be very unfair given what you have previously said), then I would simply remove the hay, keep on jacking to get that floor back where it should be and then replace the hangers - like for like. Your daughter will then have repaired the damage and put the loft back to it's original condition at her own cost - but the cost will be minimal.

Store the hay in the stalls or outside until the owner decided whether to upgrade the loft or not - ultimately if the owner doesn't want the cost, then they'll just have to accept that maybe your daughter doesn't want to rent a barn that isn't fit for her purpose....