Need help to save this old barn!

[rambler]

> I have thought about taking down the 2 outer bays (where the posts (trees) were mostly gone, and rebuilding a single wider (16’) outer bay now, and a second one later. However, if at all possible, I want to save the center section as I admire the craftsmanship & would like to preserve the history.


I would surely agree, get rid of the lean-tos. They are not worth the effort in their condition.

If you have the time & money, the center is cool. Be sure it has the clear-span, height, & so forth to ber useful. Salvaging the good timber & starting with a fresh slab _will_ be cheaper, so be sure you end up with something you can use for what you will put into it.....

Sono tubes of concrete 3+ feet deep, strong anchors, will help you get the rotten posts under control. Takes a lot of work to brace up, cut off the stump, dig out the hole, & put in the tube & 'crete. Does it right tho, gives you a good solid rot-free base & keeps the original posts if they are still solid above ground.

The rest is just basic construction, peel off the rotten, & put on good. A solid roof (after the posts are solid) keeps the rest from going bad....

--->Paul

 

[MikeB44]

Egon & Paul,

Thanks for posting. Presently I plan on taking down the 2 outer bays and then rebuilding them over time (most likely larger this time).

Any ideas on where to go to size the concrete posts or showing details on them? (Like the type of metal connector used that attaches the wood to the concrete.)

Mike

 

[Egon]

Sizing is design thing that should require more than a guess unless done by the owner. For connections do a search on google as they are many and varied.

Check out the diameter of sona tube available locally and think about how deep to solid footing or ground and where the frost line is.

I'm sure you can save almost all the original barn and reconstruct it only haveing to replace boards that are no longer seviceable. It will take a lot of work and do take a lot of pictures for reference.

 

[VistanTN]

Mike,

Looks like half the barns around here in Bedford County! One guy down the road piles his full of round bales to hold it up. Seriously, though I don't have any names or phone numbers, there are some Amish/Menonite barn builders in the area between Shelbyville and Fayetteville. Might be worth some research to see if they have contacts in your neck of these woods.

I definitely concur with the recommendation that you remove the two lean-to's and rebuild them as you see fit. Matching the center section will be a lot of work, but give you a great barn. You do realize that tearing the whole thing down and building new will likely be a lot cheaper ...

I'm game for a TBYnet middle TN get-together.

 

[MikeB44]

Egon,

Thanks for the post. I'll check and see what I can find on ties on the web (probably start with the Simson Tie site). Will definitely take pictures while doing the work.

George (VistanTN),

I'll see what I can find out about barn builders in your area. We do not have any Amish/Mennonites around our area (about 2 hours north in KY I do have a contact).

I was thinking the outer bays might be holding up the center section, but I now think it's the other way around. Right now I plan on taking out the sides and saving the center.

If the center section is not too far gone, I may be able to fix it myself and it may be cheaper in that regard (I hope). I will need to take a much closer inventory of it.

I also need to see about getting a house up for my parents. And it looks like that will push back the barn project now.

Glad to hear about your being interested in a meet. I posted back to the meeting forum and am ready to drive (just dependant on date).

Mike