Pole Barn posts rotting

[Larry Caldwell]

In the spring of 1983 we lost a barn to fire. As a replacement we built a WICK BUILDING. At that time we were assured the posts would last a lifetime and in addition, the posts were a full 6" square which according to Wick would add another level of longevity to the building.

Fast forward to present day, (July, 2013) and the rate of decay on the posts allows a pocket knife to be inserted at the ground level a good 2" all the way around each post. Needless to say, so much for the sales pitch. OK, now the $64 question. Have any members had a similar experience with a C1983 WICK BUILDING? And, has anyone run across an after market solution to rotting pole barn posts such as an epxoie consolident that could be injected to the damaged posts?


Our building is 64" square with 16" eves and has served us well as a horse stable, hay storage, and equipment storage. What reallly buggs me is the fact that with in the last several weeks we removed a post building erected about 1975 to make room for a larger storage facality and the C1975 posts were almost perfect comming out of the ground. Infact, good enough to be repurposed as cribbing for some raised garden beds

Thoughts, Ideas and coments appreciated
Budweiser John

The 1975 building used penta treated posts, which was great stuff, but so toxic and carcinogenic it was banned. I wouldn't let those posts anywhere near a raised vegetable bed. The stuff leaches. I built a shop for my dad in 1973 and the posts are still in great condition.

Nothing since then has truly rot-proofed wood. Your posts were probably treated with copper and arsenic, still poisonous but not as toxic as penta. 30 years is really pretty good performance out of it. The traditional fix is to set some stifflegs, saw the post off above ground level, nail on a heavy post base anchor and cast it into a concrete footing.

 

[clemsonfor]

i would just lift the barn up a bit and do just like others have said. Now a huge barn may prove to be troublesome, may be easier to lift a section and cut the post 6"s from the ground and then excavate the hole and pour concrete pillars that the posts then sit on?

 

[deerefan]

Wilson built mine in 2003. Found 2 posts rotting at the base recently. If they do not repair under warranty, I will be adding new posts.

 

[deerefan]

i would just lift the barn up a bit and do just like others have said. Now a huge barn may prove to be troublesome, may be easier to lift a section and cut the post 6"s from the ground and then excavate the hole and pour concrete pillars that the posts then sit on?

That is a good idea. Found this while researching. Seems pretty straight forward.

 

[tommu56]

i would just lift the barn up a bit and do just like others have said. Now a huge barn may prove to be troublesome, may be easier to lift a section and cut the post 6"s from the ground and then excavate the hole and pour concrete pillars that the posts then sit on?

I heard of some one drilling all new post holes off set by 2' in each direction in a barn with no floor poured piers and the barn moved the 2' to the new piers.

Q = ORIGINAL PIERS

O NEW PIERS


Q..... Q..... Q..... Q...... Q
....O...... O..... O..... O...... O

THE WHOLE BARN GETS MOVED ↓→ 2FT IN EACH DIRECTION

 

[Rustyiron]

The Perma Column (or concrete in general) is the way to go these days for new const & repairs. Govt. won't let us use the good chemicals for rot proofing wood.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

This is a difficult DYI project unless you are an experienced contractor with all the right equipment. It is easy to have a problem that could be life threatening. Those type buildings cane fall kike dominos. This might be the right time to bite the bullet and hire the expert. There are those out there who make their living on this type work. I have been and industrial contractor but I would shy off this one.
Ron

 

[MH8675309]

I 've seen different makes of barns with the posts rotting off at ground level. It seems like the best treated lumber is old utility poles. Anything that works very good it seems like they discontinue because its bad for the environment.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

This is a difficult DYI project unless you are an experienced contractor with all the right equipment. It is easy to have a problem that could be life threatening. Those type buildings cane fall kike dominos. This might be the right time to bite the bullet and hire the expert. There are those out there who make their living on this type work. I have been and industrial contractor but I would shy off this one.
Ron

Once you have the skin on a pole barn you couldn't knock it over with a tank. They are incredibly rigid. Nothing is going to fall over if you do one pole at a time.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I used to haul Perma Columns for a company that also had a franchise and plant to produce them. As I recall, the columns would add 25% to the cost of a new building. Something to consider especially for builiding intended for other than ag purposes. If memory serves, engineering studies showed the connection to the wood to not be a weak point. The wooden parts on the new barns sold with them were nailed up 2x rather than sold or gluelams. The columns by the way are produced and cured under controled conditions. They are heavy to work with. (No connection on my part to the company or columns)