Tearing down an old barn

[3_lb_trigger]

Much to my dismay, a tree split, falling on, and caving in the roof on my old barn which added so much charm and character to my property. Now it's a delapitated eyesore! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif The roof is touching the ground in the center, while the sides are still attached to the tops of the walls which are now leaning inward. My question is, Is there any certain technique I should use to finish it off? I was thinking of just pushing the walls in at the top with the FEL. Anyone have experience / horror stories about this?



Oops! posted this in attachments, will move to projects. Sorry.

 

[bczoom]

Sorry to hear about your barn.

If you do decide to disassemble, exercise extreme caution! The barn's structural integrity has been comprimised and you don't really know what's going to happen.
My Dad's best friend tried to disassemble a barn that was in good shape. He died in the process when a portion collapsed on him.

Try your fire department. They may be willing to burn it for you (if you don't want to salvage the wood).

Brian

 

[MarlandS]

Is there any danger of the walls "kicking" back when pushing with the FEL? If so, I'd try a longish log chain and pull the bottoms out. Sure, your pile wouldn't be as compact but it might lend itself to salvaging some of the wood in a more safe manner or a lower fire should you just burn it.

 

[RonR]

I have an Uncle who had a barn that the roof was good, but the sides were rotting out. (Roof had been rebuilt earlier).

He went inside and put some telephone poles lengthwise at the base of the studs on each side. Attached to the poles, he hooked LONG log chains and cable to get far away from the barn. Then he chainsawed from the outside most of the studs on both sides of the barn.

Attaching four big tractors to the log chains (one at each corner of the barn), he pulled the side walls out which alowed the roof to settle to ground level. I think he also rigged cross wires at the base of the roof in many places to keep it structurally together as it came down.

Then he salvaged the wood sides, raised the roof enough to put telephone poles under it as kind of foundation, and used it to store hay in for many years. It looked weird, but was functional.

That was in the 80's. It, as well as the whole farmsted, is gone now.

Ron

 

[Cowboyjg]

Awefully sorry you are so far away. I'd be happy to take it down for the lumber. You might try that as an alternative to trying to take it down yourself. An ad in the paper or a referral from someone you know might be the way to go. I'm sorry for the loss of your barn. I understand the character aspect and the effect of the loss. if you do take it down, pulling the bottoms, if that's an option(posts buried), is what you should do. If not, make sure anything High is down and then take what you can and save it. You'll be glad you did. Obviously some pics wold help.


Best of luck


John

 

[3_lb_trigger]

I tried to post a picture of the barn but the site won't let me. Even when I try to resize, it won't take it. The lowest setting on my digital camera is 1 megapixel, so I guess I can't make the file small enough. I had the same problem when I tried to use a picture of my AR15 with a copy of the U.S. constitution in the background for my member picture, so I just got the picture of the confederate flag off the internet instead.

 

[3_lb_trigger]

I tried to post a picture of the barn but the site won't let me. Even when I try to resize, it won't take it. The lowest setting on my digital camera is 1 megapixel, so I guess I can't make the file small enough.

 

[Cowboyjg]

I use Photobucket for my pictures. I upload there and then provide links to my pictures. Eliminates having to use the site. Try that.

 

[DocHeb]

You can also post larger pics in the Photos Section, and then link to the pictures there.

 

[3_lb_trigger]

Here's a picture of the barn.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/2199/size/big/sort/1/cat/500
Hopfully , the link works.