When is it time to tear down?

[teejk]

Got it...your further explanations help a lot. The advice to use wedges (shims) makes sense to me. I'd say to try it but move carefully and slowly. You want to fix the problem in a vertical line. Very much like hanging a door, 2 people are better than one (one inside, one outside...you tap, your partner taps, on and on). Once your wedges are in place, then figure out what kind of material you can use to provide permanent support for the suspect logs. In log homes they call it chinking. A google will return a ton of results.

 

[KretZ]

You should post some pictures of the whole barn. As in pictures of the outside of the barn. I think everyone would be interested to see it. I love old barns.

 

[EddieWalker]

If you where to build a brand new barn in it's place, how big would you go and what would it cost to have it done? Figuring out the dollar amount that will get you to this point is what you need to know before you decide anything.

Many old buildings are pure money pits. If it's something you are emotionally attached to, then the money wont matter, but if it's a dollar and time thing, then your step is to do a detailed inspection of everything that is wrong with it and what it will cost to fix it. If you are doing the work yourself, be sure to factor in how many hours each repair will take. If you are going to spend 100 hours total to fix it, that's one thing, but if it comes out to thousands of hours, that has to be a big part of your decision on what to do with the building.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[teejk]

We all have money pits (funny movie btw, especially that plaster scene). From what I can glean, it doesn't seem to involve much money or time to try to fix it (shims on a few logs maybe $20???). If it doesn't work, then go to plan B.

 

[mfreund]

When it has outlived its usefulness. That may be by cost, usage or character.

 

[teejk]

When it has outlived its usefulness. That may be by cost, usage or character.

Some people shoot dogs when they no longer act like puppies!!! If the roof is good and most of the structure is good (based on the replies it seems to be the case), I'd try to save it. Nothing to lose really as long as nobody gets hurt around it. If it does have to come down, I hope he calls a reclaim outfit that will dismantle it and erect it somewhere else (those old mortise/tenon post and beam buildings can command some $$$). If that doesn't work, weathered barn boards and the beams are worth $$$ also.

 

[Sysop]

We are emotionally attached to it which is why I ask. I don't want the emotional attachment clouding the choice to be made. This farm has been in the family since 1763, the barn which was complete in 1850 sets right across the creek from one of the original Shawnee Indian villages. The confederates attempted to burn it during the civil war but it was a rainy day and the logs were mostly still green, so it never burned. After some minor repairs it was still usable.



Don't have any good pictures, just some random ones. First is inside one of the main sections of the barn. Second shows the wagon shed and barn from the rear paddock out by where the outhouse sets. The last of those three was just after the new farm house was completed in 1873.

 

[Sysop]

Here is another taken from the upstairs window of the house.

 

[Sysop]

Some people shoot dogs when they no longer act like puppies!!! If the roof is good and most of the structure is good (based on the replies it seems to be the case), I'd try to save it. Nothing to lose really as long as nobody gets hurt around it. If it does have to come down, I hope he calls a reclaim outfit that will dismantle it and erect it somewhere else (those old mortise/tenon post and beam buildings can command some $$$). If that doesn't work, weathered barn boards and the beams are worth $$$ also.

The value of reclaiming it was partly the basis of my question. I know once things get to a certain point the value of what is reclaimed would decrease and I was looking to try and determine if there was some signs or indicators as to what that point is that the value starts to decrease.

I would prefer to keep it totally original, but it's beyond what some paint on the sides and roof are going to fix. Another reason I was inquiring as to what the proper course of action should be. Much of the siding will need replaced, as will the metal roof which is all original from the repairs following the Civil War. It was well maintained with a fresh coat of paint every other year up until my Great Aunt began to neglect the property. The only thing that's been done at that place in the past 10-15 years is she paid to keep the grass mowed. If left to nature I suspect it would be unable to be repaired within another 5 to 10 years. As it stands it hasn't developed any leaks, but the metal is thin and ready to start leaking. The bottom edges of most of the siding boards have began to rot from lack of paint protection.

I've decided to do the work to it and just today called to have some 168" x 10" cut for the main front wall. A lot of what is on that wall will be able to be reused on other shorter areas once the bad ends are cut off. From my understanding none of this will effect the reclaim value at a future time, but it does protect the value for reclaim and as a useful structure.

 

[KretZ]

We are emotionally attached to it which is why I ask. I don't want the emotional attachment clouding the choice to be made. This farm has been in the family since 1763, the barn which was complete in 1850 sets right across the creek from one of the original Shawnee Indian villages. The confederates attempted to burn it during the civil war but it was a rainy day and the logs were mostly still green, so it never burned. After some minor repairs it was still usable.

Don't have any good pictures, just some random ones. First is inside one of the main sections of the barn. Second shows the wagon shed and barn from the rear paddock out by where the outhouse sets. The last of those three was just after the new farm house was completed in 1873.

Yeah I am with teejk, a barn that has been on your family farm for so long, with all that history. Not to mention it looks to be in pretty good shape. I don't know how old the more recent pictures are. I wouldn't bankrupt myself, but otherwise I would do what I could to save it. That is a special thing! Really cool.