My old barn.

[minsc]

I've been living on this property for eight years now. The barn has no sentimental value to me so during this time I haven't done anything to it in the area of upkeep. Now that I'm thirty five I find my priorities are changing and my mind is putting more focus on the barn. The condition of the barn is obviously not getting any better. In terms of ease, knocking it down and putting up a pole barn would be easiest. For me, the idea of fixing an old barn has its appeal. There are more pictures and details to come.

[Dave]

Looking forward to the more pictures and details. We vote for saving it. We also tho , understand that it involves a lot more than what you see at first glance.
Thanks so much for the post.

[minsc]

I'm not exactly sure how old the barn is, if I had to guess it would be the early 1900's.



As far as I know there have not been any animals in the barn since the 80's/90's.  My brother does remember seeing beef cattle in the pasture when he visited his friend at the neighbours as a child.  There may have been horses too.  The husband of the widow I bought the property from did run a tack shop here, though not in this barn.  The center section of the barn is converted into a workshop where their son did some mechanic work in his spare time. 




To save on concrete they threw in sandstone rocks as the foundation was poured.



The foundation tipping in.



The back corner has seen better days.



The old knee (or heel?) brace.



An inside view of the corner shown in the picture from the first post.



It is great someone had the foresight to tie the barn together with a cable.  Some of the rafters shored up is great too.



Here's the back corner of the barn, it's all rotted away.  This cable being around that ripe beam leaves me concerned.

Currently I'm thinking of doing some temporary bracing at the troublesome spots.  The last thing I need is for it to fall down before I get a chance to fix it up.  Though barns can be stubborn.  This barn has the advantage of a steep roof to keep the snow off and some shelter from the wind by the trees.

[Dave]

We note that you have not listed a general location in your profile.
Would be of interest as to where the barn is. Just list it like we do in ours. Central Arkansas. Not the actual location. So the readers can have an idea as to the type of weather, etc. the barn has been, and will be, subject to.

[IAbarnguy]

Minsc - Thanks for posting your barn pictures and information.  Very interesting.  Not sure where you are located but you might check into organizations that are interested in saving barns, etc.  In Iowa, the Iowa Barn Foundation has been giving matching grants to owners for qualifying barn (and other outbuildings) restorations for many years now.  Also, in Indiana, the relatively newly formed Indiana Barn Foundation provides grants to rehab barns.   

[minsc]

I'm located in Canada's smallest province (PEI), north east of Maine. Plenty of snow and wind in the winter.

[Dave]

Have been to Nova Scotia but didn't make it to PEI.
Lin grew up on the coast of lower Maine.
The Northern coast and your area is absolutely beautiful , but as you say, winters can be a challenge .
However a testament to the structure of the barn, to have endured and be in the shape that it is.
Are there still local saw mills or lumber suppliers available to obtain the materials you will need to bring it back to the condition you desire?
If not, than will the cost of building supplies be an issue ?
Always have to consider return on investment. Unless, you , like us and plenty of others, just want to do it because you love doing it, and it is the right thing to do.
The pictures are great and show that you have a lot to do, but also show that you have a lot to work with.
Would you be doing most of it yourself , or hiring it out? Do you have experience in this type of work?
Please keep us updated , and post pictures , ask questions .
We are all , the members , and us, here for you.
Pictures, pictures, pictures.

[minsc]

A big part of me just doesn't want to see an old building go to waste, even if building something new would be more functional. I do come from and still work on a dairy farm. One thing I'm thinking is to fence off a section of pasture and raise the young heifers here. My uncle has a sawmill at the main farm and we have access to a woodlot so lumber isn't a problem, aside from getting pressure treated to replace the sill plates. As a child I helped my uncle raise a pole barn and add additions to existing barns. I've also apprenticed as a plumber so I do have experience in and around construction. What I see as the biggest challenge is taking charge of a project such as this as opposed to letting others do all the figuring out. If there's any masonry or cement work to do I may sub that bit out to the professionals, other than that I should be able to handle the rest (with time and patience).

My main goal right now is to plan. If the barn falls down before I get a chance to save it then that's how things go.

[Dave]

Time and patience, and a plan . Sounds like you have it under control.
Take care of the worst structural problems first, one small section at a time. From what you say , you have friends and family to help if needed.
You should be fine.