Story by BarnGeek in Michigan
The owner of the place where this old barn used to live invited me out to see if we could resurrect her. She had disappeared long ago and all that remained was an old stone foundation.
There were trees, vines. and bushes, growing around the old rocks. But the years of neglect hadn’t done as much damage as you would think. The foundation needed repaired and reinforced but it wasn’t to bad.
We took measurements of the old foundation, and looked at some old black and white photos of the barn. On my way home I observed other barns in the area, and noted some of their characteristics to incorporate in my design.
When I got home I opened my computer and started the design process. After a couple months of back and forth, we came up with this final design. I sent the materials list off to the mill and we started manufacturing a Post and Beam Barn kit.
This was my first complete barn restoration project and I had high hopes for it’s success. After all this is what I was in this business for. I want to see these old barns rise again. In the place of old ones like this one if possible, but also completely new barns, inspired by the many old ones.
Once the lumber was milled and the timbers were cut to size, the kit went to it’s final home. The builders got busy erecting the big timber frame structure and she began to take shape. After a surprisingly short period of time, she was up, had her board and batten siding on, and her new steel roof…. She was finally finished, you might say she was barn again!
Recent Comments