Support From Ages Past

One of the more interesting aspects of this project was the attempt to preserve not only the wood, but the actual structural integrity of this barn. In so doing there was a lot to consider.

The original building, as mentioned below, used original lumber grown and timbered on the farm and cut to "actual" measurements. Thus a 2x4 was a 2x4 and not a 1 7/8ths x 3 7/8ths. (And we wonder why folks have trouble with numbers?)

Anyway, as you start mixing "nominal" and "actual" wood you end up needing to adjust for sheetrock, windows, and anything on the exterior. We also shored up the existing 20 ft., 2x10 spans with new 2x10s which was fun to attach the flooring to.

Of interest in this blog was the decision to expose many of the supports in the upper sections of the barn. Those 2x10s pictured here were originally supposed to be sheetrocked. But when looking at that proposal, the interior space started looking rather more like a peak in a pyramid than a barn and would have added two more odd angels to the sheetrock.

As such, we decided to expose those original supports in the office and above the main living area. These beams were not altered or cut. Some still have bark and many are slightly warped with age, but they are the actual support structures put in place in the 40s. And yes, that pine is hard as nails.

We did have to spend a great deal of time wrapping the wood to protect it during the sheet rock and painting process. Once unwrapped, the wood had to be hand brushed to get the dust and debris off. The finished mix of old and new only serves to compliment the wood floors and hay hook previously mentioned.

The pictures just show the progression from the skeletal frame where you can see the supports, to the wrapping and then the finished exposed beams looking up into the office area and down from that area.

General Thoughts On Renovation

If you're inclined to fits of depression and rage, DON'T do a renovation. If you're on the verge of a nervous breakdown, DON'T do a renovation. If you have lots of creativity, don't mind wasting money and have taken general leave of your senses, then a renovation might be good for you!! If you need something to push your buttons and make you think that washing cats is fun, then do a renovation. But it's not for the impatient, the faint of heart or the miserly!

As we tripped into this endeavor, there were many considerations. We had thought we'd build on the backside of our farm, but the logistics of getting power, water, driveways and such back to the site were going to run in the tens of thousands and we thought it would be wasteful. So we converted a barn thinking it'd save money. . .

We went through eight months with an architect getting that portion finished in December of '06, then we spent five months getting quotes on the various aspects of the job, finishing up those bids in June of '07, then a month to get a building permit, July '07, the first nail came out (side stripping) in late, late August of '07.

It's now May and we're hopeful to have a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) today! And we're still a LONG way from all the little things that make a house livable.

But the time period between August and December is what I'll still be focusing on as this blog progresses because I truly want to reflect on the bizarre nature of this project as I consider my next one (don't ask!) So I've included some picts of this project and a teaser for what it looks like now. Thanks for your patience!