I’ve been working on taking down this old barn that was in very bad shape . Barn is on some property I recently bought and it’s nothing but a liability. It was way beyond repair . Used the tractor with the grapple and also the forks to do most of the work . Once I starting pulling out the barn beams using a long chain then she really came down . It’s amazing how they built these years ago without all the modern tools that we have today. I had to use the chainsaw to cut ends off a few of the beams and could tell by smell they were mostly oak . Look at how close the growth rings are . There was a couple I wasn’t sure about . Old timer friend of mine said chestnut was a possibility. Idk about that but whatever it is it’s heavy . The beam with the ladder is pretty cool . Don’t think it’s OSHA approved tho . Lol
Lots of work, but should still have some good lumber in it. They built them strong, with the joints and pegs used.
That sucks it had to come down, I'd much rather have them stay, making anything out of any of the wood?
No, I am gonna try and spread the word if anyone wants some wood they can have it . I also have another barn ( grain feed ) that has a hole in the roof. It’s not huge but not sure yet what to do with it.
I just scratched the surface on pulling beams out . I seen on marketplace some people are asking $10-$20 foot . Wow ! I’d be happy to get 1/2 that . Called around today for a 40 yard roll off dumpster. $490 ! I’m sure it will take more than 1 dumpster . Maybe I can get some interest in the barn siding as that would save some money from putting it into the dumpster.
Heck, around here they'll come take your barn down and still pay you! (at least they used to...haven't heard lately if that's still the deal or not) People sell the metal roofing, the wood siding, the beams, the stones used for the foundation, pretty much everything but the mice in the grainary!
Definitely try to let it get repurposed either for sale or free. I just re-did my bathroom a couple years ago and used barn boards, and it turned out awesome. Wish I had more of it at my disposal because I have been offered good $ if I could do some rustic work for other people after they saw my project.
Wow! I love the beam/post ladder idea. I've got a barn needing to come down too. I'm not sure where to start on it. Maybe call the fire dept for a training day? The added on steel siding is whats holding it up, I think. Not sure if anyone would want the wood.
There is no way I would give that away unless it was to responsible friends or family. Not from a monetary standpoint but from the standpoint that I would want to know someone is going to put it to good use. Heck, if you gave it away, someone could burn it as firewood! If someone gets it for free, they have nothing invested. That wood has a lot of value, if you don't realize it, and not to mention the reverence we could summon saluting the skilled labor that went into producing it. If you could use some extra cash, you have found your source. Especially if you are reasonably close to a metro area. Good luck!
I’m finding the interest in the beams is somewhat lacking . Called around to a few repurpose barns places and they are so far behind in getting barns tore down I can’t give it to them . I do have 1 guy who is gonna take 5-6 beams . He showed me a pic what he’s gonna do with them and it’s actually really cool . He’s gonna using it for flooring but not in a traditional way . He’s gonna slice them in pieces ( perpendicular) and lay a floor like you would tiles . Really neat looking but my guess is a lot of work .
Here's what the end grain of American chestnut looks like. It's ring-porous, so there's alternating bands of solid and porous rings. This particular tree was getting a good amount of sunlight before it was felled, so the growth rings are large. This to me looks a lot like ash grain. Regardless, I hope the old beams find a good home where they're greatly appreciated for what they are. A couple weeks ago I drove 60+ miles round-trip to pick up a free piece of barn wood. The woman thought it was chestnut, but after getting it I saw medullary rays on the end grain confirming it was oak. Not a total loss to me though, since I happen to think any old free barn wood is cool I may make a mantle out of this someday, or some other rustic project.
Brings back a lot of memories Wishlist ... and, you're so right... they just don't want to come down, when it's time. The old boys knew what they were doing back then for sure. Thanks for the pics.
