What to do with an old barn?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What to do with an old barn? (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 10/13/2018 8:26:40 PM EDT

I’m pretty convinced on tearing an old barn down on my property. It’s 90 years old, and it’s a few hundred feet of where our house is being built. It was an old dairy barn, so a lot of it has uneven cement troughs and pipes in the floor. My biggest gripe about it is that it take away from the view of the property that we have. The owner just before me had resided it with a minimum siding. Truthfully, if it were anywhere else on the property, I’d probably leave it standing. However, it’s location is pretty much a deal breaker after a thorough discussion with my wife.

Knock it down? Try to remove or scrap the aluminum siding? Burn it? Have the material hauled away after knocking it down?

Posted: 10/13/2018 8:35:19 PM EDT

[#1]

Here's a serving suggestion.

164lbs of Tannerite Kills a Barn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edRbcTXAijY

Posted: 10/13/2018 8:36:01 PM EDT

[#2]

Posted: 10/13/2018 8:39:04 PM EDT

[#3]

How about a few pics for assessment?

Posted: 10/13/2018 8:51:48 PM EDT

[#4]

People spend good money for seasoned barnwood. Second see if the local firedept wants a training exercise.

Posted: 10/13/2018 8:54:28 PM EDT

[#5]

In some areas old barn wood can be fairly valuable. There is a tv show where they remove/salvage/move old barn buildings. I sold the wood from a barn on our farm in Georgia back in the 1980s. It had been built from trees cut and lumbered on the farm. It was about 120 by 60, two stories high. We got $3500 for it back then. It was all still in pretty good shape, just well weathered. There was a demand for barnwood for picture framing shops and such. Do some web searches and see what you can come up with. Even better for me, they did the disassembly as well.

Posted: 10/13/2018 9:12:28 PM EDT

[#6]

Second selling it as pottery Barn wood.

Sometimes the companies want it delivered in planks, and they will pay for that.

Sometimes companies will take it for free, but they do all the work.

Sometimes a combo of both.

Either case, the cement would be all you have to dispose of.

Posted: 10/13/2018 9:17:36 PM EDT

[#7]

Like mentioned ppl pay money to tear them down

Posted: 10/13/2018 9:23:47 PM EDT

[#8]

As mentioned, large-dimensioned pieces or "wood with character" is a thing.

https://www.google.com/search?q=reclaimed+timber+pennsylvania

Posted: 10/13/2018 9:28:54 PM EDT

[#9]

Call Barnwood Builders

Posted: 10/14/2018 8:18:40 AM EDT

[#10]

You should save the barn. They aren't building them anymore. Get a new wife. There's lots of women out there.

Posted: 10/14/2018 1:11:34 PM EDT

[#11]

Pics?

Definitely don't burn it. There's probably money to be had there if you don't want to save it.

My brother and his wife are saving an old barn on their place right now. If maintained they can look nice.

Posted: 10/14/2018 1:12:24 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Call Barnwood Builders

View Quote

Great show.

Posted: 10/14/2018 5:35:38 PM EDT

[#13]

Selling the barnwood is a fantastic idea that I never thought of for some reason. Here are a few pictures:

Attached File

Posted: 10/14/2018 5:46:16 PM EDT

[#14]

Your tearing THAT down ?

Your property, your rules but i thnk your nuts to get rid of that. Around here that would add crazy value to property

Barnwood builders would be all over that job.

Posted: 10/14/2018 5:56:55 PM EDT

[#15]

HeritageBarns.com

Kevin Durkin buys old barns from around the country. He ships them to Texas to be restored before they are shipped all over the world to become people's homes. 877-354-2276 [email protected]

Posted: 10/14/2018 5:56:59 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Selling the barnwood is a fantastic idea that I never thought of for some reason. Here are a few pictures:
Snip

View Quote

Not at all what I pictured, I’d have a hard time tearing that down. I was picturing something more along the lines of this:

Attached File

Posted: 10/14/2018 5:59:47 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:

Not at all what I pictured, I’d have a hard time tearing that down. I was picturing something more along the lines of this:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/359475/A727A1E9-D434-4D03-BD66-0E200808847B_jpeg-705282.JPG

View Quote

Yea. Me too, around here they end up with jus roof sticking up, after they collapsed

Posted: 10/14/2018 6:05:33 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
HeritageBarns.com

Kevin Durkin buys old barns from around the country. He ships them to Texas to be restored before they are shipped all over the world to become people's homes. 877-354-2276 [email protected]

View Quote

Thanks! I’ll give him a call.

Posted: 10/14/2018 6:07:52 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yea. Me too, around here they end up with jus roof sticking up, after they collapsed

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

Not at all what I pictured, I’d have a hard time tearing that down. I was picturing something more along the lines of this:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/359475/A727A1E9-D434-4D03-BD66-0E200808847B_jpeg-705282.JPG

Yea. Me too, around here they end up with jus roof sticking up, after they collapsed

I know, I get it. I’ve thought about it over the past year. We’re building a home and the view would be just overtaken by the side of the barn instead of open pasture. That’s just something I can’t get over. My wife and family agree. It’s not a done deal. We’ll wait until the house is completed, but I can’t see anything changing.

Posted: 10/14/2018 6:09:34 PM EDT

[#20]

Meh, make the barn your home. Check. Google , ppl have done crazy stuff with barns.

Also consider future of your property and your plans, to duplicate that barn would be 50k up to and past 100k, your not talking a lil shed here.

Posted: 10/14/2018 6:57:12 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Your tearing THAT down ?

Your property, your rules but i thnk your nuts to get rid of that. Around here that would add crazy value to property

Barnwood builders would be all over that job.

View Quote

wow I would love to have that on my property. that is in good shape. I was thinking it was going to be a POS.

wow that would cost $60-80k to replace

Posted: 10/14/2018 6:59:54 PM EDT

[#22]

That's a shame. That barn looks to be in great shape. The outside doesn't look very rustic because of that siding but the inside looks great.

Posted: 10/14/2018 7:04:27 PM EDT

[#23]

Move the house.

Posted: 10/15/2018 2:44:29 PM EDT

[#24]

Dude if we didn't live so far apart I'd come tear it down for you. Id take all that wood and love it

Posted: 10/15/2018 2:48:55 PM EDT

[#25]

No way I would take down a standing barn. The steel siding is ugly, though.

I cringe every time I see a barn finally fall. Seems like our old farm yards in the upper midwest are turning into mobile homes and cheap pre fab houses no one cares about.

Think of the work it took to build that thing.

Posted: 10/15/2018 2:51:41 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
Dude if we didn't live so far apart I'd come tear it down for you. Id take all that wood and love it

View Quote

Swing by here and we can caravan up, id be in for a trailer load of that wood

Posted: 10/15/2018 2:53:34 PM EDT

[#27]

People frequently stop to ask if they can disassemble an old chicken coop and barn on my farm in NE Pa and "dispose" of them for me.

People will buy the wood. Your wood looks in decent shape, if it isn't full of powder post beetles you could get a good chunk of $ for that wood.

Posted: 10/15/2018 3:09:34 PM EDT

[#28]

Get a bunny

Posted: 10/15/2018 6:34:53 PM EDT

[#29]

OMGOSH that's a GREAT barn!

Why don't you like it? You just don't like barns? (sorry if I missed that part.)

Please don't burn it. I would kill to get that wood. I'm not the only one.

Also, there are barn savers who will come and take the barn down piece by piece, and reassemble it for somebody like me, who wants a cool old barn.

ETA: Without the siding, that barn in front of a pasture would BE the view. Like postcard.

I get that the siding is saving the barn, but the barn without it would be gorgeous. Okay after reading more, I'd move my house over so the barn (when it's fixed up and that siding is gone) would be part of the view.

I'll shut up now.

Kitties (who thinks the world could be saved by adding more barns)

Posted: 10/15/2018 6:38:49 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:

Not at all what I pictured, I’d have a hard time tearing that down. I was picturing something more along the lines of this:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/359475/A727A1E9-D434-4D03-BD66-0E200808847B_jpeg-705282.JPG

View Quote

Hey, I could save that one.

Posted: 10/15/2018 10:35:10 PM EDT

[#31]

Yeah OP I wouldn't tear it down but it's your property and I totally understand if your not using it and it's in the way.

I'd call a barn wood reseller for sure. Looks to be some real nice wood in there.

Food for thought- it may decently reduce the value of your property by tearing it down.

Posted: 10/16/2018 11:08:39 AM EDT

[#32]

Agree, too nice to delete.

The diagonal beams are really cool.

Posted: 10/16/2018 11:34:07 AM EDT

[#33]

damn - like my dream to have a barn that nice. I could be having a nice floor put in it

whats the view its blocking if you dont mind?

Posted: 10/16/2018 4:21:29 PM EDT

[#34]

A barn blocking a view is like telling the hot topless girl at the beach to get out of the way because you can't see the seagulls.

Posted: 10/16/2018 4:49:33 PM EDT

[#35]

Are there some tax advantages to leaving it up?
The reason I ask is; there are old barns still standing everywhere, and I've often wondered why people either don't fix them,
or tear them down.

Posted: 10/16/2018 4:51:39 PM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:
Are there some tax advantages to leaving it up?
The reason I ask is; there are old barns still standing everywhere, and I've often wondered why people either don't fix them,
or tear them down.

View Quote

Be the opposite around here, buildings/barn will raise property assessment and raise taxes. If you remove it, tell county assessors so they can take that building off the books

Posted: 10/16/2018 5:05:16 PM EDT

[#37]

I'd paint it, landscape it and repour the floor.

Have a wonderful barn and shop.

Posted: 10/17/2018 12:41:47 PM EDT

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:
Move the house.

View Quote

I vote against tearing down the barn in that condition.

You will probally regret it in the future.

Posted: 10/17/2018 12:50:18 PM EDT

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:

I know, I get it. I've thought about it over the past year. We're building a home and the view would be just overtaken by the side of the barn instead of open pasture. That's just something I can't get over. My wife and family agree. It's not a done deal. We'll wait until the house is completed, but I can't see anything changing.

View Quote

Paint one side with a nice mural of a pasture!

Maybe think about it more? Wait till the house is built, use it to store materials and keep them safe from meth heads and weather. Have people pay you to store trailers and boats and such in it a while while you decide.

You can tear it down AFTER the house is built, or any time thereafter.

I'd wait. You may find a use for it. If there's one thing I have learned about women, many of them don't get "this is it, no going back after this, you do this and it's forever".

Your stuff, your choice of course. It just seems like a waste.

Posted: 10/17/2018 12:51:49 PM EDT

[#40]

Shoot it with a Mini 14. I’ve read that it’s challenging.

Posted: 10/17/2018 1:03:35 PM EDT

[#41]

I just spent 20K building something like that.

Posted: 10/17/2018 1:10:43 PM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:
Selling the barnwood is a fantastic idea that I never thought of for some reason. Here are a few pictures:

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/218412/1B30317A-17D3-4A02-928D-095FB8AE2F6F_jpeg-705260.JPG
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/218412/E792CE2A-B2AC-4F3E-8E9F-2E39B5B7A719_jpeg-705262.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/218412/4BA42966-152E-4356-B8A2-062673CAAE30_jpeg-705263.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/218412/60CAB411-6EA0-4892-AEFB-A4703076BBB2_jpeg-705264.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/218412/7A3EC961-CB6B-43DE-BE92-EAE978021421_jpeg-705265.JPG

View Quote

That's the barn!!?? WHAT THE FUCK? Forget building a house, I would build a couple rooms in the barn and call it good.

Posted: 10/17/2018 2:23:57 PM EDT

[#43]

Turn that barn into a wedding venue.

You can make bank! Seriously, my moms friend did just that, and makes enough cash in the spring and fall to live on all year.

At 2500 dollars a pop, it adds up very fast!

Posted: 10/17/2018 2:33:09 PM EDT

[#44]

A concrete floor and restroom.

That barn is awesome. Store the car collection or use it for parties.

You have rural acreage where is the tractor going to be stored? In the BARN!

Posted: 10/17/2018 2:46:19 PM EDT

[#45]

I'm with the others, it would be a shame to tear that down, view or not. That is your secondary man cave, you can store stuff in there, maybe run power to it if it doesn't already have any. Maybe wall off part of it with insulation for an "office".

Posted: 10/17/2018 11:06:45 PM EDT

[#46]

Sounds like OP should've stayed in the city or suburbs.
Shame to tear down that barn. Not like its falling in.
Too much of the countryside is being ruined by people wanting to turn nice old farms into crowded housing developments or building the biggest house in the neighborhood, that they don't even use to its capacity.

Posted: 10/18/2018 8:00:59 AM EDT

[#47]

Quote History

Quoted:
Sounds like OP should've stayed in the city or suburbs.
Shame to tear down that barn. Not like its falling in.
Too much of the countryside is being ruined by people wanting to turn nice old farms into crowded housing developments or building the biggest house in the neighborhood, that they don't even use to its capacity.

View Quote

Starting to get that way around here. They move here and then complain about all the things this area doesnt have or about the wild animals roaming in yard, the weather, etc

Posted: 10/18/2018 6:40:23 PM EDT

[#48]

That is a great barn.

I can think of about million ways to use and enjoy it. Would make for an awesome shop with all sorts of options, with room to spare for other uses. Could also be converted into a venue or even a sweet bunkhouse. I'd paint it a different color, but I can't think of a single good reason to get rid of it.

If possible, at least force yourself to hold off on destroying it for a few years and see what ideas pop up. If someone in my family didn't like the view, I'd suggest they look in a different direction.

If there's only one direction to stare, add a covered patio with some nice lights and indulgently comfortable chairs and ottomans on the other side of the barn. Store a couple bottles of Balevenie Portwood and a humidor over there, and take in the unobstructed view from the barn while you think about your awesome barn and spread. Or meditate on your sins whilst staring from the house upon the void that was once a great treasure.

Posted: 10/18/2018 9:46:08 PM EDT

[#49]

Quote History

Quoted:
Turn that barn into a wedding venue.

You can make bank! Seriously, my moms friend did just that, and makes enough cash in the spring and fall to live on all year.

At 2500 dollars a pop, it adds up very fast!

View Quote

I originally typed this into my comment, but figured OP wasn't into that sort of thing.

It's a wonderful idea and that's a great barn for it.

Posted: 10/19/2018 12:15:36 AM EDT

[#50]

Quote History

Quoted:
Turn that barn into a wedding venue.

You can make bank! Seriously, my moms friend did just that, and makes enough cash in the spring and fall to live on all year.

At 2500 dollars a pop, it adds up very fast!

View Quote

Someone here actually built a barn purposely for venues like that this past spring. It's on top of a short hill, and the driveway is steep, but seems to work. Not sure how much parking they have though.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What to do with an old barn? (Page 1 of 2)

Outdoors » Homestead, Farm & Garden

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us