We are a lucky family that has a barn built many years ago using mortise and tenon technology of the day. It has served as a diary barn for many years. After that, a hay barn to feed those hungry gals. Since the early 1990's, it has sat and gotten older. We are trying to keep up with her but there are some serious structural things happening now.
My question revolves around what should we do. How do determine the effort and money to bring her back to a building of character and usefulness? After watching the barnwood builders show on TV, I have thought we should consider taking it apart and building a smaller and more user friendly space. But I think this barn is more of heirloom and deserves a future.
Do you have any advice?
Not yet. I am going to contact one of the contractors on the website in our area. This old girl needs a professional to help get her right. But I really like the way the late day sun comes into it; reminds me of a grand church...
Beautiful! Did you figure anything out?
Yes we got a quote and our situation is a bit different because we want to move it from our fathers property to our own. There is a gal in southern Indiana who completed the same process. For obvious reasons we can just get a loan to do it but we are looking for grants, investors etc. if you keep the barn on the original location and it is considered a heritage barn you may be able to get more help having it distinguished as a historic landmark.
Hey Blanca, thanks for your reply. Can you talk about your project going on now? Did you get quotes? Did you have fairly solid ideas going in? Thx
There are opportunities there but it's a process. We are working with a company called Indiana Barn Builders to try and save our heritage barn as well. Barnwood builders makes it look so easy!
We have one of these also. Still in good condition but needs lots of work to keep it going into the next century. The only way to get government or federal assistance is to turn it into a commercial property. Creativity is needed to here.... it doesn’t have to be a profit generating facility right off the bat...