Build a new shop or convert barn?

[back2class]

Money is tight but I need a new shop at the new house. I have this 21x32 foot barn. Since it is sheathed with boards and the base sills sit on rocks and need replaceing, I wonder if I would be better off just building a new building and keeping the barn the nice barn it is. Cool thing is the second floor would make a great cabinet shop but not sure if sealing it all up and all the convert work is worth it. Anyone have thoughts or has done something like this? It is in the southeast so being insuated is not a real issue nor is being pretty but it will have to be alot more "civilized" if it were to become a shop.

 

[Topcat]

convert to a barn!

heritage!!!

 

[His200HerScout]

Not that your situation is similar, but I tore my barn down because it was falling over and poorly constructed anyway. If yours appears solid and the wood is in decent shape, use it!!! From the picture, your barn looks nice... What's it like up close?

 

[back2class]

Not that your situation is similar, but I tore my barn down because it was falling over and poorly constructed anyway. If yours appears solid and the wood is in decent shape, use it!!! From the picture, your barn looks nice... What's it like up close?

Its pretty solid for an old barn but would need a few days repair work to have its structur sound and ready to convert to finished space.

 

[chaingang]

Go with the barn if possible. As someone else said, heritage. Old barns are so cool. They just look like they belong there. Can't wait until my roughsawn pine gets to that old weathered stage.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

If I read it correctly, the barn needs some foundation work? If so, and you said you want a shop, are you planning a lift? Since you have a barn, I am assuming some acreage and the need to store equipment (tractor/brush hog, etc). I would keep the barn as such, since you will still be working on/storing equipment in it, and build a shop, when you can afford it.

 

[Kevin54]

Aside from the "cool" factor, ter it down or build a new shop. If you want to have a cabinet shop on the second floor, cars and such on the first, to get it into the shape you need woud constitute more work and money than just starting from fresh. Not saying that nothing in the existing structure isn't any good, as you could resurect beams and such for the new place. But by the time you try and seal everything up, waterproof, fix foundation, etc.....well you get the idea!!!!

 

[back2class]

Thanks
yeah, there is plenty of land so no need to tear down. I am leaning twards just building another structure and leave the old barn for animals and tractors.