Need opinions fixing up old pole barn

[NavyRedneck]

Behind my house is a 26x50 pole barn with 200 amp 240v, double sliding bay doors (can fit my F-350 in either side), with a poured slab and the poles are old telephone poles. It is at least 30 years old and not maintained for the last 15 years (before I recently bought it). I have recently re-wired it and applied roof coating to the steel roof but it has multiple leaks. Termites have destroyed the center rear of the building which, unlike the 85% of the rest of the building, is on a crawlspace. I have treated it twice to kill the termites (Termidor) but the damage is bad enough I need to redo it. Would like to cut out the crawlspace and pour a slab and then rebuild the structure to support the existing roof and then repair the roof to prevent future leaks.

I spend 12 hours a week or more in this building with even more time during winter, particularly when I have time off from work. I'm always working on cars, a tractor, or building cabinets for my house. Don't have a ton of money to spend but I feel like I have to make a decision to cut out the termite damage and replace the structure. Also need to fix the roof before the leaks bring in additional termites/carpenter ants.

If I provide some pictures can you give me opinions on how best to support the roof while cutting out the crawlspace? Also not sure how to tie in new slab and/or walls to the existing garage. Really want to preserve as much of the existing building as the old farmer that built it put a lot of time into building and enjoying it. I think by acting now I can keep it going.

Thank you for your help.

 

[matt_i]

Pics sound great. Not visualizing the crawl space very well.

Termites are probably always going to be a problem...have to keep re treating and inspecting carefully every year. One possibility would be to cut posts higher and pour concrete piers so no wood touches the soil.

 

[NavyRedneck]

Attached is the picture. The crawlspace was probably built first and then the afterthought of building a pole barn around it and then the slab was poured. Weird way to do it but the crawlspace has a lot of termite damage in it now...

 

[nadogail]

In my town there are only two kinds of houses; those that have termites and those that are going to get them.

I have repaired fascia boards with Pressure Treated Lumber that I coated with copper napthate. then primed and painted.

Termites are here to stay, we just try to spoil their food.

 

[csp]

So the crawlspace looks more like it was a shed that the pole barn was built around.

A crawlspace is usually under the main living area of a home in lieu of a basement. That doesn't look to be underground.

The picture doesn't really help to see how it is supporting the structure.