Raising an old pole framed shed/small barn

[FarmerWill]

Have an old- like 1920s shed/barn on my place and over the many years it has settled.
Anyone successfully raised one? Have bottle jacks, duplex jack, bumper jacks and such. Just looking for some advice-
Thanks in advance.

 

[Stuart in MN]

How big is the building, and how high are you raising it? Pictures always help.

 

[FarmerWill]

It's probably 10X14, will get pics tonight when I get home.

 

[captain14]

Here’s one thread on raising a garage. I have seen others that post their journeys here also.

The wet garage raise

I have a few threads posted here and there on specific topics but will document and post pics here of the process and challenges along the way. Next week I will be attempting to raise my 26x26 garage 3ft up then form up and pour a 9 inch wide wall 24 inches high then set garage back down. It...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[jrsavoie]

FBI buildings raises buildings during new construction.

I've seen people raise buildings with A frame jacks and hydraulic jacks like used for raising grain bins.

How high are you wanting to raise it?

If not too high, hydraulic bottle jacks and / or simplex Jack's might work just fine

 

[FarmerWill]

Hey thanks for the quick help. Thought this was like a "wow, I'm on island here... kinda thing.." did some digging at lunch found quite a bit of information.

 

[LOW1]

10 x 14 is not much. What is your game plan for levelling/fixing the cause of the settling?

 

[FarmerWill]

My idea currently is to dig down around the corners and anything else vertical, screw a 2X6 across the posts- they look like old cedar fence posts, center up jacks on either side of the shed and slowly start raising it.
I think I can get about 16" of lift out of my duplex jacks, lot more out of the two big bumper jacks I have... maybe use them together.
Like to get about 12" in height.
Support the building and back fill with quick crete.

 

[claymont]

My idea currently is to dig down around the corners and anything else vertical, screw a 2X6 across the posts- they look like old cedar fence posts, center up jacks on either side of the shed and slowly start raising it.
I think I can get about 16" of lift out of my duplex jacks, lot more out of the two big bumper jacks I have... maybe use them together.
Like to get about 12" in height.
Support the building and back fill with quick crete.

What are you going to do if the bottom of the posts are rotted?

 

[FarmerWill]

Rot. Its a real possible thing. Have I thought about it? Yes. Are there carpenter ants? Oh yeah. Are there possible issues? Loads. Plans... cross that when we get there.

 

[FarmerWill]

Some pics inside the little barn/shed

 

[NUTTSGT]

There's not much to that shed. I don't know how well that will take to being lifted up ?


How tall are the side walls ?

 

[mike93lx]

I'm not much for nostalgia on old storage buildings. I'd disassemble and build a new one, reusing what is salvageable.

I have a buddy doing a rest now. After year 3, he finally agreed that it should have been torn down. At year 5, we finally have it good enough to trust it and use it a little

 

[Garcky]

Some pics inside the little barn/shed

Yeah, OK, then. I think I'd demolish that one, saving what I could, and start over again. That would go faster, for sure, and you could make a nice little building that you'd enjoy using. But, that's just me. Still, I don't really think you can raise that building. It's pretty flimsy looking to me.

 

[FarmerWill]

I understand the appearance, the other factor is family significance. It's one of the last things surviving built by grandparents/great grandparents- hence the desire to save it.

 

[Wolley]

That's a tough one. Isnt it against farmer rules to maintain or repair a building? Around here it's don't do anything until it falls in then knock it into a pile with a tractor and burn it.

 

[mike93lx]

I understand the appearance, the other factor is family significance. It's one of the last things surviving built by grandparents/great grandparents- hence the desire to save it.

I think retaining what you can preserves the spirit of it.

I bet your great grandparents would say to tear that old thing down

 

[SweetD]

Reframe, and keep what useable tin is there. Augment with new tin/wood designed in. Could come out really nice, new, and safe with its history still represented.

 

[Garcky]

I understand the appearance, the other factor is family significance. It's one of the last things surviving built by grandparents/great grandparents- hence the desire to save it.

Yes. One possibility is to save as much of that corrugated metal as you can. Then, demolish the rest after saving any wooden parts of the structure you can. Finally, build a new shed that incorporates what you have saved from the old one. You can even use similar posts, which look like they're just large tree branches. Build it the same size, using whatever saved components that make sense. Once it's done, hang some of that old stuff that's in it now as decorative mementos and use the shed for what sheds are used for. Best of both worlds.

 

[FarmerWill]

Well… this is all something to ponder.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My idea currently is to dig down around the corners and anything else vertical, screw a 2X6 across the posts- they look like old cedar fence posts, ...

Totally INADEQUATE !

By the time you get done with proper bracing you are going to have several hundred dollars in lumber. Remember, triangles are the strongest structure. You need triangular bracing in all 3 dimensions. Also, if you have to replace the bottom half of each post with PT, this thing is going to be "up in the air" for a couple of days. What is going to happen when the wind blows ?

It can be done, just not fast, not easily, not safely unless an enormous amount of caution is used.