Should I build new or rebuild old barn

[sofob0909]

Hey yall,

Looking at buying a house and I wanted to pick the brains of everyone on here to see what yall think the costs are for building new vs. rebuilding this old barn.

Ok so here is some info.

I plan to use as car workshop. Would like a lift someday. Definately want insulated space for hot summers and somewhat cold winters



Concord NC 28025
Land is 3 ac.

Old barn:

has new metal 40yr roof 3 yrs ago matches house (blue roof)
Approx 30x36.
has block walls for first 10 ft.
4 poles in the barn main floor
if looking from the front the poles are about 9 ft from either side wall and the center bay the poles are about 9.5 ft apart.
set up for horses with stalls.
Dirt floor
has ~70-90 amp service from house
water line (city water)
can see daylight through most of back wall and through parts of other walls

What I think it would need to be: (any other things I may have missed please tell me.)

-concrete floor and possibly an appron if i can afford it on the back side to pressure wash stuff and clean cars off the grass.
-redoing front wall so you can pull a car in the middle and right bays.
-redoing the wood siding and insulating
-checking electrical and seting it up for my useage
-running air lines and drop spool
-setting up water for hose and sink usage
-building bench/ workshop area out

New Barn:

would want:
room to have 3-4 bays and workshop area.
Isulated
220 power for air and welder
water line for sink/hose.
concrete floor and approach/appron

with the new building I would not NEED provisions for a lift if it raises the cost to much.


SOOO. my question to yall is what would you estimate the cost being to rebuild the old barn vs building new. Note: the new barn would be put somewhere else on the property so I would still have the old barn for covered storage but new water and electrical would need to be run.

I will work on posting pictures of the old barn

 

[Hawk]

Howdy neighbor, just down the road from you. Can't really give you an answer or recommendation until we see the building to get an idea of repair needed.

 

[sofob0909]

Pictures

the views are in the picture descriptions

View media item 31499looking inside from back sliding door


View media item 31498looking left inside from back sliding door


View media item 31497looking left and up inside from back sliding door


View media item 31496looking right inside from back sliding door


View media item 31495view from behind barn at back right corner


View media item 31494view if old "carport" remains


View media item 31493view from behind barn at back left corner


View media item 31492view from behind barn looking up


View media item 31491view from front at front right corner


View media item 31490view from front at front left corner

* electrical and water come up behind man door

View media item 31499

 

[InPrimer]

Start with a "quote" from a contractor to guesstimate the cost of a new barn. Do a material list to repair the old barn. If you need more room, add amount $$ for an additon to the present barn, in other words an add on would be cheaper than starting from scratch. check with the tax man and asess the prop value cost of a new bldg. Definetly get a 200 amp serv in whichever you decide

 

[bobadame]

Keep this one for storage and build a new shop.

 

[Kev442]

Seems solid, straight and has a good roof. I personally would work with what you have there. Pouring concrete inside an existing structure is no big deal if that worries you. The money saved should pay for your lift and some other goodies.

 

[larry_g]

Looking at what you have I would say build new if your going to keep the pictured building. I would suggest that you consider even extending this building. A new structure or addition can be designed to be a shop and not have to work around the limitations of what you have. Re working what you have will be a big job and you will still only have 1000' of building. New is more square footage and more taxes. New can be built for super insulation, nice straight walls, and a ceiling. Design a nice work area that is laid out to accomidate the rigs you have to work on and keep the stuff in the old barn.
lg
no neat sig line

 

[sofob0909]

Well, got the house!

Very excited. Going to go out soon and take some detailed measurements.


What are my options with the 4 huge vertical beams in the middle of the barn? Can I restructure or would it be easier to redo the front wall?

 

[ZRX61]

I'd keep it. Tear off the old wood siding & put up new to keep the weather out along with insulate it. Then extend it if ya think it's too small (they always are). Maybe make it L shaped. Take the wood ya salvaged, run it through a planer & use it on the inside to give it some character back. Leave the 4 big posts, they're probably holding the entire place up.

 

[santagary]

If money is an issue as you alluded to in pouring a floor and an apron, I don't see how you could afford a new garage??? Fix up the old one.

 

[bgarrett]

Every old barn is different, therefore cool. All the new metal skin buildings look the same. Boring. I vote to keep the old. add on, build another, but keep the old. Do you know about the justbarns forum? Lots of cool old barns over there

http://justbarns.proboards.com/

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd get the old barn closed up, add some metal siding and a concrete floor. Once it's closed up add your new wiring, air/water lines, insulation and cover the interior walls.


It's not that bad of a barn, just needs some TLC.

 

[larry_g]

Well, got the house!

Very excited. Going to go out soon and take some detailed measurements.


What are my options with the 4 huge vertical beams in the middle of the barn? Can I restructure or would it be easier to redo the front wall?

Congratulations on the new place.

AS for the columns your going to have to give us a better view of the top end of them and what they are holding. I would suggest that you get a builder onsite to give you a bid on rebuilding the old structure into what you want vs doing an addition that will give you a great workshop. In my mind a small workshop added on to that structure would be the way to go. A 20x30 addition would be easy to heat, cheaper to finish, have good lighting and a floor. The old barn would serve as cold storage for all the stuff that most of us have in the 'good shop'. In a few decades as life and money is easier then fix up the barn area.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Schwinn68]

I vote for restoring the old barn. I would love to have that on my property. We had a neighbor who turned his old barn into a race car work shop.

You would never have know buy he left the doors open in the summer sometimes. He put tin on the inside after insulating. The outside wasn't changed. It was like building a new shop inside the existing barn. Such a cool place. I would leave the front alone. Lots of character.

Add on some space to the back if you need more room.

 

[sofob0909]

Thanks guys,

I am definitely leaning towards redoing the barn. It's got tons of character.

I am thinking either build off the back or build 2 10 ft additions on either side. I could leave one open for the trailers and close the other for a workshop.

Any thoughts?

Also I am a bit worried about the layout with those poles so I will definitely have to get clarification on them before making any more decisions.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 to fix up the old barn. It's got some great character and perimeter looks solid. Since you've got 3 acres, whatever you do, don't tear down that old barn. At bare minimum, it should remain as storage.

If the fixup of old barn is dragging in couple years and you have plenty of money, then put up a 30' x 40' new pole barn shop somewhere else on property. Good luck but keep pics coming . . . . I love old barns.

 

[NUTTSGT]

+1 to fix up the old barn. It's got some great character and perimeter looks solid. Since you've got 3 acres, whatever you do, don't tear down that old barn. At bare minimum, it should remain as storage.

If the fixup of old barn is dragging in couple years and you have plenty of money, then put up a 30' x 40' new pole barn shop somewhere else on property. Good luck but keep pics coming . . . . I love old barns.

I whole heartedly agree.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Thanks guys,

I am definitely leaning towards redoing the barn. It's got tons of character.

I am thinking either build off the back or build 2 10 ft additions on either side. I could leave one open for the trailers and close the other for a workshop.

Any thoughts?

Also I am a bit worried about the layout with those poles so I will definitely have to get clarification on them before making any more decisions.

I hope you have lots of time ! It look like it has good "bones", but sealing and insulating will take money and time.

I strongly suggest you contact an architectural/engineering firm and see what they have to say about the posts.

 

[bgarrett]

I'd get the old barn closed up, add some metal siding \.

I hope you dont mean cover the OUTSIDE with metal. That would destroy the character of the building.

 

[Pat Brady]

I'd remove the old siding and put something newer on. It looks like the place would be full of birds, bugs and other critters. You could get a fortune for that old barn siding. Probably enough to put newer on. Then you could pour your slab for the floor. It all depends on what you want to do. You'll still have the interior of an old barn. That's the cool part. But the way it is now, it will continue to be fall apart. And you have to deal with the outside weather. So, you will just have to decide what you want.

 

[j p smith]

Where is the house and barn on your property? I love the barn and would look at keeping all the character I could while making a strong tight structure. Where are you from New Hill? There are a couple sawmill guys around there. It looks like when they did the roof they used new material if they did it should be sound. Sell the old barn wood and duplicate the pattern with new, then you will have a solid structure and the wood will get a nice patina over time. Pour concrete, put on roll up doors with a barn or carriage look. With roll up doors you can begin to seal up your barn, you may have to live with the post or come up with a large beam and put post to the outside of your space, may be able to work the post into a corner of a corner office area, bathroom, small storage room for the wife, mezzanine storage. By moving the post towards the outside of your space you can gain a project work area. Lots of possibilities! Keep asking, keep the ideas you like and can work with. When you read some of the ideas remember we are not there seeing the whole picture. Good luck, great place. Later, Jeff

 

[NUTTSGT]

I hope you dont mean cover the OUTSIDE with metal. That would destroy the character of the building.

Yes, that's what I was referring too. For some of the reasons, see below. . . .

I'd remove the old siding and put something newer on. It looks like the place would be full of birds, bugs and other critters. You could get a fortune for that old barn siding. Probably enough to put newer on.

I agree. I had a small building that was full of rot and insects. I didn't tear it down but gave it to a neighbor. While the old siding does have character, it desperately needs work. If he wants it to be sealed up so he can insulate, heat/cool it and be done with it, metal would be the way to go.

He has atleast 4 different surfaces, block, wood siding, shakes and plywood doors that need covered. Metal can still be put on and look classy. Using 2 different colors (wainscoting/top color) trimming the current doors out and adding a faux hay loft will make it look nice and give it character.

 

[sofob0909]

I like the hay loft idea and the possibility of moving the big beams. Still waiting to get out and take some detailed pictures and measurements.

Sadly with a septic system I am not sure I'd it will be possible to have a bathroom but we will see. Anyone have any input on this? Costs? Ext...


I definitely want the barn to still have character and be functional. I'm seriously considering adding a side addition to make more room and be able to have 3 bays and a workshop.

My biggest worry is getting the front of the building to look "original" and nice and have the doors placed so I can actually pull cars and trailers in between the poles.