The Historic Barn to Contractor's Shop Conversion

[jhark123]

Hello All,

After a year of work restoring and updating my early 1900's farmhouse, I'm ready to move on to the barn. It was also built around 1910 and had been primarily used for hay storage and milking.

I am a Carpenter by trade and I also perform excavation and trucking as a contractor. This barn and property will be the first permanent shop/yard space in my career (prior to this I've been in garages, storage units and small rental spaces). I am VERY excited to have this.

The overall size of the barn is 45'x60'. The center bay is 20'x60' and about 20' tall. Originally the barn had a wood floor on over spanned beams and poorly built lofts. There is also a lot of wood rot on the west side of the building. So the first step was to remove the wood lofts/walls/floor. I am pouring new footings and piers to the posts where they are missing and repairing rot. Then, I will outfit the shop with a concrete floor, jib crane, downstairs office, bathroom, locker room, upstairs office and new 12x14 sliding door for the main bay.

 

[jhark123]

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[jhark123]

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[Toolfool]

Great project. Subscribed.

 

[PugetDude]

Great project. Subscribed.

+1

 

[mach1mustangman]

That is one cool looking barn. Can't wait to see the progress.

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[Bamafan]

This is gonna be epic.

 

[383]

I love old barns, and the different types of barn construction.

The barn design is different than any in our area, where are you located?

 

[Bottlecapdigger]

I'm going to watch this! BCD.

 

[vekster]

cool looking barn. keep the pics a commin!

 

[Bears Fan]

I'm with all the others here...I love the old barns and want to follow along...Looks like your doing it right already with those pier supports and concrete prep work or was that done by the previous owner?...Subscribed

 

[roscoe2000]

Looks like the start of a great build.

 

[Tarnished]

Great project, old barns are so worth saving. Looks like you have a new roof? Keep them dry, and they will last forever. Look forward to your progress.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Subd

 

[jhark123]

I love old barns, and the different types of barn construction.

The barn design is different than any in our area, where are you located?

I am in Western Washington, in a small farming community near the mountains. Everything here was built by the Dutch immigrant carpenters/farmers.

 

[mach1mustangman]

That's awesome history too!

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[jhark123]

I'm with all the others here...I love the old barns and want to follow along...Looks like your doing it right already with those pier supports and concrete prep work or was that done by the previous owner?...Subscribed

The outside corners of the main section have original concrete piers as well as some on the interior and perimeter. All the large ones are new on the interior. I will place some footings on the exterior where I need to adjust the walls, but the remainder of the perimeter will be poured as a thickened edge slab.

 

[sublime68charger]

Nice looking Barn and looking forward to following along on your journey with this!

 

[NTCRS]

Exciting!

 

[TurtleValley]

Subscribed!

 

[LXCam]

That's going to be one kickass building once you're finished. But I might suggest getting something bigger than that one sack mixer for this

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Subscribed! Looking forward to this.

 

[njc41980]

I'm in.

Good luck with the project.

 

[Dividing Creek]

subscribed. I have a similar sized barn in far worse condition

 

[raneyday]

Sub'd as well. Have a 1940's barn of similar shape I size I hope to do this with in a couple of years. Can't wait to steal your ideas!

 

[jhark123]

I only got two tasks accomplished today, but they are very important to productivity!


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[FTWingRiders]

Damn!! I’m in! Show some pics of your house Reno too, if you will. This is going to fun to watch!

 

[Whitey1]

This will be great!

 

[PhantomEB]

I love barns being converted into shops, ever since I saw Harry's in Days of Thunder!

 

[Finallygotit]

Oh this is going to be good!

Subscribed!

 

[Bad67300]

Wow! What a project! Love seeing GJ members tackling project like this - makes me feel like I maybe didn't get in over my head on my own projects. Can't wait to see the progress on this one!

 

[flying_tomatoes]

wow

This looks like a massive amount of work but I cant wait to see the finished product.

 

[STINEY]

That work sure looks familiar.


Barn looks well worth saving, you are going to have an awesome shop when done.

 

[bandlaw]

I grew up on the family farm in rural NC, and we had a barn very much like this! Can’t wait to follow along!


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[1/2 Cup]

jhark123, just awesome, looking forward to following your progress..

Regards

 

[jhark123]

That work sure looks familiar.


Barn looks well worth saving, you are going to have an awesome shop when done.

Thanks, I like your barn as well

 

[DynoDave]

Excellent project. Will certainly be watching this one.

 

[Veraciouse]

Subscribed. Great project!

 

[jhark123]

I started working on the piers today. Here is how I supported the post without a beam below it.

I had some “U” shaped brackets left over from a customers project. I cut off one leg on the saw and my friend Greg punched bolt holes on his iron worker to make post hold downs

I used the rough cut floor boards from the barn to form the piers so that they’ll look original and because I’m cheap .

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[GoldCar]

Hi jhark123,

What an amazing barn, I do not even dare to dream about such a building.

Suscribed ! Thanks for sharing...