Exterior Barn Reno on the cheap

[LynneP]

This reno cost $150 Cdn, about $70 UK dollars, exclusively for the treated plywood. Basically we shifted the old barn board off the exterior, sheathed the interior boards with Typar, covered that with the plywood and then used strips of the former cladding as battens. We wanted to save as much of that wood as possible because it was first used on a church in 1761, then on a dance hall for gold miners on our property, then on our barn. Eastern cedar, very rare now. By using the aged wood we maintained the rustic exterior and we're now painting. We've had people beg us for the rest of the barn boards! Sorry, no sale...

[Richard]

Fabulous building and what a history ! I spent some time in Vermont, slightly similar styles I think.

Very very ood !

Richard

[LynneP]

Very true, Richard- many of the farms here were started by United Empire Loyalists who came north to avoid fighting in the American Revolution. Their brought their architecture with them, and the 'little red barn' is very characteristic of that. They made their paint of iron oxide found in the earth here (It was also used along with ochre, as war paint by the First Nations).

We tend to want to conserve these buildings down to the beams and cladding. In fact an historical group will disassemble any wood-beam structure of historical value and they are being reassembled on a huge agricultural site near here. There are some round, hexagonal and octagonal barns like one would find in Vermont.

[manda]

Looks great Lynne
Do the older buildings have preservation orders on them. In the UK if you try and touch an old building you would need to go through all sorts of hoops to change anything

[GrahamNR17]

Wow, it looks great!

[LynneP]

Thanks- but we have little legislation on agricultural buildings. I think it's because we are such a young country, established 1867. Now that older buildings are losing their roofs and exteriors, people are taking notice. There is a community near here called 'Old Barns' with about 12 structures from the 1700's, and everyone is making an effort to conserve them- interested individuals drive in from faraway places to inspect them.

[manda]

Mmm yes it's pretty much the same here in NZ - very different to the UK but again a younger country. There are obviously building regulations but nothing specifically for old buildings that I have been able to find. I think the thing is people try to renovate as sympathetically as possible but the regs relate to the safety of the building - which given that relocated houses are common here would be a good thing !

[LynneP]

You and I are in the reverse latitudes, manda! Yes I think whenever the people respect the architecture good things happen. Government gets involved when that sense of respect declines, or when urban sprawl threatens previously-secure buildings. In Newfoundland it is very common to move homes back from receding shorelines...

[manda]

Yep I must admit I did get a bit of a shock when I first moved here and saw a house on a truck going along the road...now it's.. well.. just a house on a truck going along the road

[LynneP]

We were in Corner Brook, Newfound several years ago and watched one on a barge! Pretty funny stuff in choppy waves, but we heard it turned out all right.

[LynneP]

We're back at our barn reno, with plans for a new coop on the back corner. Acquired a free window from a mobile home place, it's missing a gasket/frame for the interior but we can make one. Applied winter-grade Typar wrap and wolmanized panels on the outside, painted and we're preparing to insulate later in the season. We have old batts bought on huge discount lat year. So far, the upgrade is from old barn board, things paid for ages ago or were free. Getting ready for spring chicks.

[bluebell]

Wow, looks amazing, Lynne!

[LynneP]

Thanks, Greta, we got the window in last evening.



The new coop will be in that corner of the barn.