Save Our Barns (SOBs) That’s my goal, one way or another, save the old barns. And I do not stand alone! However, as we know, Uptop has many viewpoints! What follows is background information, some insights gleaned from a short tour with Neil and Charlie, and a pledge from me, Mike E., on how I’d like to continue on this quest. Thanks for being here!
Background Info: https://www.hobbyfarms.com/barns-repair-restoration/ Porter points out that barn owners can get additional help in states such as New Hampshire, where private nonprofits such as the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance offer matching grants so owners of old barns can hire local contractors to generate plans for their next steps. Each contractor researches the barn’s history, assesses renovation options and develops a priority list of needed work. The NHPA grant is for $400, and the owner has to match with $100. Together, that’s enough for the initial assessment. The NHPA’s most recent campaign is to raise enough money to help 52 barns in 52 weeks.
Of course, one specialist can’t help every barn owner, so Porter and his colleague, Francis Gilman, an extension agriculture engineer emeritus, produced a book called Preserving Old Barns: Preventing the loss of a valuable resource (2001).
“A barn will survive indefinitely with a sound roof and a decent foundation,” Porter says. “The biggest culprit in the downfall of neglected barns is the overgrown vegetation that’s allowed to grow up next to a barn.”
https://mwbarnpros.com/barn-pros/wv/green-bank/barn-restoration Just fill out the form, tell us about your needs and we will connect you to local barn experts. When you need a barn professional you can depend on MW Barn Pros to be connected with top Green Bank barn restoration experts.
https://www.diynetwork.com/shows/barnwood-builders Barnwood Builders follows five fun-loving West Virginians who salvage antique log cabins and barns. The show celebrates the American pioneer spirit and pays tribute to the hard work and craftsmanship that built our nation.
July 2020 Uptop Barn Tour with Charlie & Neil, and Mike Erickson
Summary: both the big barn and the sheep barn can be saved using the correct equipment and techniques. Neil was incredibly positive and would make a good consultant paired with other local contractors and friends of Uptop. We have ways to move forward even now, says Mike E.
Big Barn – (1) a large mechanical bucket tractor would be useful to hold up the big barn while the northeast corner is stabilized and rebuilt. The roof line (about 2 feet out of alignment) would not have to be ‘fixed’ to original alignment to complete the corner stabilization. Work space can be maximized here.
(2) remove hay, fix floors of barn at multiple levels, build alternative housing for the barn swallows
(3) find alternative homes for the wood leaning against the outsides of the barn, and for the wood resting in the SW room of the big barn…leaning wood has negative effect on barn foundations
4) SE corner of the big barn, near ‘pet cemetery’ needs regular mowing, as does the entire site, after the ground is free from hazards, such as sapling stumps, rocks, and uneven ground and other buried matter
Sheep Barn - concrete footings would be useful to stabilize the sheep barn, though most of the bottom two beams on the north side are rotted through and would need replacement. Some of the wood in these low and not so low beams can be pulled apart with strong fingers. Rot must be dealt with eventually.
General Structure (and whale): Mike E. pledges to keep vegetation away from these structures to maintain a micro-climate conducive to long-term coherent wooden structures. Less water trapped by living plants or piles of dead grass and sticks means less rot.
A Snip-it of Conversation - Yeah, I believe we can rehab the big barn, because I hear the O’Hagan’s believe we can rehab the big barn…just look at the beautiful rehab of the Out House! I thought that should be torn down. Now I’m a believer. [key up the Shrek song here]
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Sheep Barn: the NW corner faceboards are bending north as bottom supports edge to the north, as seen from a bench in the new firepit area.