The Barn

Our barn took a bit of a beating during our most recent windstorm.  Considering the severity of the storm we had, we were surprised to even find it standing the next morning.

It looks like we added a bit of unintentional ventilation, didn't we?  The metal roof that's stored in the fore-front of the photo above is destined for the south side of the barn, after we tear down the dairy addition that was probably added at the turn of the century.  The half-wall is the original outside wall.  When we tear down the addition that runs the length of the barn, this will be the outside wall once again.

Here's how things looked on the north side of the barn in spring 2007.  That's the year we had this side of the roof re-done:

There's nothing like a good patch-job, is there?  I'll never understand half-done jobs, but this is not a philosophical discussion, I'm just voicing my opinion.  (That doesn't explain why today, five years later, just half of our roof is done, but at least it's the whole half!)

Moving right along...ahem.

When we re-did the roof of the house (remind me to tell you how that went someday!), we were encouraged to buy the roof for the barn at the same time, because metal prices were set to jump 30%.  We knew what needed to be done, and although we didn't have a clue who would do the work, based on the gong-show of workers we had for the house, we went ahead and ordered the metal roof.

Entire sections of the roof needed to be replaced before the metal went up.  Working with our local wood-pusher, we kept the sawmill humming with lots of custom orders.  The white pine used to make the repairs was cut on order and delivered as needed.  It's experiences like this that make you realize you've got friends in your suppliers, because I don't know anyone who would turn around and deliver wood the next day like our sawmill does.  Our wood-pusher is rooting for us, of this much we know.  The fact I ply him with home-canned goods might have something to do with it, too.

The roofers we found were methodical, thorough, and got the job done in a timely manner.  I think it took about a week to re-do this side.  We were happy with the roofers' work and professionalism.  You'll notice Cooper in the above photo, too.  He made many new friends, and shared many a lunch.  It was win/win all around.

The north side of the barn is looking good.  It's re-done, it's solid, and now we really need to concentrate on the demolition of the lean-to on the south side of the barn, and bring the barn back to it's original state.

Here's a view of the inside of the dairy addition after this latest storm:

We've got a bit of a cave-in happening here.  (Notice my optimism - a "bit of a cave-in" is like saying, "a bit pregnant", perhaps).  Let's face facts here.  If we don't do something - soon - we'll be shoveling sawdust before long.

I can't tell you how many builders we've had look at the barn in the past 10 years.

They all say the same thing: "We'll call you".  And then they peel out of the driveway, kicking up gravel, and looking in their rear-view mirror as they shake their head in a combination of sympathy and despair.

That is why I see myself with my hard-hat, a harness around my middle, dangling from the roof as I take my tin-snips to the metal in a feeble attempt at destruction.  Eric's read about 20 books on timber-frame construction, and the wood for the repairs is already stored in the barn.  We're this close to doing the work ourselves.

Stay tuned for yet another saga in our lives at Shim Farm.