_REMODELING OLD BARNS_
It is more difficult to remodel old barns than to build new ones. If the
attempt be made to unite several of the detached buildings with the view
of making them into one symmetrical structure, much study will be
required. The frames of the old buildings are so strong and durable that
they should not be thrown aside as useless until it is certain that to
utilize them would be more expensive than to tear them down and erect
others of new material. Those massive oak sills and posts and poplar
swing-beams have for me a meaning and charm which is lacking in the
light plank and balloon frame constructed of knotty, wind-shaken hemlock
or some other cheap wood. It needs no argument to prove that the
numerous detached rural buildings so often seen on the farm should be
remodeled; but how? To illustrate, let the buildings shown in Fig. 114,
which is from a photograph, be taken. Move the four largest buildings to
some suitable site without taking the frames down, and out of the
timbers of the other structures build a basement story. It will take
just one-half as much material to board the new structure as the four
old ones, plus that required to fill the gaps where the old structures
do not join (see plan, Fig. 115). These openings, eight and twelve feet,
are all so short that the frames may be made continuous by means of
light pieces of material, which will serve for nailing girts. When the
old buildings have been united, some of the inside posts may be in
inconvenient positions. If so, trusses appropriately placed in the mow
story will permit the removal of the obstructing post, as shown in Figs.
116 and 117.
[Illustration: Fig. 114. The scattered buildings on a farm. The profit
of the farm is absorbed in doing the chores.]
If a steep curb roof, which may be self-supporting (Fig. 118), be
adopted, the remodeled structure (Fig. 119) will have more than three
times the available space that the four old structures had. It is
probable that there would be nearly enough dimension stuff in the seven
other small structures to construct the basement story.
[Illustration: Fig. 115. Plan for condensing the buildings shown in Fig.
114.]
But it may chance that no basement story is wanted. If so, the building
might be arranged as before, or two more of the small structures might
be united to the four larger ones which it was proposed to use in the
former case. The barn would then present a rather low appearance; but if
the peaks of the curb roof were properly treated, that is, clipped (Fig.
120), the structure would not be void of beauty. The rebuilt structure,
in any case, should be placed on continuous walls, not on stone piers.
If the posts of the old structures are of unequal length, the wall which
supports those having the shorter posts may be built higher than for
those having the longer posts, provided, however, there is not too great
a difference in the length of the posts of the several small structures.
If there are four or more feet difference, it would then be best to
splice the short posts.
[Illustration: Fig. 116. Trussing where a post is removed.]
[Illustration: Fig. 117. A trussed frame, where a post is removed.]
[Illustration: Fig. 118. Old style of roof below, and new style curb
roof above.]
The first story in most of the old barns is entirely too low. This may
be remedied by building the outside supporting walls of the proposed
remodeled building two to three feet above the level of the ground. This
will add as much to the lower story as the wall is above the ground,
less the room required for placing the basement floor. If treated in
this manner the old inside sills, sleepers, and joists should be removed
and the inside post supported on stone or brick piers. All this will
give opportunity to construct the basement floors on the ground, or near
to it, and of such shape and material as the new plans call for. In
this case the floor might well be made of grout, since lumber is
expensive, and an effort should be made to build permanent and durable
structures. If stable floors are placed well up from the ground and have
numerous cracks between the planks, they are extremely uncomfortable for
the animals. They are, perhaps, the most uncomfortable of all floors, as
the air finds access to the stable through the floor, and it is nearly
impossible to keep such stables comfortable in cold weather. Such
construction of floors is also wasteful of manures, tends to produce
“scratches” and other foot and leg diseases in horses, and is unsanitary
and altogether undesirable.
[Illustration: Fig. 119. This shows the farmstead in Fig. 114, after the
barns are gathered in.]
Finally, it may be said that when these separate structures are treated
in this inexpensive manner without added basement, the available
capacity of the building would be double that of the old ones, the time
of performing the work in the barns would be greatly diminished, and
the discomfort of both man and beast would be ameliorated. For the sake
of the farm boy and for the animal which he cares for, to say nothing of
economy, beauty and neatness, may I not ask those who have these
scattered, unhandy, uncomfortable barns, to study well the illustrations
given, which show the old and the new arrangement?
[Illustration: Fig. 120. Treatment of the gable.]
The accompanying illustration (Fig. 121) of English farm buildings may
be of interest, though this style of barn and the arrangement would not
be suitable in America, with its rigorous climate and expensive farm
labor.
[Illustration: Fig. 121. English farmsteading plan.]