pole barns

[Roy in georgia]

I was at a place today that had a building that was built in 1904 and they hand cut the pine logs stripped them and built it.I was amazed that it was still standing so just think how I felt when I found out it was still strong any idea what kept the wood from rotting or termites out of it.The trees that grew beside it shifted it over the years but it was in great shape otherwise

 

[loveshisallis]

Well I heard that long ago they used pitch , the same as they used to line the hulls of wooden boats with. taht would be similiar to tar, in todays terms.
Hope this is helpful as I want a barn now , Too!

 

[Roy in georgia]

thats my thoughts too I have some big enough pines that I want to use for this but I don't want it to rot away in a few years I want a new old looking barn not a new barn

 

[Texasmark]

Interesting. I built my house on telephone pole piers in "68 and they were preserved with creosote. Already rotten.

Mark

 

[504-2]

I have seen some new barns around here that are setting the poles on concrete piers, they will never rot above ground.

 

[JoshuaGA]

Got 60 good years out of our equipment shed, but it has about has it. Starting to rot away on me and being held up by imagination. Plan on tearing it down, salvaging the poles and trusses, and make a smaller shed out of it. Is currently 40'x60', plan on making a 25'x50' with a 12' leanto on the side. Just dont think I will salvage any tin. Shed was put up in the late 40's, and the tin was used then. And who knows, I might even salvage some for posterity. Never fear however, I plan on tearing down two hog barns and building a 50'x100' Shed in its place, perferably with a wired shop.

JoshuaGA

 

[Oldmax]

Save the tin from the roof you can use on the side of new building will be good enough to keep out most of the weather . I tore a big barn down a few years ago used tin on roof for sides of two out buildings had a few holes in it but won't matter in sides most were bullet holes that were in mine . Just painted it .

 

[Anonymous-0]

There was a large toolshed on my graqndparents farm in southeast Michigan taht was built around 1900 also. The outer walls were set on poured concrete walls that were only set in the ground about a foot. In 1985 when my cousin tore it down the walls had rolled and the outer walls were collapsing however the center support posts were still in place and holding. I don't know how they were treated

Jerry

 

[JBMac]

Roy,
Being from the Deep South like you, I've always heard of "heart of pine". It's almost like fat lighter. House I grew up in had all the beams made of it. In the summer, the beams would drip sap occasionally. I don't what type of pine they get it from, some say trees hit by lightning, but it definitely resists insects and disease.

 

[Anonymous-0]

The places that I have for horse pastures are not allowed to be built on (permanent structures with foundations). You can build a pole type building with a removable floor (not poured concrete or asphalt) up to an area of 75 cubic meters though, so there is a bunch of pole structures around. I was told the way to do it is dig the hole about 18 inches deeper and about that much wider than you need it, put in and pack the bottom with 18" of up to 1 inch slag gravel 9not smooth rocks), set the post and fill/pack it with up to 1/2 inch of the same stuff. some say not to use tar because it holds moisture in???. I'm trying this in the next couple of months and will paint what will be about 6 inches above and below ground level with tar and cover it with tin. Supposed to be the ticket. I'll tell you in a hundred years or so.

Dave

 

[Roy in georgia]

I have also heard not to use tar because it holds in moisture and causes rot because moisture but I would think the moisture in the ground would cause a problem so if you do put tar on them leave the bottom unpainted so moisture can escape that is what I heard but seems water run off is the key

 

[Dan-IA]

Barn on my farm was built in 1904, year after grandpa was born. It was assembled with wooden pegs everywhere. The sills sunk down into the dirt but still didn't rot, and there were patterns punched into the ends of the pieces to show how it all fit together.

We covered it in steel in 2003. Tore out two "feed rooms" on the north end, and built a 17x19 service door for it. Looks nice.