Hello everyone I am not sure if this is off topic or whee to even put it so here goes. I have an old barn built of hand hewn logs. 18'x27' with a 9' wide door on both sides. it only has about 4 total logs that are 27 ft long the rest are 9s and 18s. It needs some help for sure. new roof and shored up. the corners are walking out and looking rough. It is on a concrete slab. I am not sure how to go about restoring such a thing... I have a font end loader that can reach the top, and 3 family members that may serve as labor. Any one know of any informational sources on how to take on such a project Safely....
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
- Thread starter tn.jed
- Start date
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I am on my third year working on my log barn. It was in really tough shape. My logs were rolling out and pushing out from bottom. The corners were also pulling apart. I have learned a lot from this whole process. I used 6x6 posts along the walls where the logs were rolling out. I stood the 6x6's up and used 1/2 in threaded rod. I drilled about 4 half inch holes all the way through the 6x6 and log wall. I could not believe the pulling power that the treaded rod had. In some places the logs were off as much as 7 inches from top to bottom and they pulled in perfectly stragight. I did the same for the corners too. Bolted both ways, but used my loader tractor and a well placed 6x6 to push the corner back together. You will probably have to bust up some of the cement in order to get the logs to cooperate. I called an elevator company to see if they would have heavy cable they were throwing out. They gave my 5 250 ft roles for free. I also used the cables and x'ed them to hold things in place. If you can find and old pair of the screw type house jacks, that would be a really big help. If you take a little weight off the part you are trying to push back in place it really helps. I rebuilt doors and windows. I am hoping to finish it this summer. I just have the back roof line to strighten and steps to build up to the hay mow. I had to jack hammer out the old footings and re-cement them back in. The back side of the barn had to be jacked up 12 inches. That barn was lucky to get some love, because it wasn't far away from falling down. It is worth the work. I don't have a ton of money, just a ton of time.
Good discussion going on here folks... I don't think the barn is in bad shape but I might be blinded by enthusiasm or something like that. It had a lean to off the back of it so that side is mostly ok I tore it off a few year ago it wasn't worth saving. I do have some issues in one corner where the bottom log is gone and it is supported by block. all the chink is gone except that back wall that was protected. the roof is bad tear it off and start over bad... I had it sprayed for wood bees last spring and once i get all the weeds and crap off of it I was told to put some varnish in a sprayr and spray it down and it should keep the bees out. been going around plugging bee holes with construction adhesive. I have to go look at it but I think there is only one corner that started walking out and then in another corner where its missing that bottom board... got good footing and slab under it looks like it may have been done at some point. Made out of bald cypress. I had thought about putting straps around it before.
not sure I am following what you are saying about the 6x6s? You put one standing vertical on the inside and one standing on the outside sandwiching the wall and used some all thread to pull all of the logs in even with each other? if so how did that effect the corners where they are notched in to the joining wall... If I could do something like that along with some big straps going around the whole barn to keep them in tight at the corners maybe? just kinda trying to brain storm some ideas here if yall don't mind
Excellent info!(quoted from post at 15:39:45 12/04/13) I am on my third year working on my log barn. It was in really tough shape. My logs were rolling out and pushing out from bottom. The corners were also pulling apart. I have learned a lot from this whole process. I used 6x6 posts along the walls where the logs were rolling out. I stood the 6x6's up and used 1/2 in threaded rod. I drilled about 4 half inch holes all the way through the 6x6 and log wall. I could not believe the pulling power that the treaded rod had. In some places the logs were off as much as 7 inches from top to bottom and they pulled in perfectly stragight. I did the same for the corners too. Bolted both ways, but used my loader tractor and a well placed 6x6 to push the corner back together. You will probably have to bust up some of the cement in order to get the logs to cooperate. I called an elevator company to see if they would have heavy cable they were throwing out. They gave my 5 250 ft roles for free. I also used the cables and x'ed them to hold things in place. If you can find and old pair of the screw type house jacks, that would be a really big help. If you take a little weight off the part you are trying to push back in place it really helps. I rebuilt doors and windows. I am hoping to finish it this summer. I just have the back roof line to strighten and steps to build up to the hay mow. I had to jack hammer out the old footings and re-cement them back in. The back side of the barn had to be jacked up 12 inches. That barn was lucky to get some love, because it wasn't far away from falling down. It is worth the work. I don't have a ton of money, just a ton of time.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I orignally thought what you are thinking about sandwiching two 6x6's with the wall in between, but I just put the threaded rod through the log wall with a couple washers and nut and the 6x6 vertical on the inside. My barn was in such bad shape that I had to leave the 6x6 there on the inside and all you have on the outside is the washer and nut which the tin wen right back over. The 6x6 carries the weight and is now cemented in to the footing. But you don't necessarily have to cement it in. You should be able to cable from the inside instead of wrapping it around the outside. The walls on mine have wood dowels as pins. Once you pull on one log with the cabling or threaded rod it should pull on the log on either side of the log with the cable or threaded rod. The places where the log is missing you might have to cement it in.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I orignally thought what you are thinking about sandwiching two 6x6's with the wall in between, but I just put the threaded rod through the log wall with a couple washers and nut and the 6x6 vertical on the inside. My barn was in such bad shape that I had to leave the 6x6 there on the inside and all you have on the outside is the washer and nut which the tin wen right back over. The 6x6 carries the weight and is now cemented in to the footing. But you don't necessarily have to cement it in. You should be able to cable from the inside instead of wrapping it around the outside. The walls on mine have wood dowels as pins. Once you pull on one log with the cabling or threaded rod it should pull on the log on either side of the log with the cable or threaded rod. The places where the log is missing you might have to cement it in.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy