Barn Renovation - Days 2-8

Well, the south side of the barn is finished!!! Took longer than my husband hoped for but in this blazing heat I'm not sure what more to have expected. I personally wouldn't have done anything but sit still. John, however, is one who will work outside in the 100 degree temps, sun blazing on him, 20 feet or so up on a ladder. I tried to convince him to let it go until it was a little cooler but well, you know how it is with men sometimes!!!

Here's a picture of one of the horizontal support beams that the boards are nailed to. As you can see it is a rough cut from the tree. Look closely and you can see the bark!

So glad this side is finished. It is certainly the hardest of the four sides. Next we will work on the North side, the second hardest side. What will make this side easier is that there is a loft on this side of the barn. Hopefully not as much up and down ladders!!!

Barn Renovation - Day 1

The weather yesterday was absolutely perfect to start our barn project. Temps were comfortable, no humidity and a beautiful breeze!!! With just my husband working on the barn (and me doing some grunt work), we accomplished about an 8 foot section on the south side. This is actually the more difficult side to do so it's good to have started there. Once this side is done, the rest should be a breeze. We know that this side will be the location of the attached greenhouse. The way my husband is designing the greenhouse, he will even be able to put a deck above. Looks a little high to me but from the inside of the barn and if the plans work out the way we think they will, the entrance to the deck will be from a 4th level within the barn. 

Here's some pics from the work accomplished:

Just beginning to tear off an 8 foot section.

Working steadily!!!

View from inside the barn.

New wood waiting to go on!

John is very good about cleaning up as he goes along with all the projects he works on! 

Makes it easier at day's end!

Section removed and ready to go!

Measuring the first board!

Marking the cutting line. (I spy a little yellow chick!)

Now let me stop here for a minute to update you on the pencil!!! This pencil has been in our family for more than 20 years. Most men would use a typical construction pencil or at the very least a #2. Working on our former house in New Jersey and having two small children, pencils were not always easy to come by so you made do with whatever you could get your hands on. This pencil became my husband's favorite marking pencil. Not only does he use it to mark what needs cutting, he also likes to tease the dog with it. She has even gone so far as to steal the pencil on various occasions. Here she is trying to retrieve what she believes belongs to her:

Maggie and "her" pencil!

Almost finished!!!

Now in case you are thinking that I did nothing but take pictures all day, I need to tell you that I was the one who carried the old wood away, took out all the rusty nails and stacked the wood in piles. I also made sure that John had lots and lots of cold water. Oh, and I helped put the nails in using the nail gun!!! I actually put the first new nail in:

Not the best nail placement but hey it was my first time (not to mention it scared me when it shot in there)!

Hope I haven't bored you to tears but we are excited!

Barn Renovation

Our barn is probably close to 100 years old and is in need of some TLC. Last year we had a new roof put on our barn and this year my husband is going to tear the exterior wood down and put up new board and batten siding. We both tend to agree that we'd like to convert the barn into living space and we sort of have an idea how we'd like to do that, but as with any huge renovation (and we've done plenty), there are so many variables to take into consideration. We've gone 'round and 'round about finishing with windows, doors, plumbing, decks and even an attached greenhouse/sunroom but some best laid plans are worked out as you go along.

Here are some before pictures I took early this morning:

South Side

West Side

 West Side 

(I spy a red orange tractor!
My husband informed me the tractor isn't red but orange.
Goes to show what I know!!!)

North Side

 East Side

East Side

If you have any links to converted barns, please pass them along. We'd love to see what others have done and perhaps they would help with some ideas or suggestions. 

Will keep you updated on our progress as we go along.