5 Considerations Before You Restore a Barn
Are you drawn to the character and charm of old barns and outbuildings in Montana? There is nothing quite like the visual these vintage agricultural buildings add to our local landscape.
If you dream of a fixer-upper barn and the satisfaction of the restoration and hard work involved, consider these five things before making the commitment:
What do you know about that barn?
Did you know there are geographical differences in old barns? If you have ever embarked on a coast-to-coast road trip, you have likely recognized the distinction in age and styles. East Coast barns are typical of the 17th century, while West Coast coops may have been constructed in the 19th century. The more you learn about the age of your barn, the better prepared you can be prior to a renovation. Take a look at this rather dated but informative blog about how to identify the age of a barn.
What are your motives?
Will it be a livestock dwelling? An ample space to store your supply of hay? Chances are, if you invested in an old barn, it was with the intention of renovating it into a living space, event center, or cool office space. There are tons of creative ideas about how to best restore and repurpose a barn. Which one suits you best? Are you ready to invest the time and money to make it work? Whatever you decide, be sure to enlist an architect or contractor to help you blend the old with the new in a safe, efficient manner.
Someone else has done this before you.
Why reinvent the wheel, so to speak. Surely you are not the first person to envision new life for an old barn. Reach out to a person who has taken on the task with successful completion or consult a professional in the craft of barn restoration, removal, and repurposing. Doing a little research and having dialog with those who know the task at hand will help you carefully reconstruct and restore your old barn.
Create a plan and stick to it
It is not uncommon to be short on cash or behind schedule when working on home renovations. Oftentimes halting a budget until more funds arrive or time becomes more abundant.
Unfortunately, when you restore a barn, you cannot afford that same luxury. Taking a pause during a barn renovation will leave the structure susceptible to more damage, leading to more costly maintenance projects later. A barn restoration takes commitment, time, money, and patience. Are you ready?
Embrace new technology
Barn restoration is an admirable and worthy undertaking, the ability to preserve original elements of a historic or vintage structure is always the ultimate goal. However, there is no reason to disregard new materials and technology from your barn renovation. Because of new advances in technology, your project can be one of safety, frugality, and security.
Construction methods and techniques should also be considered as you modernize your barn. Consider the contemporary conveniences you have at your fingertips that will enhance the use of your updated structure; running water, electricity, airtight windows, and more! In addition, you should also consider the replacement of any broken elements with updated counterparts. Sure, there are antique markets and roadside shops full of period pieces if you are willing to scour the collections. Or, you can save time and money by swapping them for new materials installed in an old-fashioned manner.
Go for it!
So there you have it - a few good things to consider as you move forward with your own barn restoration. That said, there are also many more. Subscribe to our site to learn more as we present additional strategies in upcoming blog posts and email updates.
Stoked Old Home and Barn may be the perfect fit if you need assistance with your project. Give us a call or drop us a message if we can answer any questions you may have as you start your own research and formulate a plan!
