Barn Razing: cleaning up the past

[dex3361]

I have this old dairy barn that is and has been way beyond repair. The fellow that built it used what he had available at the time to build it. He poured the concrete for the foundation, floor and the wall bases with rock and sand from the creek and even field stone. This made the concrete very weak. I hated to see this barn go but it had become a great place to raise snakes. Since I am not interested in snake farming I decided it was time to raze the barn.

 

[dstig1]

Doh! I hope you got that fire out so you could raze it!

 

[boggen]

see someone in background with a fire going even further away from building.

so i gotta ask how much property did ya burn that wasn't yours?:laughing:

 

[JDgreen227]

I have this old dairy barn that is and has been way beyond repair. The fellow that built it used what he had available at the time to build it. He poured the concrete for the foundation, floor and the wall bases with rock and sand from the creek and even field stone. This made the concrete very weak. I hated to see this barn go but it had become a great place to raise snakes. Since I am not interested in snake farming I decided it was time to raze the barn.

I am surprised you could get permission to burn that with no snow on the ground...I had to get a permit and have the local fire chief inspect my burn pile back in mid-January even though there was a foot of snow on the ground and no buildings within 500 feet. The first picture is to give you some idea of the size of the pile.

 

[dex3361]

see someone in background with a fire going even further away from building.

so i gotta ask how much property did ya burn that wasn't yours?:laughing:

Good eye, I was burning 3 buildings total. Barn, chicken coop and corn crib. It seemed like it took forever for the barn to really get going.

 

[looknlearn]

Good eye, I was burning 3 buildings total. Barn, chicken coop and corn crib. It seemed like it took forever for the barn to really get going.

Isn't that how it always seems to work. A dry barn, you have to relight three time before it smolders then on a rainy day a metal shed burns like an inferno in about 5 min. from a boot heel friction.:laughing:

 

[20 20]

Barn Razing: cleaning up the past


You should change the title to Barn Blazing

 

[JDgreen227]

Barn Razing: cleaning up the past


You should change the title to Barn Blazing

If you had taken off those metal roof sections on the barn, maybe the fire would have burnt better?

 

[NSBound]

Farmers around here put a high price on their old barns, due to the demand for the barn boards. I was looking for some to finish a room in the basement and the farmers think they're made of gold, so I gave up. Now I'm going to use hemlock boards from a local saw mill, I can't afford barn boards!

 

[D7E]

Same here those old boards are very sought after for cabins etc I sold a bunch and the buyer dismantled too , dug a hole by the side and pushed remains in then burned it ...no nails to clean up either.

 

[boggen]

I am surprised you could get permission to burn that with no snow on the ground...I had to get a permit and have the local fire chief inspect my burn pile back in mid-January even though there was a foot of snow on the ground and no buildings within 500 feet. The first picture is to give you some idea of the size of the pile.

have had a couple of them big burn piles of tree limbs to brush. i hate dealing them big piles. it takes for ever to get a fire going through the entire thing. and then ya end up re-burning one or two more times. for the stuff around the outside edges or some of the bigger stuff.

wish i had a mulcher / shredder / chopper during those times.

 

[boggen]

tore out a old RR tie with boards as a fence. that use to be a cow lot. i tried my best, to even sneaking a few boards to a fire. and then my mom had to come out on a visit. and see what i was about to do. and needless to say. i have a pile of old fence boards in the shed. that she wants to use for some crafts and a few other things.

as far as old farmers thinking them buildings as gold. i would blame it more on "hoarding" or "pack rat" like habits.

 

[dex3361]

Isn't that how it always seems to work. A dry barn, you have to relight three time before it smolders then on a rainy day a metal shed burns like an inferno in about 5 min. from a boot heel friction.:laughing:

:laughing::laughing::laughing:That is so true.

 

[dex3361]

Here are few more pics as the fire pokes along. I was beginning to wonder if it was going to burn at all.

 

[AchingBack]

A leaf blower really works to get things glowing. You need fairly equal parts of air to fuel, I think.

 

[dex3361]

A leaf blower really works to get things glowing. You need fairly equal parts of air to fuel, I think.

I dont have a leaf blower. i am afraid if I got one the wife would want me to use it to blow leaves and grass and I wouldnt get a chance ot use it on fires. But that is a really good excuse to buy one.

 

[dex3361]

Well it finally took of and went from the previous pic to this in about 2 seconds. From there on out it was a hot fire. I had waited for the right conditions to burn. The ground was saturated and the weather was calling for rain later that night. Our burning laws state that outdoor burning must happen between 4pm and 7am and cannot be left unattended. This is the rules during forest fire season and if it gets real dry outdoor burning will be banned till rain.

 

[JDgreen227]

Well it finally took of and went from the previous pic to this in about 2 seconds. From there on out it was a hot fire. I had waited for the right conditions to burn. The ground was saturated and the weather was calling for rain later that night. Our burning laws state that outdoor burning must happen between 4pm and 7am and cannot be left unattended. This is the rules during forest fire season and if it gets real dry outdoor burning will be banned till rain.

Great pics...here the law is open burning cannot be unattended at any time AND any open fire MUST be out before dark...that seems strange that open burning where you live is restricted to those hours. Could it possibly be that because the (volunteer) fire department have day jobs and will be more able to respond to a fire call after 4 pm? Just wondering.

 

[slowzuki]

We live in such a wet area I've stopped bothering to burn brush, too much work. I cut up everything I can burn, push the rest into a pile and dump some sawdust, manure, mud, etc onto it, stuff that holds moisture.

Every year I press what I can reach down with the loader down. In 4 years its pretty much just soil, even 10" softwood logs.

The only thing that is a problem is white/red spruce bows, they won't pile tight and stay springy for years. Thats when I wish I had a chipper!

have had a couple of them big burn piles of tree limbs to brush. i hate dealing them big piles. it takes for ever to get a fire going through the entire thing. and then ya end up re-burning one or two more times. for the stuff around the outside edges or some of the bigger stuff.

wish i had a mulcher / shredder / chopper during those times.

 

[JDgreen227]

We live in such a wet area I've stopped bothering to burn brush, too much work. I cut up everything I can burn, push the rest into a pile and dump some sawdust, manure, mud, etc onto it, stuff that holds moisture.

Every year I press what I can reach down with the loader down. In 4 years its pretty much just soil, even 10" softwood logs.

The only thing that is a problem is white/red spruce bows, they won't pile tight and stay springy for years. Thats when I wish I had a chipper!

Here I have a LOT of cedar branches (27 trees) and they do not decompose worth a darn.