Hi folks. I wanted to post a few pictures. I am considering removing my barn loft, mainly the center section. I plan to leave the support posts in place. My question is- does the flooring of the barn loft, and the floor joists of the loft floor add any structural support to the barn? I.e. keep the barn from spreading or pushing in? Or is all of that done by the posts? I plan to consult an engineer if moving forward, but curious of your 2 cents.
Barn loft removal
- Thread starter Gvevents1
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hslogger
Platinum Member
Ho boy, me thinks you gonna wanna rethink your desires.......
quicksandfarmer
Elite Member
Your barn looks a lot like my barn, which I've written about in this thread: This Old Barn
I don't think the loft floor is structural. Although as these old barns age and settle you never know what is "contributing."
I don't think the loft floor is structural. Although as these old barns age and settle you never know what is "contributing."
Jchonline
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And here I was clicking on this thread hoping for some dynamite videos...
Seriously though...other than shear strength against high winds I cant think of any..but I am not an engineer.
ponytug
Super Member
Can I ask why you want to remove the floors?
Not to pick on the question, nor am I an engineer, but I can think of a number of ways that the floor adds strength to the barn. Resistance to wind thrust, shear, added bracing on those vertical beams to keep them from shifting...
All the best,
Peter
Not to pick on the question, nor am I an engineer, but I can think of a number of ways that the floor adds strength to the barn. Resistance to wind thrust, shear, added bracing on those vertical beams to keep them from shifting...
All the best,
Peter
Thomas
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Welcome to TBN.
Do you live in snow country if so may want to reconsider... not sure of your location.
Do you live in snow country if so may want to reconsider... not sure of your location.
bigtiller
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That looks like a nice old barn, a nice thing to have!
And for that reason alone, I would leave it as is, and build another building so suit your new needs.
And for that reason alone, I would leave it as is, and build another building so suit your new needs.
ruffdog
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I know of 2 old barns that the loft floor WAS a big part of keeping the walls from separating. One of them was my neighbor's barn growing up and it was a big dairy barn. We ended up a bunch of cables holding the walls together to the floor. The barn is long gone because of a housing development.
The other barn is my neighbor's now. It is still a big barn but is smaller than the first. He said the ends are held to the beams by pounding wood dowels into drilled holes. Everything is slowly letting go so he only fills the loft 1/4 full.
The other barn is my neighbor's now. It is still a big barn but is smaller than the first. He said the ends are held to the beams by pounding wood dowels into drilled holes. Everything is slowly letting go so he only fills the loft 1/4 full.
turnkey4099
Elite Member
POst and beam construction!!!! I don't know what your goal is but you might consider selling that barn for salvagge - it's worth a lot, and then rebuilding what your want. The salvage price might pay most or all of the new construction.