Tearing down the old barn!

[First one]

I've never done anything like this before and could use any tips you have to offer. The barn is att. to the side of the house and about 2' away from the pole barn. The sills are all gone and the roof has a pretty good sag in the middle .The size is 30'x60' . I'll try and get some pic's on. I'm going to start taking off some of the old shingles on the end away from the house then some of the roof boards, but leave the beams . I'm going try and take the roof off first and work down. I could use some advice if you have any. I don't want to tear off the side of the old house or flatten my pole barn (or me!!)

 

[MikeInEburg]

I've taken a couple of barns/sheds down and discovered that they generally don't fall easily. Being in close proximity to house, I'd start with the roof and work toward the ground. Good luck!
Mike

 

[grnspot110]

I've done it in the past for the lumber. Basically, reverse from construction, provided you want to save any materials. ~~ grnspot110

 

[First one]

I just got the sm. shed down 10x12 that was on the side of it . Took the forks and slid them under the roof and picked up , came apart easy . Now that it's done ,I'll start on the barn. I'll strip off some shingles and see how far I get. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Argosy]

What type of construction is the barn?

I'm with MikeInEburg. Buildings can look pretty rough but still don't come down easy.

 

[First one]

What type of construction is the barn?

I'm with MikeInEburg. Buildings can look pretty rough but still don't come down easy.

The barn is a post and beam around 90 years old . Has ceder shingles ,then a mix of asphalt and asbestos over them. What a miss. The roof has leaked for years before I bought the place and the roofing boards are pretty bad in some places. I put up a second floor in half of it ,so I can use a step ladder to get to the top inside to cut the boards . It's way to gone to get up on the roof from the outside.The floor and sills are all gone, and some of the beams look as though they may be pretty bad also. I'm working on it now and will keep checking to see if I'm doing it wrong (still alive with nothing more than the loss of a little blood and skin)

 

[brin]

I would try to think 3 or 4 steps ahead as you tear it down...In other words..If I do this what will happen and keep thinking that as you go....something like each action has an opposite reaction and then no telling what else, especially if you are inside or close on the outside...take your time and be careful..not worth injury...Is it ?

 

[First one]

I would try to think 3 or 4 steps ahead as you tear it down...In other words..If I do this what will happen and keep thinking that as you go....something like each action has an opposite reaction and then no telling what else, especially if you are inside or close on the outside...take your time and be careful..not worth injury...Is it ?

brin, thanks for the warning. I left the end wall standing,for now and took out the roof section between the rafters near the end. I think if I just keep moving towards the house taking out each roof section, but maybe leaving the rafters up until I get a few sections ahead ? The second floor is only half of the barn, so after that it might be a little tricky. After I get the roof off , than the next step would be removing the second floor, than what? I guess start taken the walls down between the posts . I should be able to save some of the beams by taking out the pins to take it apart , I hope anyway.I looked up between the house and barn, and saw that there is very little holding it there. Another thing I've got to deal with is my fuse box is on the outside wall of the house inside the barn,I'll have to get that moved inside before I get to close to the house, or at least build something around it until I can get it moved. Still looking for any tips that might make it easier if there's such a thing. thanks

 

[PA hayseed]

Some of those beams may look a little rough, but milled back down and they make very nice lumber for furniture or a rustic styled addition. Good luck, demo is hard work (can be). Even harder trying to separate the good lumber from the bad.

Good beams go for nice money. Just saying. If you bother to save it, make sure to tarp it.

 

[Tony_S]

Has ceder shingles ,then a mix of asphalt and asbestos over them.

Asbestos is bad stuff. From what I understand, disposing of it [properly] is no trivial matter. You'd be wise to investigate the ramifications of dealing with it.
This could involve some serious PPE.