Building Repair Help Needed?

mscher

Lieutenant
Joined
Apr 21, 2004
Messages
1,424
I need some help with a leaning barn, so here is the story.<br /><br />The 138 yr old is 24x40' total, of which 24x16 is two story at one end. The rest is a "lean to" style roof which originally had a corn crib at the other end.<br /><br />There is no internal heavy beam structure, typical of old barns and there is no cross bracing at all.<br /><br />Anyway, the corn crib rotted out, leaving the "lean to" roof pulling against the two story and combined with west winds, is causing the two story to lean several degrees, to the point of a cracking joist on the 2 story.<br /><br />I have removed the corn crib and supported the roof at that end, but now need a method to either <br />"push" or "pull" on the two story, to attempt to shift it back to at least close to square.<br /><br />One Idea I had was to drive in those augers, like the ones used to steady telephone poles and use cables to pull from the two story ceiling joists, but am not sure what the holding power of these augers are.<br /><br />Any input welcome<br /><br />Marty
 

Ron G

Commander
Joined
Apr 28, 2005
Messages
2,905
Re: Building Repair Help Needed?

That sounds about right,i was talking last year to a guy that used cables and a comealong,i think he went from the opposite post up and jacked a little each day.
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,065
Re: Building Repair Help Needed?

You can use cables and a turn buckle but like Ron said go slow! The holding power of the guy wire cables is pretty tough depending on the angle and the soil they are bedded into.
 

20/20

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
173
Re: Building Repair Help Needed?

I would move little by little also try not to do it all at once. Move it some and let it settle some then move some more. When ever we jacked houses{back in the day} we would only move them a little at a time. Could take weeks to get it back to were it belongs.
 

treedancer

Commander
Joined
Apr 10, 2005
Messages
2,216
Re: Building Repair Help Needed?

Take it apart carefully and sell the 138-year-old boards on E- bay most likely get enough to build a new barn.
 

michael-lagrange

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 3, 2006
Messages
211
Re: Building Repair Help Needed?

slow pull with cabels yes, steam inside the old barn will losen up the wood and you can move it easy, lots of steam for several hrs.
 
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