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I purchased a 65 year old,2 story,balloon framed barn that i want to construct into my new shop. The current frameing is in good shape but has no diagonal braceing. The foundation is a poured footing that still appears solid. The sideing is old clapboard that needs to be totally replaced. I want to remove the sideing, install proper braceing, sheath the building and install new sideing. My questions is this. The building leans a little. As much as 10″ off plumb but only toward the rear of the building. Should I try to staighten her up before applying the new sheathing/sideing ? How would I do it? or should I chalk it up to character and tighten it up the way it is?
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If the building is only leaning on one side then it is really not leaning at all. Rather the back wall is shifting for whatever reason. If the building were leaning (like a parallelogram) both sides would be equally out of plumb.
Even if the footer looks "solid" it may be moving. Movement isn't bad, but over time it can be. 10" off plumb sounds like alot to me. I think I'd straighten it. This sounds like a good size jacking job involving new footers.
One other option - it may have been built out of plumb. Any way to gather clues as to whether it was built crooked? I.E. - adjacent buildings, flashings, fences attached to it?
-Rob
*"The building leans a little. As much as 10" off plumb....."This has to be my nomination for the understatement of the year.
*Wonder what is going to happen to a building that is moving, sinking. collapsing, whatever, when the siding is removed? Might want to have your video camera rolling for possible submission to "Funniest Home Videos". Joe H
*Mike and Joe,I'm leaning towards racking it another 2" so that the siding will come out even. (every once in a while)Silly question, straighten the damn thing out before you spend a nickel on it.We don't know how big this thing is so it's pretty hard to give educated advise on what you're going to need to push it over.Even Rob figured out that there may be more to the story than you have indicated. Is the building racked or is one wall kicked out?Gabe
*10"? Eeeek! Rent jacks.
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Start with a level foundation, then check your measurements top and bottom, just in case it was thrown up on a binge. Be sure to brace the thing before you start any demo. A pair of comealong winches, criss-cross and diagonal to the wall plane should square it up once the siding is off. In the end you will be far better off working with something straight, plumb, square and level.
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I purchased a 65 year old,2 story,balloon framed barn that i want to construct into my new shop. The current frameing is in good shape but has no diagonal braceing. The foundation is a poured footing that still appears solid. The sideing is old clapboard that needs to be totally replaced. I want to remove the sideing, install proper braceing, sheath the building and install new sideing. My questions is this. The building leans a little. As much as 10" off plumb but only toward the rear of the building. Should I try to staighten her up before applying the new sheathing/sideing ? How would I do it? or should I chalk it up to character and tighten it up the way it is?