I have a 100+ year old bank barn, balloon frame construction. Original, super wide and thick boards are still on the floor, but it pretty tough shape.
I’ll eventually hire an engineer, but want to start kicking ideas around now on what kind of replacement boards work, if concrete is possible/wise and other types of materials that could support a single vehicle and a workshop (2nd floor will eventually be a guest house).
There’s a basement (bank barn—built into an embankment), so the cars are actually driven over the basement on these boards.
Brainstorm? Thanks.
Replies
Greetings b,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
'Nemo me impune lacesset'
No one will provoke me with impunity
...balloon frame construction...
so this is framed with sawn lumber? - most of the timberframed barns thru the midwest (the ones I am familiar with) are tremedously overbuilt and if in good condition I believe you could pull out the existing flooring, use ribbed metal decking and pour a concrete floor - I think your engineer idea is the best tho, particularly if this has sawn joist -
otherwise, you could to find a sawyer in your area and purchase some planking to replace the deteriorated existing - around here most of the nice barns had 2" thick softwood (cottonwood - poplar) random width plank flooring with floating splines - this does make a warm comfortable floor for a shop -
how about some picts of the existing situation? from underneath the floor you want to replace -
Barn vouyer..LOL
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