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24 Bay Road, North Falmouth, MA 02556 508-563-9393 |
Period Barn Restoration |
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 Early 2004 |
Basement Level, Early 2004 |
| When the present owners acquired this early-1800's barn, it was nearly falling down. The foundation was unstable. Many of the foundation posts -- cedar tree trunks -- were rotting away. In the barn itself, many of the joists, rafters, floorboards, and beams were also decayed. The walls and windows were in bad condition. | |
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The foundation had to be restored first. The barn was jacked up, and the original foundation was re-pointed where needed. The foundation on the back side of the barn had shifted, and was leaning. New buttresses were added to stabilize and strengthen the original foundation wall. |
| Once the foundation was sound, work began on the structure itself. All the deteriorated support pillars and carrying beams had to be carefully removed and replaced. Where old support pillars were removed, new footings were poured to provide a solid base for the new supports. Much of the "new" wood used in this project was recycled. |
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Placing the support beams on the foundation involved much detail work. |
| The old studs were, of course, fewer than today's building codes require, and much of the siding had weathered, worn, and deteriorated beyond saving. New studs and siding were added in sections. |
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The roof structure was weak. New support beams were added where needed for safety and stability. |
| The new loft needed flooring and joists. Small windows below the roof ends provide natural light. |
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Stairs were needed to get to the loft. Most old barns simply have ladders to the hayloft, but this barn will now be used primarily by people, not for hay storage. |
| Where the original windows could not be used, new windows were hand fabricated to match the original multi paned windows. Sheathing used here is recycled rough sawn pine. |  |
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Electrical service was added. the original shingles were adequate in many places; we're replacing only the truly worn out ones. The owners have already started landscaping in areas where work has been completed. |
| The loft's recycled rough sawn railing is now in place. The gaps shown in the un-renovated exterior wall in this photo, illustrate the condition the barn was in before work began. |
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The L-shaped loft covers the back and one end of the barn. The area inside the main barn door is open from floor to roof line. Beams came from the Cataumet sawmill. Prior to that they were in a mill building on the North Shore. |
| Two carpenters preparing to install a window in the loft area. Sheathing in the loft came from pine that was cut to make room for a cranberry bog. |
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One of the windows installed under the roof ends. |
| The barn was completed over a period of years. The main floor and the loft, currently storing things for the winter, can be used for barn dances and other parties. The loft can also be used for sleep-overs for the grandchildren. |
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| This barn goes with the Historic House restoration that was done three years previously. |