Barn Razing Advice

[Bob Dole]

I have 16 acres where I intended to expire, but that didn’t work out. There’s a large barn on the property that as best I can tell was built in the 1930s, with thousands of board feet of old growth oak. I’m trying to tear it down and salvage the lumber, but this shit might as well be welded together. Everything I’ve seen so far is nailed, but holy shit. Anyone have any experience or advice on dismantling this thing without destroying the wood?

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wizard

You want to attack it from the inside. A good heavy board or rod and start beating the wood outward. If you let the board do the work and you are just swinging and aiming you will be amazed what you can accomplish. Better yet call your local ag teacher or football coach and offer to hire some young bucks and you supervise. Really the only issues are removing nails from the boards. It’s Shiit work. And making sure the barn is structurally sound after a certain point. Picture all of the walls off but the weight of the roof still there in a strong kansas wind. It’s not a bad idea to ask yourself..... “self” what do I really want to repurpose and what am I ok with burning. Get your good stuff and add diesel to the rest and let it burn. Don’t forget to call the fire dept.

I started today on a wall of 10”x2”x20’ boards, and an 8 pound sledge didn’t do jack. It seriously feels like that shit is welded.

Surveying it today, I think I’m good taking down walls and floors, structurally. There’s a serious quantity of that good stuff to get some $$ out of it.

[ping2000]

Originally Posted by eDave

Is there anything that would blow it up without the flames?

No.

[Mr. Wizard]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

I started today on a wall of 10”x2”x20’ boards, and an 8 pound sledge didn’t do jack. It seriously feels like that shit is welded.

Surveying it today, I think I’m good taking down walls and floors, structurally. There’s a serious quantity of that good stuff to get some $$ out of it.

It IS welded. Those nails have rusted themselves to the wood and the wood has expanded itself into the nails. Here is another idea if you have electricity and or a generator. A handheld air hammer or electric hammer with a big flat end will do wonders. Place it against the stud and alternate sides. It’s quite amazing. If that’s not an option you can also section the barn.
Get a chainsaw or sawsall and cut sections out studs and all. This is by far the fastest way to salvage.

[Shiver Me Timbers]

Keep us posted on your progress. I sell that kind of stuff frequently. Supplied a job in the Mountains with reclaimed Chestnut beams "chopped" up for for flooring. Dude paid a kings ransom for the stuff. We were estimating the timbers were over 200 years old.

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wizard

It IS welded. Those nails have rusted themselves to the wood and the wood has expanded itself into the nails. Here is another idea if you have electricity and or a generator. A handheld air hammer or electric hammer with a big flat end will do wonders. Place it against the stud and alternate sides. It’s quite amazing. If that’s not an option you can also section the barn.
Get a chainsaw or sawsall and cut sections out studs and all. This is by far the fastest way to salvage.

I have a generator. That may be the best option.

[Shiver Me Timbers]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wizard

It IS welded. Those nails have rusted themselves to the wood and the wood has expanded itself into the nails. Here is another idea if you have electricity and or a generator. A handheld air hammer or electric hammer with a big flat end will do wonders. Place it against the stud and alternate sides. It’s quite amazing. If that’s not an option you can also section the barn.
Get a chainsaw or sawsall and cut sections out studs and all. This is by far the fastest way to salvage.

I agree with Wizard. It is much faster to section off and then salvage. Your burn pile might be a bit larger but you end up with material that is easier to organize, inventory and sell.

[Mr. Wizard]

Then you can sell the wood in full sections. You don’t have to take the wood off the studs just sell the whole section. 4x8. 8x8. Whatever size you can salvage. If I had to do another salvage this is the only way I would do it. Harvest sections.

[eDave]

Can you drill out the nails? maybe cut all the wood out you can and leave the framing. Hopefully it's just the ends of the boards.

[Rain Man]

It's nailed? Well, this is easy if you know someone with a really big MRI machine.

[Shiver Me Timbers]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wizard

Then you can sell the wood in full sections. You don’t have to take the wood off the studs just sell the whole section. 4x8. 8x8. Whatever size you can salvage. If I had to do another salvage this is the only way I would do it. Harvest sections.

I worked with an architect and builder 10 years ago on a job in Aspen. The architect hired a demo guy (Owner paid for it) who gave him a list of salvageable fiber on 2 barns in ohio. he designed a house around that list. They used 30% of all the material. The rest of it went back to the salvage guy who credited it back for 20c on the dollar. My end of the deal was to supply the structural timbers (we had to distress and make look 100 years old) that needed structurally graded and stamped.

Find the right customer and wood out of an old barn is like finding a stash of gold.

[Shiver Me Timbers]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

It's nailed? Well, this is easy if you know someone with a really big MRI machine.

We use a hand held metal scanner. Our mill shop does not like old wood going thru their molder with nails in it

[Bob Dole]

My phone photos are too large. Let’s try this.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by KS Smitty

PM Bob Dole.

First post thread KILLER

!!! !!!

How in the hell does THIS not have 500 green thumbs?

[Mr. Wizard]

Ok I will give you my last secret. After you have sectioned out the peices you want get a 3/8 “ hole saw and drill around the nails. You can literally do a barn a day doing this and the holes give it character.

[Mr. Wizard]

Ok I will give you one more. It’s been a while since we did this and my memory is not what it used to be. After sectioning the barn and taking away your peices cut half way through your corners then hook on with a chain or rope and pull them out til she comes down. That will give you the opportunity to harvest more lumber safely. Also it makes for a safer burn. Good luck.