When starting out, you find a good deal on an older barn, or the one you already own might have seen better days. For hundreds of years, many Seasoned barn owners have taken care of the aspects concerning their barn rather than replacing them. This guide will help you spruce up your old barn.
And you can always reach out to us for a professional barn restoration service in Ontario if your old barn is situated within this area.
Exterior Barn Maintenance Tips:
- A wood barn’s boards and beams should be replaced when they become rotten or damaged. This will not only improve the structure’s appearance but also increase its longevity. At some point, you might also need a new roof, and a metal roof is often the best choice because they tend to last a lot longer than other kinds of roofs.
- The simple act of painting a wood barn can greatly improve its appearance, as well as protect it from weather damage, and adding a new door to an old barn adds to its aesthetic value as well.
- On the outside of your barn, you can also hang a barn star or quilt board to add a bit of charm. In addition to landscaping, maybe you should add a few flower pots or an outdoor table and chairs to spruce up the perimeter.
- The roof is one of the most important aspects of your barn. It is important to keep the roof watertight. Due to water from a leaky roof, roof boards, rafters, framing, and floors can rot, damaging whatever is inside the barn.
- Make sure to check your roof annually to make sure it is watertight. By using binoculars, inspect the exterior for overlaps between roofs and flashing. Take the time to inspect areas where roofing or flashing might fail, such as ridge valleys, around cupolas, intersecting walls, and places where snow and ice can fall.
Interior Barn Maintenance Tips:
- The interiors of most older barns need some attention as well. You may need to replace wood beams, lumber, or poles, and you may want to add a few modern conveniences as well. Installing custom stalls or perhaps installing new hardware on existing gates or stalls can really enhance the aesthetics of your barn.
- Considering that many older barns may not have adequate lighting (or none at all), you should also update your barn’s electrical needs by hiring an electrician.
- Fix framing, flooring, and other interior elements. In general, the flooring requires the most barn maintenance. Roof leaks and decaying hay can easily damage flooring and joists. Check the condition of floors every year by cleaning and sweeping them.
Old barns remain useful and are regarded as beautiful by many people. It makes economic sense to maintain them. In addition to providing storage, they can also be used as workspace.
By adapting them to new uses rather than building a replacement, finances can be put to other good uses rather than paying interest on a loan. Following the above tips, an older barn can really shine up and can even rival the new barns in beauty and function!