Barn-To-Garage Renovation!

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KCKKen

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Location
Kansas City, Kansas
First Name
Ken
Truck Year
1985/1978
Truck Model
1500/C20
Engine Size
350/350
Hi Everyone!

This project has seemed to take FOREVER, but finally I'm seeing true progress!

The house I'm renovating was built somewhere between 1905 and 1909, and it's my belief that the "barn" is at least that old. Originally there was a wooden building just to the east of this building, but it collapsed years ago. What remained was a three-walled structure that had two massive 6 X 14" beams running front-to-back, three brick walls (made by someone who was learning masonry as they went) a walk-in door and the large barn doors.

My plan has been to build a wall to replace the one that never was, raise the roofline over the stall section (so I can eventually install a lift), put a concrete floor in (with PEX tubing for eventual radiant heat), and build stud walls just inside the brick, so that the brick is now just for looks. Two years ago we got the concrete in place, last year the brick work was repaired as needed (settling had several bricks loose and the window/door openings lacked the steel lentils to support them), so this year has been all about the framing. Finally, I can see what until now has been only in my head!

The next step that the contractor (retired friend) is doing will be to reconstruct the barn doors. I had to order 3 X 10" framing for the opening (some 6 X 10" beams cut in half), once that arrives the doors themselves can be built. He's building them so they can be insulated but look pretty much like they originally did. The walk-in door will be last, I need to blast the bricks around the opening where they were repaired (the mason made quite a mess).

It'll only be one stall, with a shop area next to the stall, but for now it'll work. There's room for two more stalls where the wooden structure used to be, and those will have doors on both ends -- the back of the property has an alley that ends just behind it, so we will be able to drive right through if needed.

Here's three pictures of the work performed in previous years.

Take Care,
Ken Snyder
in Kansas City, Kansas
 

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KCKKen

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Location
Kansas City, Kansas
First Name
Ken
Truck Year
1985/1978
Truck Model
1500/C20
Engine Size
350/350
As a follow-up, here's three pictures of the work performed so far this year

Take Care,
KS
 

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SirRobyn0

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Rob
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1984
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Awesome! I absolutely LOVE new life being brought into old structures! It's a nice change of pace compared to the usual practice of demolish and build new. I believe @SirRobyn0 would agree.
Yes but @bucket You barn takes the cake I love those traditional farm style barns like crazy. Regardless any kind of barn to garage is pretty neat!
 

KCKKen

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Location
Kansas City, Kansas
First Name
Ken
Truck Year
1985/1978
Truck Model
1500/C20
Engine Size
350/350
Hi Everyone!
Sorry been off the forum for a while, I had knee replacement surgery in November and am finally back to the new "normal" -- it's not bad, just taking a little getting used to.

Anyway, the project progress has slowed a bit with the winter weather. However, the contractor got the fixed windows installed over the barn door openings and we got the roofing contractor to install the roof and skylight. Now my guy is working on the new barn door frame as the weather allows. We took two 6X6's and had the lumberyard cut them in half, yielding us 2&7/8" X 6" boards for the door frame, this is as close to the original lumber as we can get. These are attached with lag bolts to the brick on each side of the door opening.

Once he has the new doors in place I'll get a siding contractor out to cover all the wooden walls with maintenance-free (meaning no paint) siding and soffits, and a guttering contractor out to install seamless guttering with protection that prevents leaves from clogging it. Two windows in the brick walls and a walk-in door will complete the work for now -- I want to have him start focusing on projects in the house and use the garage to store materials so they don't have to walk all over them as they're working. When we get closer we'll finish up the wiring, plumbing, HVAC, and floor heating.

In the meantime I'm going to get re-started on the 85 GMC truck project at the house we're living in -- the 78 Chevy is having transmission issues that need to be addressed so I can haul out parts to be cleaned/repaired and pick up more parts. I feel like 2024 is going to have a lot of progress on both projects.

Take Care,
KS
 

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Shorty81

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Darren
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Love a good barn project! I'm going to start sawing up timbers for my timber framed barn. Our April tornado last year tore up 26 of our trees. I'm going to use all my own raw materials.
 

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KCKKen

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2021
Posts
59
Reaction score
123
Location
Kansas City, Kansas
First Name
Ken
Truck Year
1985/1978
Truck Model
1500/C20
Engine Size
350/350
Well, three months later and I can say I have it to the point where I can start storing things in it! I still have the two windows in the brick to install, but I have sturdy covers in place until I do. Here's the latest, including the official first occupant (just a photo op) of the stall.
Now back to important things: the 78 C20 transmission issue was self-inflicted (more on the transmission thread) so now I can start on the 85 GMC frame rebuild.

Take Care,
KS
 

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