Barn Inspection

[Robin S. Murray]

Just a curiousity question. Anything particular/different/specific involved in a horse barn inspection? Apparently a huge barn with inside riding track, hydro and plumbing, no insulation and open rafter steel roof . Ontario, Canada

[James E. Braun, CMI]

You need to watch where you step.

[William R. DeVries, CMHI]

is it timber construction, steel check all joints and bracing, bring binocs and look at trussing, if steel bring spud wrench and test bolts, if wood inspect dowels and collar ties, purlins, inspect soffits, ensure ridge vent is clear and working, check walls and how fastened to slab, bring shovel to inspect depth of slab, look for partial gutter at entrances and downspouts with extenders, look where hay is stored ( fire hazard) utility room, tack room, chemicals locked up, look for bait boxes and accesability to pets and kids. horses require approx 100 sqft minimum each check for over crowding and feed storage in safe dry place so mould is not enhanced.
thats what comes to mind this minute
good luck, there an animal all their own, barns require a keen eye and an understanding on how they are operated and proper function..

[Nick Gromicko]

Two questions:

Is this barn in a northern climate where it snows?
Are the new buyers going to use it for the same purpose the existing owners use the barn?

[Nick Gromicko]

The biggest problem I see with barns is that the new owner buys a working farm or farmette, but then doesn't keep cows (they just want the barn).

Once you take the animals out of a barn, the foundation often begins to suffer from freeze/thaw. The animals keep the barn warm.

[Dennis R. Goudreau]

also look for kick damage, manure piles to close to barn, look at the tack room closely ,there should be water & electric at least here there is , like Bill said usual timber frame construction

[Robin S. Murray]

Apparently the barn has not been used for several years. Some strange deal that fell through and owners were renting to someone, so the agent is not getting any help as to the background/history of the place, yadda yadda...The place is located in Ontario, Canada, so there are cold months with snow. I have only spoken with an agent so dont know anything about the place or what the buyers plan to do with it, yet. Thank you's for your advice.

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Originally Posted by gromicko

The biggest problem I see with barns is that the new owner buys a working farm or farmette, but then doesn't keep cows (they just want the barn).

Once you take the animals out of a barn, the foundation often begins to suffer from freeze/thaw. The animals keep the barn warm.

Very good point Nick. After the animals have gone or the barn is unoccupied it can suffer neglect.
I would start with the foundation. Stone, rubble, wooden, block, etc. Then the timbers. You have to have a knowledge of barn framing. Post-and beam is typical and here is a link.
http://www.barntoolbox.com/post-and-beam-barns.htm
You will see wood jointing of various techniques.
Then the roofing and exterior shell or envelope.
The electrical can be 3 phase and plumbing is often simple unless for cattle. Milking.
So no it is not simple and it is dependent upon what that barn was used for.
I hope that helped.
Thanks...Robert

[Robert Ernst]

Nick makes a good point. I just saw a thing where the Mall of America has no heaters. They use the sun and the people to heat the building. A person puts out around 600 BTU per hour. So the animals have to produce allot more.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by rernst1

Nick makes a good point. I just saw a thing where the Mall of America has no heaters. They use the sun and the people to heat the building. A person puts out around 600 BTU per hour. So the animals have to produce allot more.

In the 1980's-early 90's, a good friend/neighbour of mine, John Amos (artist and imaginative builder) put together a framing/ insulating system he called the "balloon framed trusswall" for highly energy-efficient simple homes up to 3500 sq ft with incredible airtightness and high insulation levels at prevailing prices for average spec homes then. He constructed his own air exchangers.

One house had an article about it in a 1986 edition of Fine Homebuilding. The 1.5 storey home (2,500 sq ft + finished full basement) was finished just before Xmas that year. The owner had a small family re-union over the holidays on a dull, sunless day that outdoor temps were -10*C (14*F). With the stove on cooking food for about 30 people + the body heat, the house started overheating....they turned the air exchanger to high to try to get heat out and cooler air in but eventually had to open windows!

I personally blew all the cellulose insulation for walls (R32) and attics (R60) of that home.

PS: BTW, he went to work in southern NH for about 17-18 years and now has returned back to New Brunswick to renovate the 130+ year old family farmhouse that he inherited into to a near "zero energy" retirement home.

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Brian
Can you get your hands on any literature or drawings Brian of his system?
I would like to take a look. Make a good read.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by ryoung7

Brian
Can you get your hands on any literature or drawings Brian of his system?
I would like to take a look. Make a good read.

Here's a similar one:

http://books.google.ca/books?id=1IqB...hanger&f=false

PS:
Here's one very similar to what he made but used wood for the frame and heavy plastic for the plates:
http://www.ehow.com/way_5810256_home...exchanger.html

Another:
http://makeprojects.com/Project/Heat-Exchanger/279/1

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

No not for heat exchangers. I have looked at them at building products stores Brian.
I meant your friend drawing of his system ( John Amos (artist and imaginative builder) put together a framing/ insulating system he called the "balloon framed trusswall" )

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by ryoung7

No not for heat exchangers. I have looked at them at building products stores Brian.
I meant your friend drawing of his system ( John Amos (artist and imaginative builder) put together a framing/ insulating system he called the "balloon framed trusswall" )

OOHH!!!!!

Can't find anything easy online, I have the issue stored in boxes.......somewhere.....!~!~

Here's the info about the Fine Homebuilding article:

The Balloon-Truss SystemJohn Amos
Issue 24 December/January1984/1985
Page 65


Maybe someone has an easily retreivable copy.

Here's something similar. In his, the trusses went into the earth (bottom ends were appropriately treated foundation wood stock) to become a PWF (permanent wood foundation)!!
http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/art...arsentruss.htm

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Thanks Brian. Dam nice of you.
Thanks...Robert.