Timber Framers Guild Forums General Barns and Traditional Timberframing Barn too short

Folks: long time lurker (and dreamer) now a poster and hopefully builder.

I recently acquired a realatively traditional timberframe barn, 18x28 which came from near Lake Erie in Southern Ontario. It is a true homemade barn as no two timbers seem to be of the same species. My intent is to raise it as a workshop. Sheeathed in 4/4 t&g over a framed floor.

My quandry at this point is that cows, as a general rule, are short and thus the second level is hung at a mere 6 1/2 feet up the posts. If I want to use it as a workshop, I need to adjust it for my 6' body. My first thoughts were to simply place 6" or 8" sills under it to gain half a foot of height. Now, after re-reading all the resources on joinery, I am thinking of scarphing in an extension - I need to do this on one post that is too rotten to live with. I have seen this done in many books and web pages but never for more than one post at a time. Is it possible to use a stop-splayed, undersquinted and wedged scarphs to add height to all six posts or am I asking for trouble? The six main posts are currently 14' - will 18" - 24" make it completely unstable?

Thanks in advance

Scotty

Adding 2 feet to all posts sounds like a fun project. In all likelihood it will be okay to do but I would not recommend doing so. An 8' post made from a 6' and a 2' section is just not as strong as a continues 8' post.
You could build a 2' perimeter stone wall or build forms and poor concrete and build of of that.

I think EH is right -- add height with the foundation, either a dwarf wall or short masonry columns at the post locations. I personally like the look of a stone or brick-faced continuous dwarf wall.

Gabel

Here is a picture of my friend Brian's restored crib barn in Ohio. The stone posts were original to the frame. Tom

Thanks for the responses - they confirm what I thought, sometimes I just need that sober second thought from someone else.

The project is on a tight budget but I will try and configure some form of dwarf wall. Perhaps a double sill plate to make up 12" - timbers are relatively cheap when you have your own bandmill.

Thanks for the guidance

Scotty

Don't forget that 12" of green sill will shrink enough to potentially cause problems with the sheathing/siding, etc. as the building drops.

gh

Gabel: thanks for the reminder, however I have little worry regarding shrinkage - most of my timbers are cut from standing dead pine.

Thanks again for the insights

Scotty