We have a 1794 house in Lexington, Massachusetts with a late 19th-century carriage house attached in the back and used as an apartment. We plan to dismantle the carriage house, replace it with a garage, and build a new apartment adjacent to it.

The carriage house is approximately 30' x 20', two stories, post & beam construction, and in pretty good condition. The roofline meets the walls about three feet up from the second floor, so there is full headroom only in the center third of the second floor.

Photos are posted at picasaweb.google.com/Tommaso.Fortmann/CarriageHouse?authuser=0&feat=directlink. In the first floor interior photos, note that the beams are mortised into the posts and secured by wooden pegs. Because some of the pegs sheared, we added the steel straps. We also added collar ties to relieve the outward pressure that had caused the shearing.

We're wondering if anyone is interested in purchasing the components for reassembly elsewhere. If so, please send email to tom [at sign] fortmann [dot] org, or call 781.861.7296.

Tom & Carla Fortmann