Building surveys

I did not find a thread specific to this topic, and did not want to clog up another with my questions.


I would like to do a survey of an old barn that is of a style that I have not seen before. I've been told it may be torn down at some point, and I would like to have a record of it if I can't find a way to save it. I could probably get the frame for the taking, but not sure I could make it happen at this time.

I believe Ken Hume pointed me in the right direction before as to the survey. I am going to try and get some fresh photos this weekend, and take some measurements. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Dave,

There is a thread w/ an attempt at a pretty extensive survey list here:

http://www.tfguild.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=15759&page=8#Post15759

Ah yes, spring is here, the birds are singing, the grass is just coming up, the geese are honking, trout fishing is about on us and barns are being surveyed.

Tim

I got a few photos and some measurements.

I found a mortise that I believe may have been bored by a shell auger, it does not have a feed screw hole in the middle of it. It is hard to see in the photo, but there is a small round depression in the top of the mortise.



This is the mark used for the brace on the second bent, east wall. The west wall uses the same mark, with an additional line above and parallel to the first. The third bent uses the same one line two line, but with a half-circle. The first and fourth bents have their marks hidden by the siding, I presume.



This barn has double tie-beams with passing braces. They are on 5'x5' layout.

OK, those pics are huge. I'll go smaller next time. If anyone has a problem loading let me know, and I'll try to fix them. Sorry.

NO, NO, that is great detail, they come across fine. Very nice pictures.

It looks like the bottom cord was cut for clearance for something. I keep looking for spoon bit marks and find none. I live in an area where there is more modern framing and the spoon bit had fallen to the side to be replaced with feed screws. That leads to a possible pre 1800 building. Feed screws were developed around 1797. Please correct if I am mistaken.

Tim

I had heard a similar date for the feed screws. The house that goes with the barn is a confirmed 1758, according to the owner. I believe they have researched it with the historical society, or possibly town records. This barn is in Canaan, NY.

As for the removed section, that is a bit of a mystery. The corresponding framework on the other side of the central bay has a post that runs to the upper tie beam. I'll be back in a minute with photos.

As you can see, this side of the central bay, bent three, has a post mid-span.



There is no mortise on the bottom of the upper tie beam in bent two. There is a small stub mortise in the top of the (I'll get back to you on the name) beam that separates the hay mow from the main bay.

There is still a hayfork in the barn, and it runs right at the peak. I've seen many barns modified for the tracks, but that would not have been necessary in this barn.