Just about finished with rebuilding this barn… the extensions are all now up… and the roofer has come in and installed the standing seam metal roof. All that remains is for us is to clean up the remaining unused stones and take them to our next project.

The barn looks as if it has always been there doesn’t it?

She has a new roof, a new foundation, a new life, and a new owner… one that will take care of her.

All is well in the world.

Originally posted 2015-03-19 11:46:53.

Here’s a close up of one of the mortise and tenon joints that connects the barn’s extensions back to the barn. The joint is all ready for a peg to be inserted which will then lock this joint secure for another century or two.

Originally posted 2015-03-19 11:32:42.

So, now the focus of this double pen barn project is the re-assembly of the extensions, which quickly doubles the square footage of the barn.

If you will, observe how people now have started to congregate under the barn’s roof, even though it is far from being complete.

A barn is shelter for man and beast alike. We are all drawn to them.

Originally posted 2015-03-19 11:26:13.

So many lines.

The logs run one way, and the rafters another.

And then the roof sheathing went on and created yet another set of lines. No one was prepared for the moment the sun came out and overwhelmed the barn with shadows.

The affect wouldn’t last for long. Within a few days we would have a metal roof on top of the barn and “the days of overwhelming shadows” would end… but for a time… it was amazing.

Originally posted 2015-03-18 16:00:30.

We are well on our way (as seen here in this photo) to having the roof sheathed.

“Sheathed” is such a nice word don’t you think? Let those who work in cubicles have their fancy words… builders get to sheath!

If you build houses or barns, every so often you get to spend your day… sheathing.

Up on top of the roof, nailing down one board at time. Life is good. The view of the world around you is great, and the workmanship of all that you have been working on during the past few weeks lies beneath you.

When you arrive home that evening the conversation goes something like this…

“Hi honey, what did you do at work today?”

“Well, I sheathed today… it was a good day.”

“That’s nice, dear”

This barn originally had rough sawn lumber for sheathing. There was no Costco back then where one could load up their truck with plywood for sheathing. And even if there had been a building supply warehouse, plywood would not have been an available option.

I find that over the course of many years that wood becomes baked and brittle lying under a metal roof. So, we replaced the original sheathing with new lumber that I purchased from a nearby sawmill that supplies us with locally harvested lumber. It’s inexpensive to buy, extremely strong, and a pleasure to work with. No plywood sheathing goes on this barn, no sirree.

After it’s all applied we will trim the ends so that they all the same length, in one long pass with the saw.

Notice also in this photo that down at the far end of the barn that we are starting to build one of the barn’s extensions.

Originally posted 2015-03-18 15:40:20.

The masons are working feverishly on the four stone walls that will soon support the coming extensions off of the barn.

I have done my best over the years to always have some kind of stonework going on at my job-sites. I have found that every structure, whether a barn or a home, looks much better if there is stone work incorporated… quality stone work that is… not some glued-on product.

Most people in the construction field like to work with background music being played… more than any other trade or career that I can think of.

Originally posted 2015-03-18 15:01:36.

One last photo of this phase of the barn’s reconstruction… the men are preparing to set the last pair of rafters…

Originally posted 2015-03-18 14:08:49.

I find that visitors to this property often gaze upon this barn as if they are viewing the Parthenon in Greece, or one of the many old Cathedrals in Europe.

Isn’t it amazing that so many people love barns, yet we allow so many to be lost each year?

I notice the absence of them when I drive the roads of this state. I read somewhere a while back that the state of Virginia now only has 10% of the number of barns that she had fifty years ago.

That’s just sad.

Here’s one barn that will be around for a long time to come. Isn’t she beautiful?

Originally posted 2015-03-17 14:39:37.

Just look at these barn rafters!

Aren’t they just the prettiest little things that you have ever seen?

I just love ’em.

All straight in a little row.

Well, not that straight. If you look at the bottoms of the rafters, where they rest on the plate, you can see a bit of a curve to them. I think most builders would have straightened that out.

But, I find that one of things that gives character to older buildings is the lack of perfection found in them. They are like us… they come with a few imperfections, but are quite loveable that way.

So, I leave manufactured perfection to other builders and spend my days admiring the work of people who build with their hands and use simple tools.

Originally posted 2015-03-17 14:11:00.

This photo is worth spending a few moments of your time in order to “take it all in”. You likely won’t see anything like it, ever again.

Maybe, it’s just me. Maybe, I get too carried away on my appreciation for these old barns. My wife will tell you that there isn’t any “maybe” about it. lol

But you all put up with me… and I thank you for that…

Let me tell you what I see.

I see ancient, nearly-extinct wood (chestnut) in a remarkably wonderful state of preservation. This barn has never been exposed to any weathering, there are no worn, grey, splintery surfaces, it’s all just a fresh, naturally patinaed, work of art.

There is no impressive notching to see here. No excessive joinery of any kind to distract the eye. Simple, straightforward workmanship, at it’s finest. Square notches make up the corners, and a basic overlap joint connects the two hewn pieces that make up the top plate.

And that, is clearly all that was needed. This barn stood proud for many decades and will continue to do so for many more. It turns out that dovetail joints are not required.

Who would have thought that beauty could be found in nature, and in hand workmanship, not in machined perfection?

The logs and the pole rafters that make up this barn were likely gathered on site. Two men, who likely farmed for for a living (just one of many skills they possessed), went into the woods with two tools, an axe and a shaving knife and built this barn.

No county inspector, no architect, no engineer, no general contractor, no building supply outlet, nothing imported from China. Amazing.

Originally posted 2015-03-17 13:40:54.