The New Custodians: Part 2 of 3
by Cathy and Richard Cooper, Kingston Continued from Part 1 published May 1st. | Part 3 published May 1st. Travis’s plan included a complete deconstruction of the existing barn. A review of what we could keep, what we could repair and what we would have to replace. Travis, with chisel and mallet in hand, then hand […]
The New Custodians: Part 1 of 3
by Cathy and Richard Cooper, Kingston Continue to Part 2 published May 1st. | Part 3 published May 1st. We knew the barn on our property had been there a long time, as we were told by the insurance company arranging the coverage on our new purchase. Its existence was first recorded in 1863. We moved […]
Foundations: An Achilles Heel for Barns
by Jim Campbell, Duntroon The lowest floor level of most Ontario barns was used for housing animals whose body heat during the winter typically kept frost from creeping below the barn’s foundation walls and piers. The barn builders must have anticipated this symbiosis between animals and building – if not they would likely have extended […]
How to Maintain your Barn
6 simple ways to ensure more longevity out of your barn without big investments Water is one of the worst enemies of your barn. Water can get everywhere and if it can’t get out or dry out it will cause various forms of damage! Drainage Make sure that the grade around your barn slopes away […]
Breathing New Life Into an Old Barn
As the custodian of a century old Ontario bank barn I can tell you without a doubt that it is both the most awe inspiring and scariest thing on our farm. It’s awe inspiring for the reasons that we all know: the structure, craftsmanship and sense of community that is evident in every timber. At […]