Our Specialties: Barn Restoration and Preservation, Barn Dismantling, Antique Timber Frames, Adaptive Re-Use, Carpenters and Woodworkers, Timber Framing, Architectural Salvage, Timber Framers, Timber Frame Restoration, Post and Beam.

Documenting and dismantling the barn: The Barn People prepare to dismantle a barn by photographing the structure as it originally stood. We then carefully measure the barn and make sketches to record its essential character. Blueprints are later drawn from these sketches of the original framework, stating the location and size of each timber. These drawings are then labeled for coding purposes. This framework is now wire brushed by hand to remove most of the accumulated dirt. All nails and hardware are then removed. The entire frame is now exposed. All the wooden pegs, which hold the timbers firmly in place, are then removed. Any missing timbers, which made up the original frame, are now drawn on to the blueprints for later replacement at our shop. The entire frame is then labeled to correspond with the labeled blueprints. A crane is then utilized to lower the large heavy sections of the frame to the ground.

Restoring and Adapting the Barn Frame: When the barn frame arrives at our shop, all the labeled parts are carefully sorted according to their placement within the barn's framework and again according to their condition and overall appearance. The beams are then stacked under cover to protect them from the sun's damaging ultra-violet rays, which tend to gray the honey colored timbers rapidly. Whenever possible original beams are kept in tact and sections of wood which match in color and character are spliced in to replace deteriorated or unsightly areas. Repairs are done utilizing salvaged beams from other barns that could not be saved. Utilizing space age epoxies and hidden steel, the majority of our repairs go unnoticed. If the timber will not be as strong as it was intended, it will be replaced. When all structural elements meet our standards, they are laid out on the ground and preassembled into large wall sections. Each large section is then "squared up". Measurements are again taken to make sure all the posts are the same length and so forth. Any corrections to these measurements are now made to a new set of blueprints. At this point any missing beams are replaced, again using beams that match in color and character joined to the original frame utilizing authentic and matching joinery techniques. The preassembled large frame sections are now ready for the often utilized "adaptation phase". Once a contract has been signed, clients are then given the option of customizing the barn frame to meet their particular needs. It is at this time that all changes or additions to the original frame are made. Because the frame is laid out and all "squared up" these changes or additions can be performed again, utilizing beams that match in color, character and authentic joinery and will then appear as an integral part of the original barn frame and never look like an"awkward afterthought".

Cleaning: The entire frame is now hand washed. Each member is first placed on a set of saw horses and sprayed with a hose. A nylon bush is used by hand to scrub off all the barn dirt that has accumulated over the years. It would probably be faster to pressure wash the beams, as people often do, but we have found that it tends to fuzz up the wood fiber and also removes some of the honey colored patina which is so important to the frame's appearance. We use environmentally friendly TSP-PF which is a Phosphate free detergent mixed with water for the hand scrubbing. Besides removing barn dirt this process also insures that the barn will not smell like the barn it once was, once the new furnace is turned on. The entire frame is then sprayed twice with Bora-care, a state of the art treatment, which kills anything living in the wood including mildew but remains non toxic to human and animals.

Erection at the New Site: Once notified by the new owner that the site and foundation have been prepared, we load the frame and materials on a flat bed truck and ship it to the new site. When the frame arrives, so do The Barn People. We personally off-load the frame and assemble the large sections on the ground. We then utilize a local crane contractor to lift these heavy sections onto the foundation platform. The entire frame is then squared and plumbed, then braced and pegged together with hand-made hardwood pegs. The new owner now has a solid, well-preserved, vintage barn frame ready for use as it was originally intended, or adapted for any number of purposes.