Dale, actually most of the front half of the barn is already finished inside. Except for that one wall and ceiling, it's more re-doing than actual building. We want to finish up 900' to become part of our home; the "great room" which includes the kitchen, plus turning the "foyer" into a master bedroom/bath and a smaller room into my office. We'll still have the 1000' upstairs, but the 1450' downstairs means I don't have to use the stairs - and it's all very open. The contractor has included sealing all cracks etc. We're meeting with him Sunday afternoon to go through all the estimates. He does a lot of work around here, and we've used him before - a little more "good old boy" than I'd like but very nice and does good work. If we can get this first stage going, much of the completion we (the Royal We :) can do. In fact, we don't want someone to come in and just do everything, since we have lots of antiques still in storage and want to incorporate some of those into the room. It all requires thinking outside the box, and seeing it as a home, rather than a barn. But, as you say, we don't want to rush through it and regret it later. And one of these guys have redone a barn before so I'm trying to get all the info I can before we actually start work. Right now, my husband is having to move all the items we had unpacked and set up for refinishing furniture etc — back to the stall area so the guys can get started.
Jan, there are several points I think are of paramount importance. Number one, make sure any and all exterior cracks and joints are batted and sealed or you will eventually have moisture invading your walls with all of the nightmare scenarios this might imply, mold rot and like. Blown in insulation will eventually settle leaving gaps at the top. If there are cross boards or fire breaks as some call them these will stop the insulation from filling the space. They do usually drill holes either on the inside or the outside and these must be thoroughly sealed to avoid moisture, wind driven rain will go through any crack and you do have such weather in Missouri. I'm beginning to wonder if your contractor might not be suffering from the "grey haired profit margin syndrome" and be taking advantage of your trusting nature. From the pictures I have seen, your barn home is not what I would consider weather ready to have the interior finished. Pardon me if I happen to be a bit skeptical, but in my not so humble opinion you have already been taken to the cleaners with your hot water problems, and I don't want to see you have nothing but regrets down the road when you are least able to afford the expensive prospect of doing something over that should have been done right in the first place. "There is nothing but a thin line between a dream and a nightmare."
Posted by: "oakridgefarm@gmail.com" <oakridgefarm@gmail.com>
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