Repair or replace?

[EdC]

I would like to get some views as to whether I am better to repair or replace the shed below. Unfortunately, I have inherited a lot of sheds that are small and in pretty bad repair that I need to make more practical for modern farming usage and I am trying to work out where to start! The barn below is part of an old brick crew yard, but one side of the crew fell down in storms several years ago and I am trying to work out what to do with the rest. Ultimately, I would also like to put a new shed over the top of the old crew yard concrete (ie, where the falling down lean-to is in the pictures below), but given the current farming climate, that is on the back burner.

I suspect I know the answer as to what to do with the old brick barn, but want to ensure I am doing it in the most cost-effective / least hassle manner. The part of the barn that I am interested in doing something with is 9m x 5m x 3m to eaves and is in the middle of a section of brick buildings, with the double doors opening in the centre of each side. The rest would need to have something done to it, but as yet I'm not sure what. It is to be retained as agricultural use, not as part of a barn conversion, but it will need to be weather proof.

Ignore the very end of the shed that no longer has a roof - it was once a shallow shed at the end of the block that was knocked through in the 1980's to make a longer shed with the central barn. It is the central barn that I am interested, which is effectively the section with the corrugated iron roof. If I keep the building, I will need to put a new roof on, repair the doors and repair the internal partition wall (probably putting a roller door on it for vehicular access). I am also going to need to fix the cracks in the wall that can be seen over the doors and in the corner of the barn (under the lean-to).

My gut feel is to replace it, but it would be a shame to lose the character of the old buildings.

Many thanks!

 

[GmB]

Would be a shame to demolish. The question is can/are you doing the work needed yourself?

 

[EdC]

Would be a shame to demolish. The question is can/are you doing the work needed yourself?

I would probably need to get someone in to do it. I can lay bricks and repair roofs, but I'm a lot slower than a professional and have a long list of other things to do. Plus we're expecting our first child in a few weeks (just before hopefully spring drilling...) so might be a bit short of time!

 

[Stewartry hill]

Don't know where you are but they look like barn conversions

 

[michael N123]

Put it threw a stone crusher to make a yard area and put a modern metal framed shed up

 

[B R C]

There is no way I would knock that down, if you are going to replace with a modern building then just put a new modern building elsewhere. You can then decide what to do with the brick building at your leisure and as funds allow. I would be looking to do it up enough to guarantee planning for conversion to nice workshops, office or residential. I‘m a bit mercenary though, and also depends on your situation and location. It’s a nice building to save, even if brickwork not the best. It’s worth a lot of money here but may not be wherever you are.

 

[dinderleat]

There is no way I would knock that down, if you are going to replace with a modern building then just put a new modern building elsewhere. You can then decide what to do with the brick building at your leisure and as funds allow. I would be looking to do it up enough to guarantee planning for conversion to nice workshops, office or residential. I‘m a bit mercenary though, and also depends on your situation and location. It’s a nice building to save, even if brickwork not the best. It’s worth a lot of money here but may not be wherever you are.

100% spend the money on a new shed else where

 

[HarryB97]

It depends on your location and the location of those buildings in your yard. If they are in or on the edge of a cattle yard for instance then I would nock them down. If they are in a quiet spot away from livestock and machinery then keep them and repair them.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I think it is such a shame to allow old buildings to fall into disrepair even if they are not suitable for modern farming practices and machinery. I would be inclined to build a new shed elsewhere, and maybe re roof the brick buildings (to stop them deteriorating), they add such a lot of character and could always be used for some storage even if they may never be in the right place for a barn conversion/office. Once they are gone, that's it gone for ever.

 

[7610 super q]

Tidy it up a bit, and leave it for barn owls. Put up a new shed elsewhere. Too much history lost over the last 30 years.

 

[Nearly]

I'd be building on the other side of the farmyard and try to stabilise the brick shed.
Your kid(s) will throw you out of the farmhouse and into that shed one day.

 

[Courier]

Put it threw a stone crusher to make a yard area and put a modern metal framed shed up

Take it down brick by brick and palletise the bricks then sell them on Ebay.

 

[michael N123]

Take it down brick by brick and palletise the bricks then sell them on Ebay.

Are old bricks like that worth anything? It’s not like it’s nice sandstone

 

[Nearly]

30p each

 

[Will7]

Convert to residential if the EA will let you and put up a proper shed. You might just have to raise the floors a bit for flooding risk. If you are where I think you are give Guy Foreman a ring as to what might be possible.

 

[Courier]

30p each

At least, so £240 per pallet min - In demand for fireplaces.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Are old bricks like that worth anything? It’s not like it’s nice sandstone

30p each

£1.20 down here!

 

[Courier]

£1.20 down here!

That's more like it

 

[Lincsman]

Are old bricks like that worth anything? It’s not like it’s nice sandstone

Worth a lot more than new ones.

 

[Courier]

Worth a lot more than new ones.

They look to have been laid with lime mortar and should virtually clean themselves