Category Archives: post and beam

Got a question about old barns?

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In 30 years of working with timber frames, I have learned a lot  – not only about timber frame construction itself, but also about the history of colonial America.  So I decided to add a Frequently Asked Questions section to the Green Mountain Timber Frames website. There, and on my blog, I will be sharing some of the knowledge and techniques I have acquired on the job. I am happy to answer any other questions that my readers have, so please feel free to ask them and I will do my best to respond to them on this blog.

Beautiful New England Barn Frame

Here is one of the questions from my website:

How much does it cost to renovate an old barn?                                             

When first approached by customers interested in buying an old barn or renovating a historic timber frame, I am often asked about the costs involved. When creating a proposal for a prospective client, I work hard to make timber frames affordable  and to use every piece of wood the structure has to offer.

Today’s going rate to have experienced craftsmen take down, restore and erect an old timber frame ranges from 50 to 80 dollars a square foot. This includes the cost of purchasing the vintage frame from its original owner. When you purchase a post and beam frame from Green Mountain Timber Frames, we provide all of the wood that comes with the frame, such as siding, roof boards, flooring, etc.  Our prices also include the cost of installing the roof boards when we erect the frame, a bonus not often provided by our competitors.

If you are interested in pricing out a timber frame or finding a historic barn frame in a certain price range, please do contact me! We can explore the options available for realizing your vision of living in a historic barn home.

Gambrel House – Revisited

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I want to venture back into a previous blog with an update. While this unique Gambrel-style frame doesn’t look any different yet on the outside, things are happening beneath the skin.

I have lots of pictures – inside and out – to show and will be sharing more in the coming weeks. For those of you who missed the last blog, here is a picture of the Gambrel style timber frame house in Danby, VT.

Gambrel Roof Timber FrameThe historic property has a unique Gambrel roof. This style of roof originated in Europe, but the term gambrel is an American one. In the US, gambrel roofs are sometimes called Dutch gambrel. Note the double slope on both sides of the roof; this design allows for a more spacious second story. This particular timber frame measures 28×38 feet and features many gunstock posts.

Half dovetail resting on gunstock post

Half dovetail joint resting on gunstock post in the Gambrel house

(Need a refresher on gunstock posts? Check out this blog!) 

I am working on the restoration together with furniture maker/timber framer Luke Larson. So far, Luke has removed all of the interior walls as well as the second floor wide boards which are made of rare old growth pine.

Wide board flooring before restoration in timber frame barn home

Wide board flooring salvaged from Gambrel second floor

Restored wide board flooring

Similar wide board flooring, restored & turned into a table top

The next phase will be to remove all of the wall and roof boards. Then we can concentrate on carefully dismantling the frame. At that stage, I’ll check back in with pictures of the open timber frame.

One unique feature of this frame is the ceiling in the master bedroom. It has beautiful domed rafters.

Domed Ceiling in Bedroom of Timber Frame

Domed ceiling in bedroom of  Gambrel frame

Here you can see one of the gunstock posts very clearly. Note how it carries two different timbers at the top of the post.

Gunstock post carrying two corners

Gunstock post carrying  both top plate and floor girt.

The wide wall planks can make beautiful tables like below.

Restored wood used as a table in modern home

Table made from restored wall planks.

Lots of beautiful work can be done with the wood we salvage from a vintage house. Here is an example of a staircase made from restored wood.

planks used as a stairway in renovated timber frame

Wooden wall  planks used as a stairway in a restored timber frame home

How old is this Hand Hewn Timber Frame house?                                                    This Gambrel turned up in a 1940 book about historic houses in Rutland County, Vt. According to this book, the frame may be older than we thought – dating from before the 1800s.

Interested in living beneath these timbers?

Who wouldn’t want a master bedroom with a historic domed ceiling from colonial times? Please do be in touch! We have several timber frames for sale, so do contact us with any questions or interest! We always enjoy talking about frames!

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1880s Vermont Vintage Barn for Sale

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Exploring a new old barn is always fun for me, but it’s especially nice when the frame is a local one and needs little restoration. I do this work because I am passionate about preserving the heritage and craftsmanship of New England. Each barn we are able to rescue feels like history is saved, at least another 100 years or more.

While I’ve been doing this for decades, I still feel the same thrill each time I find a vintage barn in reasonable condition, restore it and transform it for a new owner who will enjoy it for decades to come.

This post and beam barn, dating from the 1880s, comes right from my hometown of Middletown Springs, VT.

middletown springs vermont barn houses

1880s Barn for sale from Vermont

The vintage frame measures 18’x30’ and is built from sawn 8″x 8″  timbers. The person who built the barn used traditional post and beam joinery and the timber frame structure features 4 bents and 3, 10 foot bays.

The interior design is a bit unusual – part corn crib and part something else. My best guess is that the other part of the barn was used as a cheese house or perhaps as lodging for hired help. You can see in the picture below that this separate section of the barn was finished with plaster. I’ll ask around town with the octogenarians, they might remember something from the 30s or 40s.

barn homes vermont - interior

Plastered section of barn interior

While the barn is currently in Middletown Springs, VT, the current owner is hoping that we can find a new owner to enjoy this piece of history. I am happy to help transport it to a new location in New England or New York.

The barn has a beautiful slate roof that is in great condition. It stands 1 and 1/2 stories tall. The floor boards are also in great condition and the half story measures 2’8” making for plenty of head room on the second floor.

vintage post and beam barn

Upstairs interior view of 1880s barn

This old barn is for sale –  – and with 1100 square feet of interior space, it offers lots of possibilities. It could make a very nice first home, a workshop, studio or camp.

For someone looking for a bigger space, we can easily add ten-foot shed additions, which would increase the first floor living space to 28’x38’.

If you are interested, please do let me know! The frame comes complete with siding, roof boards, floor boards, and the slate roof.

post and beam barn for sale

Middletown Springs, VT historic barn for sale

Want to check out this barn or another available timber frame we have in stock, please contact Green Mountain Timber Frames!

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Hartford Modified Gunstock Barn

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Recently, I left Vermont and drove over the border to New York. I wanted to take a closer look at a recently discovered barn. The barn is one in a group of five historic barns in West Hartford. You can see most of the barns on the Available Frames page of my Green Mountain Timber Frames website. 

The barn measures 22 x 32 ft. and is a “modified gunstock” frame. It has gunstock corner posts with drop girt mid posts. The pictures below help explain what this means.

The gunstock style of barn construction was popular before the 1820s. I would estimate that this beauty of a timber frame was built before the 1800s. It features chestnut timbers and the rafters are half-rounds.

When it comes time to restore this fine structure, we will replace the half-rounds with hand-hewn hardwood rafters salvaged from a late 1700s frame and transform it into a custom home, addition, studio or barn.

Here you can see the view from the front. 

Old Barns for Sale

Historic Barn for Sale

Below is the back of the barn. Note how the back side of this vintage barn isn’t painted – a classic Yankee tradition! I guess they were trying to save some money by only painting the side facing the road.

Old Timber Frame for Sale

Back View of Hartford Historic Barn

This picture shows the five-sided ridge beam. This style of architecture gives more structure to the roof system. Timber framers stopped using ridge beams after the 1840s. By eliminating them, I imagine it made the building process go more quickly.

Gunstock 5 sided ridge beam in timberframe

Five-sided Ridge Beam in Modified Gunstock Frame

The rear corner post below is a gunstock post  – it’s tapered like the gunstock of a rifle. The nearer post on the right is called a drop girt post – not tapered. (Please ignore the round timber). This is why I am calling it a “modified gunstock frame”.  It’s a mystery to me why they chose this combination of styles, using both gunstock and drop girt posts. Perhaps they were trying to simplify the joinery – timber joints.

Corner Post - Gunstock Frame - Old Barns for Sale

Corner Post of the Modified
Gunstock Timber Frame

Below are some more views of the interior:

Antique Timber frames for Sale with Chestnut Timbers

Chestnut Timbers in Vintage Barn Frame

Interior of 19th Century New England Timber Frame Barn

Interior of Timber Frame Barn

Please let me know if you are interested in visiting this timber frame gem or seeing the other antique timber frames for sale at Green Mountain Timber Frames –  we encourage visitors! These strong wooden beams would really make a beautiful home or business space.

If you would like to see this frame, or another available timber frame we have in stock, please contact Green Mountain Timber Frames!

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Barn Raising – A good week’s work

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We had a great time last week getting this vintage timber frame up in Manchester, Vermont. The post and bean frame with hand hewn wood was originally built around 1800, in Middle Granville, NY.

It was a beautiful week and we worked surrounded by the vibrant colors of near-peak foliage and under the watchful eye of Mount Equinox in the background. Thank God,  the weather was perfect!

Here are some pictures showing the highlights:

Manchester VT Raising - Beautifully restored timber frame beams

Beautifully restored timber frame beams

Saturday Restoring Historic Timber frame

Last Saturday’s work – restoring the frame and getting the primary timbers up

Saturday Timber Framing in Manchester VTAfter erecting the main timbers over the weekend, we spent last Monday focused on placing the roof rafters. We also pegged most joints in the frame with wooden trunnels.

Restoring Historic barn in Vermont

With help from a Grade All, and the view of Mount Equinox in the background.

Here we are installing the roof rafters.

Vermont Timber Framing with Mount Equinox in Background

Adding Roof Boards to Manchester Vermont Timber Frame

Adding roof boards to timber frame

Applying roof boards to Vintage Timber Frame

Adding tar paper over roof boards, as we installed the original boards.

Outhouse in Rural Vermont Best Part of Timber framing

An important part of setting up a timber framing work site: moving the outhouse – at arm’s length –  to the proper location.

Finishing Barn Restoration

The completed roof, protected by tar paper.

An Old Fashioned Barn Raising!

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Bring Your Camera!
Because it’s time for a barn raising.

On Monday, September 23rd, amid the bright backdrop of Vermont autumn foliage, we’ll be tipping up this beauty of a barn in Manchester, VT.

Originally built around 1800, in Middle Granville, New York, Green Mountain Timber Frames has restored this post and beam gem and will be erecting it on Monday in its new location in Manchester, Vermont!

Dismantling old barn in New York

We headed to Middle Granville, New York to carefully dismantle the original barn piece by piece a couple of years ago.

Restoring historic timber frame

Taking down the historic timber frame in New York

The original barn frame measured 31′ x 51’, but we have shortened it to 41 feet in length, per the request of new owners.

In the photo below, you can see the process we went through to carefully adjust most of the beams. We added in tie timbers where the windows will be placed in the new barn garage.

Renovating Vermont timberframe barn home

Adjusting the timbers and adding in tie timbers for windows

This barn stood beside a house built in 1804, but by our estimates, the barn itself was built several years earlier. Here you can see the majestic, wide beams that make up this historic timber frame.

Huge timbers from 1800s historic home

Interested in seeing a barn raising?  We’ll keep you posted on the progress.

Please contact Green Mountain Timber Frames for questions about historic timber frame barn homes, old barns for sale, barn raisings and more!

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Waiting for the perfect frame for your barn style home?

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Remember This Beauty of an Old Barn I Wrote About Awhile Back?

Ira Vermont old barn for sale - timber frame barn homes

Ira, Vermont – Antique Timber Frames for Sale!

Well this barn’s still for sale!

The Ira, Vermont farmer continues to hope that someone will save his 1770s gunstock frame.

The original barn is a 32’x40’ hand hewn, modified gunstock timber frame with hardwood timbers and gorgeous wide plank siding and roof boards. In the 19th century, two timber frame additions were added to this historic property, making it much larger today – 32’x87′. The slate roof is still in great condition and adds incredible value to the frame.

My Love For Historic Barns

I’ve driven by this old frame for years and it is one of my favorite historic properties in Vermont. Apart from the beauty of the old post and beam barn itself, the barn is full of original horse powered equipment tools that will be included with the sale of the barn.

The Magic of Barn Homes

If this barn became a custom built timber frame home, the small touches of horse-drawn equipment could help bring a rustic feel into the newly restored living space. Here are a few of the treasures we found inside:

Treasures inside Vermont Timber frames

Horse Tack in Vermont Barn

Horse Tack

We’re eager to help save this historic gem. The farmer is offering the barn and all the contents at a very fair price for anyone interested.

Did we mention there’s a corn crib?

There is a smaller timber frame – a classic Vermont corn crib – right out back on the same property in Ira, Vermont. This addition could be an entryway, guest house or office in your barn style home. Someone has expressed interest in it, but it may still be available.

Timber Frame Old Barn Corn Crib

Timber Frame Corn Crib

Help us save these barns! Please pass the word along.

If you would like to visit these barns – or learn more about historic post and beam homes – please contact me. I began timber framing because I respect this time honored craft.  I’m trying to help the owner find someone to love this old timber frame and all of the history it holds.

www.greenmountaintimberframes.com

 

What Goes Up…Must Come Down

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Moving the Gunstock Frame to Its New Home

After a lovely sojourn at Sissy’s Restaurant here in Middletown Springs, VT, it was time for this beautiful historic gunstock timber frame to be taken down and moved to its new home.

Vermont Timber Frames in Middletown Springs

Roof board removal at Sissy’s

With help from Sue – otherwise known as the Vermont JeepGirl – the crew here at Green Mountain Timber Frames worked carefully to take down the frame, piece by piece. 

Vermont Jeep Girl Sue helps us move the historic timber frame

Sue and her crane help us take down the historic timber frame

Timber Frame Barn Homes in Vermont

Dismantling

After carefully dismantling this Vermont post and beam frame, we moved it to its new home where it will become the framework for a beautiful timber frame barn.

Dismantling Vermont Timber Frames

Taking Down the Gunstock Timber Frame

Once the frame was taken down, we moved it 120 miles to its new home where it will stand the test of time for another 250 years – or more.

Our small crew of 5 guys worked a total of 300 hours, beginning work on a Sunday at 4 pm and finishing this fine timber frame barn on the following Friday. Since we were miles from home and our friends and family, the team worked from dawn to dusk to finish the project, carefully joining the historic beams back together.

We were lucky enough to have weather on our side. With only one afternoon downpour,  we all came home a little tanner.

Vermont Post and Beam Homes

Reassembling the timber frame barn

The finished timber frame will have a copper, standing seam roof which should protect the barn for about 100 years.

Vermont Historic Barn Raising

The Newly Raised Barn – to stand another 250 years!

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If you are interested in a timber frame barn homes or in seeing one of the old barns for sale at Green Mountain Timber Frames, please contact us!

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Greene and Greene Gazebo Gets a Facelift

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Remember that Greene and Greene style timber frame gazebo I was working on a few months back? Well it’s been a busy summer and in the meantime, the gazebo has received some TLC in the form of new landscaping. Here is a picture of the frame in its purist form, but with cement block showing:

Timber Frame Builders in Vermont Make Gazebo

Greene and Greene Style Timber Frame Gazebo

Since we last saw this beautiful frame, the masons finished the stone work. This helps to ground the structure and ties it in aesthetically to the surroundings.

Post and Beam barn homes and gazebo

Finished masonry on Greene and Greene Gazebo

This week, we will be adding the top soil around the post and beam frame, and in the coming weeks the owners will plant grass seed and flower beds to complete the project.

Greene and Greene Historic Post and Bean Homes

It’s truly a special timber framing project and I enjoyed working on this beautifully designed timber frame. While I tend to work more with restored frames from post-colonial times, working on this frame was a lot of fun and I enjoyed learning more about the Greene brothers and their work.

We would be love to hear what you think of this frame and our other projects. Please take a look at the other available timber frames for sale at our shop! If you are interested in a barn style home, please contact us.

New Life Beneath Old Timbers

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In 1777, Anthony Nichols set out to build himself and his family a hand hewn log house and a timber frame corn crib. This crib frame is a rare six bent style, which the family likely used as a storehouse for food for both the family and their cattle.

A resident of our brand new American country, Nichols felled some of the tall American Chestnut near his homestead in Danby, Vermont to use for these beautifully carved timbers.

Working carefully with simple tools, Nichols carved this stunning timber frame to store the harvest from his small plot of corn.

Restored Timberframe in Vermont makes a Custom Barn Home

1777 Era Restored Corn Crib from Vermont

Below is a picture of the house that Nichols built around the same time. The corn crib stood in the yard of the property, behind the main house.

Nichols Timber Frame Log Home in Vermont

Nichols Timber Frame Log Home from Danby, Vermont

A true craftsman, Nichols built this structure to last. We had acquired the frame awhile back and been storing it at the Green Mountain Timber Frames workshop in Middletown Springs, VT. While awaiting just the right owner, we carefully restored the timber frame, keeping the intricate joinery intact. This frame needed detailed restoration on each post bottom — 12 posts on such a small frame!

Recently, someone acquired this gem from our inventory and is envisioning a beautiful new studio beneath its timbers in Cambridge, Vermont.

The raised timberframe with new Roof Boards, making a perfect Gazebo

The Raised Timber Frame with New Roof Boards.

It took us about 200 hours to dismantle, ship and re-erect this old barn frame and the frame restoration took an additional 240 hours. We are glad to know this post and beam studio will be filled with life for the next 235+ years.

We have reconstructed the frame so it can be used temporarily as a “gazebo” for a few months. Once a foundation is built in the new location, the frame will be closed in. The new owners of this historic frame plan to use it as a studio – another barn style structure we are happy to help restore.

Each time someone purchases one of the frames for sale at our shop, we feel fortunate to do this work. I am so grateful to be a small part of preserving New England’s rich and unique history and enjoy working together with clients who share our passion for preserving these kinds of historic structures.

Timber Frame Barn Style Home

Reconstructed Corn Crib, at our Workshop

We would be glad to hear from you! If you are interested in a barn style home or one of the old barns for sale at Green Mountain Timber Frames, please contact us!

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