Hi Has anyone converted a barn to living space?? I'm considering this. My son and I thought it had great possibilities. There once was a book about converting buildings into livable places. Do you have a problem with regulations?? Thanks!!!

-- Pam Creighton (zpjc5_@hotmail.com), November 28, 2000

Answers

I've known a couple of people who have converted old barns into studios and offices. I think it's a great idea to make one into a home. As for regulations, you'll just have to check with the local officials if you're in a town or maybe the county people, but I can't imagine there being any problems. You would want to make the barn safe and comfortable anyway so any regulations surely wouldn't hurt.

-- shooter (jcole@apha.com), November 28, 2000.

I have a good friend whole converted a pole barn into a house. You can get the codes and permits (yes, I think almost everyplace will require a building permit) from your local township officials. We had the permits to convert and then changed our mind because we found a decent deal on a mobile. The permits were no big deal. diane in michigan

-- Diane Green (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), November 28, 2000.

Saw a barn get converted once - by the time the got done with it, you almost couldn't recognize it! Was sharp looking though. I think the only thing they kept was the framing, everything else was torn off and replaced - roof, siding, floor boards, etc.

Saw a silo converted into a garden shed / multi floored studio and office too. That was really neat too.

-- Eric in TN (eric_m_stone@yahoo.com), November 28, 2000.

A "cowboy" I went to high school with, bought 10 acres with a large arena barn and converted three stalls into living space for he and his wife. If I recall correctly, the cost was about the same as building a two car garage.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), November 28, 2000.

At least two of the This Old House programs have been on converting old barns into living space. By the time they got done rebuilding foundations and making everything level, plumb and square and new wood, etc., I suspect you could have built two really nice houses for the same money.

Remember the Wickwires, who added onto to a double to make a bed and breakfast in Concord, MA? I have heard it cost them around $700,000 even with donated material and labor.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), November 29, 2000.