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Barn conversion advice please
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There was such a barn, though very much larger in a village I used to live in. It was in poor repair and listed. The owner could not afford t repair it so eventually sold it.
All I know is the cost to strip it back, repair and strengthen the frame, re roof and re clad it (using as much original material as possible) under the watch of the conservation officer, cost a lot more than the purchase price of the barn.
You could no doubt demolish it and build new if they would let you.0 -
Hmmm. There's only an exterior picture of the barn, but it's clear it ius on its lasdt legs, and probably structurally compromised. You'll struggle to get planning - or LBC - to make it an independently occupiable structure. Repairs? It's more in need of complete rebuild. Given its visibility, you may be very restricted in any changes you can make to the frontage.
Cost? If conservation officers get pernickity, it could skyrocket, and you would still end up with nothing more than a vaguely useful space.
Mind you, I see you are used to living in listed buildings, so you might not be daunted.
Edit: not quite as sure of its state... I may be viewing some of the wrong barn. The view on Street view is very different, so may be pre-restoration...0 -
Hmmm. There's only an exterior picture of the barn, but it's clear it ius on its lasdt legs, and probably structurally compromised. You'll struggle to get planning - or LBC - to make it an independently occupiable structure. Repairs? It's more in need of complete rebuild. Given its visibility, you may be very restricted in any changes you can make to the frontage.
Cost? If conservation officers get pernickity, it could skyrocket, and you would still end up with nothing more than a vaguely useful space.
Mind you, I see you are used to living in listed buildings, so you might not be daunted.
Edit: not quite as sure of its state... I may be viewing some of the wrong barn. The view on Street view is very different, so may be pre-restoration...
Looks like you found it - I do wonder if that's why this house hasn't sold (the barn is going to be a money pit) - we aren't bothered with getting permission to live in it - a granny annex or a studio or even a garden room would be good - but also don't want to spend many 10s of 1000s just for it to be a shed. Definitely one for a structural engineer to look at and a chat with conservation etc.“Isn't this enough? Just this world? Just this beautiful, complex
Wonderfully unfathomable, natural world” Tim Minchin0 -
( I wrote a long, detailed reply that vanished... this is the ungrammatical version)
Problem with any conversion to Granny Annex or independent dwelling is the number of planning hoops you'll have to jump through - which, with Listed Building Consent combined will cripple any payback. Stick to making it a table tennis room, or study, and you might manage. Looking at the photos, the structure need some serious work, so it will be expensive!
It has been on sale a while, with multiple agencies. There's an expression in one a bit like "slowly done up"... which implies to me a DIY job, lacking cash funds.... hence barn not done as well. So, might be dubious works under the surface. May be worth making a directed question as to any earlier surveys made...
Personally, I don't think the barn really adds to the possibilities on that plot, that close to the main house. I note you've lived in listed buildings before, so that won't phase you. I've done quite a few listed buildings up by now, and I look for quality at the end to secure my money. That barn will be a money sink, with little return. It wouldn't be for me but, having said that, you may well see in in (especially in person) what I can't.
I'd be interested in what you find, if you do go for a poke round. I'd keep a good eye on the house for shortcuts and botch jobs as well!0 -
Sorry I missed it! It sounds like one I’ve been asked to look at. Within the curtilage of a listed building and held up by wishful thinking.
The people already own that money pit and aren’t selling it though and it has permission for the conversion
Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
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Looks like you found it - I do wonder if that's why this house hasn't sold (the barn is going to be a money pit)....
If I've found the right one then I wonder whether road noise is the issue for the house. It is very close to the road and there is a limit what you can do in an old listed building to keep the noise out.
If you haven't, then you ought to view the house (or at least visit the location) at different times of day and different days of the week. If there is a rush hour, then what is the traffic like then? Also late at night/early morning, do you get speeding cars? And what about buses and lorries, they generate a lot more noise and vibration than cars."In the future, everyone will be rich for 15 minutes"0 -
If I've found the right one then I wonder whether road noise is the issue for the house. It is very close to the road and there is a limit what you can do in an old listed building to keep the noise out.
If you haven't, then you ought to view the house (or at least visit the location) at different times of day and different days of the week. If there is a rush hour, then what is the traffic like then? Also late at night/early morning, do you get speeding cars? And what about buses and lorries, they generate a lot more noise and vibration than cars.
We have sat outside for quite a while on various different days and times and the traffic is fine - it's actually a very quiet road. We go to see it this week and some searching questions will be asked.“Isn't this enough? Just this world? Just this beautiful, complex
Wonderfully unfathomable, natural world” Tim Minchin0 -
( I wrote a long, detailed reply that vanished... this is the ungrammatical version)
Problem with any conversion to Granny Annex or independent dwelling is the number of planning hoops you'll have to jump through - which, with Listed Building Consent combined will cripple any payback. Stick to making it a table tennis room, or study, and you might manage. Looking at the photos, the structure need some serious work, so it will be expensive!
It has been on sale a while, with multiple agencies. There's an expression in one a bit like "slowly done up"... which implies to me a DIY job, lacking cash funds.... hence barn not done as well. So, might be dubious works under the surface. May be worth making a directed question as to any earlier surveys made...
Personally, I don't think the barn really adds to the possibilities on that plot, that close to the main house. I note you've lived in listed buildings before, so that won't phase you. I've done quite a few listed buildings up by now, and I look for quality at the end to secure my money. That barn will be a money sink, with little return. It wouldn't be for me but, having said that, you may well see in in (especially in person) what I can't.
I'd be interested in what you find, if you do go for a poke round. I'd keep a good eye on the house for shortcuts and botch jobs as well!
Thank you for that You have confirmed what I thought. The more I look at the phots and remember what we have seen from the road the more I see how bad it is. We shall be seeing it this week and asking some direct questions about surveys etc.; the last thing we want is a money pit. I'd happily take the house (if not a bodge job) and gardens and not have the barn - but couldn't let the barn fall down either. However, I'd rather spend more on a house than spend money on a glorified shed (no matter how lovely it COULD be). “Isn't this enough? Just this world? Just this beautiful, complex
Wonderfully unfathomable, natural world” Tim Minchin0 -
Note that, being listed, you may have to spend a fortune on the barn!
Have a look at the barn timbers, particularly structural elements. Are the joints sound, or rotted and wormed? Are the bases of the timbers sound? Is the cladding recently shifted from the frame? Slow movement is fine. If any of the frame timbers are fractured, worry. Take a hammer (a stone will do, and be more subtle and bash the frame timbers. If they all ring dull, deep and similar, there's hope. If some give a dull squishy thunk and others ring high, the stress on the frame has shifted onto some beams, more problems to sort. Old dry wood with old woodworm is no problem, wet and fresh worm... mmmm!
Has the roof frame shifted owing to excess weight? It might have been thatched originally, and structure be too weak for the weight.
Obviously rot, worm and damp, but look for vermin damage as well. Old timbers can have an unlimited life if dry and cared for. I've happily stripped down a mainly thirteenth century timber frame, replaced about 1% if that. The early 20th century bit... mostly rotten.
Then, be realistic. What can you actually do, with an unlimited budget, in a relatively small space? Do you want it, really?
Your point about spending on a house, not a glorified shed is VERY valid... That is never going to be glorious, even with a vast spend. Buy a house without barn, you'll get another bed and reception, and a similar spend on that, on rooms you'll use daily, that will give you more reward over time, and leave some cash in the bank!
Edit to add... Sniff! What does it smell of? Mould and damp, or dry and straw-like? Acrid rat/mouse droppings???0 -
:T Many thanks to everyone - at the moment I can say my heart isn't in renovating this particular barn - looks like it will be too much work for too much money for very little gain. Still going to look at it but . . . the tips from everyone have been invaluable and I feel I have managed to wave away those rose tinted glasses. :T“Isn't this enough? Just this world? Just this beautiful, complex
Wonderfully unfathomable, natural world” Tim Minchin0
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