Until Jamestown was established, nothing in North America grew taller than the native forests, grasses, and mountains. Beginning in 1620, the settlers who plowed the indigenous sod also dotted the virgin landscapes with towering, stately structures, the likes of which had never before been seen on the continent. This photo/essay treatment of barns in America is arranged by the five distinct roof styles that have largely come to define American barns, presenting six 20-page spreads detailing the Dutch, bank, crib, round, and prairie styles. The result captures the pastiche of rural America through stunning photography, conveying everything from stone barns in hard-scrabble Maine to thoroughbred barns in the lush bluegrass regions, to traditional Gambrel-roofed red barns in the Midwest. Regions represented include New England, the Southeast, the mid-South, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, the desert Southwest, and California. There is an in depth examination of how styles developed out of necessity and anecdotes from those who work and live on farms.
"Provides an excellent introduction as well as suggestions for using these plans to add architectural detail to your own home...an excellent bibliography."--Victorian Homes "The best home, barn and landscape designs...in a charming book....[It] contains numerous original illustrations showing a wealth of construction details, site plans and plantings."--Fine Homebuilding This classic bestseller contains the finest collection of architectural designs from a bygone era--and it's a boon for anyone hoping to construct that dream house or add charming touches to a modern one. Hundreds of illustrations from actual 19th century building plans feature architects' blueprints and drawings, full-color photos, and more. The buildings range from humble farmers' cabins to summer getaway cottages for the rich, and there's plenty of detail work, including built-in shelves, dormers, and turned balusters. With this information, an architect could easily create anything shown on the pages.
With their classic barns and fences, American small farms, and the buildings that support these farms, serve a much-needed purpose as much today as then have in the past. Even with the advent of new technology frequently used on farms, these buildings have changed relatively little and are still used to house the animals that so many small farm owners work with and the feed, supplies, and equipment needed to maintain those animals. Every well-meaning farmer or property owner with livestock, small animals, or farming equipment has need of a barn or a series of outbuildings. Unfortunately, many farmers now rely on expensive contractors and construction companies to do a job many farmers traditionally undertook themselves. Knowing how to build these structures is not only a lost American art form, it is also a skill that can save you thousands of dollars. This book has been designed to ensure everyone who has ever thought of building their own barns, outbuildings, or animal pens knows exactly what is entailed-from inception of the design to the final construction stages. You will learn exactly what you need to start building outbuildings, barns, farming equipment, and farm supplies. For each of the structures showed within this book, you will learn the required dimensions and extra space you might not have previously considered, including space for your motorized Machinery, a workshop for maintaining your equipment, and loft space for hay bales, feed, and farming equipment. Regardless of what you need for your small farm or property, you will have a complete list of detailed building design plans. You will learn which building materials are best for creating your needed items as well as the best designs and methods of buildings. The companion CD-ROM contains design plans in PDF format for all the structures shown in the book plus bonus plans. Each design plan offers detailed instructions, supply lists, and diagrams. This book offers plans for building barns, storage structures, animal pens, storage sheds, and greenhouses. It also offers plans for building gates, fences, wagons, farm equipment, and other structures and equipment necessary for the success of your small farm. If you are looking to save thousands of dollars by building your own farm structures and equipment; this book will walk you through every step of the design, preparation, and construction process, ensuring success and capturing the lost art of small farm self-sufficiency.
From hay barns to corn cribs, from fences to chicken coops, from silos to outhouses, 'The Old Barn Book's' clear drawings, photos, maps, and descriptions make it easy to figure what's what around a farm.
From the outside in, explore exquisite timber frame homes at your leisure. Floor plans serve as your tour guide, while leading architectural photographers illuminate the astonishing spaces and intimate detailing of authentic homes. Each evokes the grandeur of the inherited barn-style form, while expressing the individuality of the owners who took part in designing their one-of-a-kind homes. In all, 30 homes are presented for your inspection, with imagery of exteriors, great rooms, kitchens, dining areas, intimate studies, dens, and formal living rooms, as well as spacious master suites and beautifully appointed bedrooms and baths. This book will inspire all who hope to build or furnish a unique post and beam home of their own.
Building your own barns and outbuildings offers many benefits, perhaps the most obvious being the money you can save. About half the costs of any building project is the labor, and, by doing it yourself, you can construct your building more economically, or even put up a larger building on the same budget. But another important benefit of building it yourself is the satisfaction that comes from improving your own landscape and surroundings. A well-constructed barn, shed, or outbuilding can be a source of pride for many years -- and will also enhance the value of your property. In "How to Build Small Barns & Outbuildings," Monte Burch takes readers step by step through the fundamentals of general construction -- from planning and laying out a site to do-it-yourself instructions on framing, roofing, wiring, plumbing, and much more.
