Get Help With Your Renovation Visit Smart Home Improvement for renovation tips, home improvement articles, book reviews, contrator advice, help selecting tools, and much more.

Does Your Barn Need a Renovation?

If you have a barn on your property, you may already be using it to house animals or store equipment. Or perhaps you have recently purchased a property and wish to remodel the barn for future use or rental. In either case, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Even though humans may not technically live in the barn, you still need to keep the building up to code standards. This refers specifically to electrical and plumbing outlets. While keeping it safe and functional for animals, you never know whether the space might someday be turned into an office or a stall converted into a play area.

For that reason you also need to consider the safety features. Don’t neglect to install a smoke alarm. If you won’t be able to hear the alarm from your house, hook up an electrical connection so that it will ring inside your home. You also may want to consider adding a carbon monoxide detector if you plan to work on farm equipment or other vehicles inside the barn area. You don’t want the invisible, odorless fumes to build up and overpower someone.

Barn lofts make great office areas when converted into living or usable space. Some people use a loft as an art studio, especially after cutting out a huge window in the roof or side of the barn to admit light and, if the window opens, fresh air for ventilation.

But even if you keep the barn primarily for storage, clean the area to make it free of debris like old tools or broken glass. Set out discreetly placed pest poison where pets can’t reach it to control your mouse or rat populations. Get rid of woodpiles or newspapers where reptiles or small animals like to make nests, and might bite inquisitive young hands that come to investigate. Then check whether beams, rafters, and walls need supports to be added, and whether the floor is firm or faulty. Make all repairs promptly to avoid accidents or injuries.

renovation
renovation Resources
Add URL
renovation Articles
Submit an Article

• Does Your Barn Need a Renovation?
• Bathroom Renovation
• Renovating Your Kitchen
• Renovating the Basement
• Attic Renovation
• Does Your Barn Need a Renovation?
• The Edmonton Renovation Show
• How Much Does Renovation Cost?
• How to Apply for a Renovation Loan