Before about 1910 almost all barn foundations were built
from local stone. After 1905 portland cement started
becoming available and concrete became more widely used for
barn and other farmstead foundations.
Commonly, the footers for stone foundations and even
concrete foundations were not placed below frost. Top layers
of sod and topsoil were removed to expose hardpan where that
subsoil exists or trenches were dug out to remove only sod
and grass roots for a depth of a foot or so. A fieldstone
footer was laid directly on this base and a foundation wall
or plinth stones or concrete was laid on top of the footer.
The most common repair for the foundation of ground barns
is to have to straighten the stone foundation wall or the
plinths. This can be accomplished by pushing the stonework
back to plumb and/or rebuilding the wall or plinth in place
with the original stone or local stone after lifting the
barn if necessary. |
