What a mess!

2happymamas · #1 05/22/14, 10:41 AM

A huge 100 year old, 100 foot tree fell on my van and barn on Tuesday afternoon. The barn is really a converted 2 car garage. We removed the doors, added barn doors that open outward, and built three stalls in it. Two of my goats are due to kid the beginning of June and I don't have anyplace to put them yet. The insurance adjuster is coming tomorrow morning and there's a very good chance it will have to be demolished due to the compromised structural integrity. It will take a couple weeks to get a new barn put up and it definitely won't be done before the kids are born. We live on 1.5 acres in an urban area. It's just a huge mess and headache.

I would really like some suggestions for the goats. I have the two non-pregnant ones in a 6x8 chicken coop that is located in a lean-to attaching to the barn/garage. I have the two pregnant does in the barn in a stall that was not damaged. It's a pretty small one but it'll have to do for a couple days. All four will have to be relocated when the structure is demolished.

Options:

1) Construct a small barn with a couple stalls. Contractor said he could build a 10x10 for about $500-600 in half a day.

2) I thought about seeing if I could borrow a horse trailer from someone, park it on the property, and keep the goats in it at night. Preferably one with stalls already built but we could probably rig something up.

Other issues: Insurance considers the structure a garage and their maximum is $18,500 for a 2-car garage. With a $2,000 deductible, we're looking at a maximum of $16,500 to rebuild. I think it'll be tight to rebuild for that amount once you consider the electric, gutters, roof, etc.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. It could not have happened at a worse time due to the pending kiddings. I spent all day yesterday coordinating the removal of the tree and getting a rental car. The contractor came today and made temporary fixes such as removing the doors and putting up plywood. He also put tarps over the roof to prevent further water damage.

It's just a mess. I am 6 months pregnant, money is tight, goat kids are coming, I have to find a new van, and deal with getting a new garage.

2happymamas · #2 05/22/14, 10:50 AM

Some pictures of the mess!

2happymamas · #3 05/22/14, 10:55 AM

We built this last Summer in the goat yard and I think we will keep the two non-pregnant goats in it for now. I really don't think it's big enough for two pregnant does and all their kids. So, I really just need something for the pregnant ones and their kids.

lonelytree · #4 05/22/14, 11:08 AM

That barn/garage looks fixable to me.

That tree was completely rotten. How many more need to come down? Remove hazards.

myheaven · #5 05/22/14, 11:18 AM

Wow that's bad!

2happymamas · #6 05/22/14, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonelytree

That barn/garage looks fixable to me.

That tree was completely rotten. How many more need to come down? Remove hazards.

I am hoping it can be fixed, as that would be much faster than demolishing and rebuilding. my fingers are definitely crossed. We'll have to see what the adjuster says in the morning. The issues (that are likely not obvious from the picture):

-The exterior walls are bowed.
-The northeast wall has shifted several inches from the original location.
-The ridge is bowed down.
-The ceiling joists are pulling apart.
-The roof will need to be replaced, as there are three major holes.
-Both front overhangs are broken.

Yes, the tree was rotten and we did not have any idea. It was completely leafed out and the bark looked fine. We have one that is 150 feet that we are concerned about and we've had two different tree companies say they are fine. Even if not, our hands would be tied because taking down a 150 foot tree is super expensive. I get that the repercussions of not taking it down are great, but that doesn't make money appear when it's not there. Money is especially tight because we still owe the midwife almost $2,000 before September, I will be off work for 6 weeks unpaid after my baby boy is born, and we have to put about $3,000 back for our second parent adoption once our baby is here. It's just all really bad timing.

farmmaid · #7 05/22/14, 12:26 PM

You could buy, for less than $300, a ShelterLodgic enclosure and then have a storage place after the barn is built.

Clovers_Clan · #8 05/22/14, 03:32 PM

I like the horse trailer idea. That will give you time to build or rebuild exactly what you want where you want it, regardless of insurance adjustments and clean up. We built a shed on impulse, because we needed storage, after we purchased our land and before we built our house. Have hated its location ever since. We can't move it and don't want to put any money into repairs. Its 17 years old and we're left with using it while letting it go to rot, waiting to use the space for what we really need and want.

Clovers_Clan · #9 05/22/14, 03:34 PM

Oh, and so glad no humans or goaties got hurt! And its always sad to loose a tree of that age.

Squeaky McMurdo · #10 05/23/14, 10:21 AM

Honestly, the begginning of June isn't that far away. They can't make you nor expect you to tear it down immediately. If there is still usable space in there, I would use it for another month or two.

crazyfarm · #11 05/23/14, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmmaid

You could buy, for less than $300, a ShelterLodgic enclosure and then have a storage place after the barn is built.

Agreed. Or one of those canvas enclosed car ports.

aart · #12 05/24/14, 06:10 AM

OMGosh what a mess is right!!

So glad nothing breathing was physically crushed. It missed the building shown next to the stump and a large branch hit the roof of another building? I'll bet that can be repaired without total teardown.

Hoping everything works out as best as can be for you and yours.

PlowGirl · #13 05/24/14, 11:32 AM

A temporary hoop house with some panels around it would get you through until you have another barn built.