Assessment of Condition and Structure

The main reason to learn more about your town’s barns is to be better able to assess the condition of the barns -- by studying the exterior and interior of the barns at closer quarters.

For this reason you will probably start your detailed assessments with the barns that the road Survey identified in a fair to poor state of repair. The detailed assessments are necessary in order to determine the repairs needed and the preservation value of the barn. Such assessments are usually required as part of grant applications for preservation work.

A second reason for detailed assessment is to add to our knowledge of the historical structure of barns. The information requested in Parts I and II of the Assessment is taken from the Survey of Historic Structures used by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. Pat III includes information of particular interest to historians of timber framing such as the Timber Framers Guild.

The Assessment Form has three parts:

Assessment Part I: Barn Exterior from Road. The first part of the Assessment contains information about the barn Exterior that can be determined from the road if you have been unable to get permission to go onto the property. You could do it as part of your “windshield” Barn Survey. Use Glossary I and the Illustrated Glossary to assist you.

Assessment Part II: Barn Exterior Up-Close. The second part of the Assessment is for exterior details that need closer inspection. All four walls of the barn are inspected at a distance of a few feet. The assessor should be able to touch and poke the building. Part II requires that you have owner permission to inspect the barn more closely. Use Glossary II and the Illustrated Glossary to assist you.

Assessment Part III: Barn Interior. This final part of the Assessment records the details of the interior structure of the barn including the framing of the walls and roof. Evidence related to agricultural use is recorded. Use Glossary III to assist you.

Who Will Do the Assessments?

The Assessments can be done by:

• A preservation expert retained to evaluate a barn for needed repairs who agrees to complete the Assessment forms.
• A person with enough working knowledge of barns to know the terms used on the  Assessment forms.
• A person with little barn knowledge who feels confident using the Assessment forms and Glossaries.
• A person who has taken Assessment Workshops conducted through Save
  Vermont Barns.

Record the Results

Enter the data from each Assessment form into the corresponding section of the Project Spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel).

Each part of the Assessment Form is covered in Workshops conducted through Save Vermont Barns.

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