Block or fieldstone foundation for new barn

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We're building a new barn this fall. My dream would be to have a fieldstone foundation, but my husband laughed his head off when I told him. So now I'm thinking block. Anybody have experience with either type foundation? Should I forget about fieldstone?

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), August 26, 2001

Answers

I would forget the stone. I think I would use a poured concrete foundation. The foundation and roof is the important part of any building. If you don't have a good foundation you are wasting your time with the rest.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), August 26, 2001.

You could always "cheat" and face the concrete foundation with a fieldstone front. It would give you the look you want with a secure underpinning on the barn.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), August 26, 2001.

My home and barn are fieldstone foundations, but its not something I would want to start a new build on. If you have zoning in your area, you most likley cant get approval for a fieldstone foundation. Unless your doing the work yourself, the labor cold would kill you on the foundation.

Stick with concrete. If you like the look face lay the stone.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), August 26, 2001.


I have seen wonders with stone but, in ths day and age its hard to go the old route. I started a stone spring house about four years ago. If I would have used block it would be finished by now. This spring house is only 10' x 14' and about 3' high, with cracks and no roof.

-- OAK (StrugglingOak@aol.com), August 27, 2001.

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