Barn Conversions

For many years the conversion of former agricultural buildings has provided developers and owners with challenging but very rewarding projects and the end results can be quite magnificent, providing historic rural living. In recent years we have experienced a growing demand for our services in this specialist sector and have had the privilege of working on some fantastic projects.

A large number of our projects have involved taking the shell of a former agricultural building (some in a derelict condition) and providing specialist solutions and building services to help with the sympathetic repair and conversion into habitable accommodation. Our Structural Services division provide Anchoring, Corner and Crack Stitching services, as well as Consolidation and Grouting where applicable. Lateral Restraint using bespoke systems can also remove the need for the use of unsightly pattress plates.

Where the building is acting as a “host” to the internal occupation, our Structural Services division can design and install a supporting mechanism to ensure that none of the flooring timbers bear directly in to the external elevations. Particularly useful where the building is located in an exposed position and is the subject of Penetrating Damp on a regular basis, traditional Repointing providing a route for residual moisture to evaporate naturally.

Protectahome - Mill Conversion ©	Protectahome - Mill Conversion ©
	Protectahome - Mill Conversion Completed ©

Coupled with a lining system (all reversible processes) the internal environment can be isolated from the main structure, literally using the building itself as a host. High levels of insulation can be achieved, providing modern living standards without permanently changing the exterior or interior of the host building.

Our Building Preservation division provide Timber Treatment and Timber Repairs to Structural Timbers as well as Damp Proofing and Water Proofing Services.

Damp Proofing in Barn Conversions can provide unique challenges, especially when taking account of the historic use of the building. Structures can be contaminated with ground salts as well as suffering the residual effects of stored goods and fertilisers. This, coupled with contaminants associated with livestock occupation, mean that traditional directly applied finishes will face significant challenges.

Contaminants also mean that the use of traditional Tanking techniques to overcome problems of changing ground levels internally or externally, or to deal with Earth Retaining Walls, are destined to a very short life and ultimately failure. A large number of Tanking applications require extensive preparation of the substrate and can include the use of very dense renders bonded to the historic building material. Amongst our portfolio of services there are alternative systems that we may specify which offer a more reliable and guaranteed long term solution.

Conversion of former Mills are a real specialty for Protectahome, bringing together our skills in Damp Proofing, Timber Preservation and Repair, Structural Repair and Stabilisation, Waterproofing and Flood Mitigation.

Conversions demand the highest level of skill from our surveyors and technicians. Specifications can be demanding and require extensive detailing to account for challenges relating to the structure, environment and end use. If you are considering converting an agricultural building we would advocate the involvement of a specialist such as ourselves from a very early point. We have lost count of the number of potential projects that have come to us after work has started on site and the specifications supplied to us have proved unworkable or destined to a short life cycle.

To arrange to get our team involved in your project, please Contact Us on 0845 601 1980 we will ensure your will get the benefit of the involvement of our experienced and knowledgeable team from the earliest stages. For more about successful barn conversions we have been involved with, please see our Case Studies Page.