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[EngineerofSteel]

I am remodelling an existing wooden barn. The barn has rafters at 8' o.c. and columns at 16' o.c.

The structure currently is a shade, with roof and columns only. Fifty years old, no original stamps are available. However, the columns (california redwood) are in good shape, by inspection (we dug and exposed one column).

Loads will increase considerably because the walls will be enclosed. We are transferring loads from the existing columns to the new columns with cable bracing.

My question is: can I take any credit for the existing columns? Clearly, they have withstood the load from the roof for 50 years.

This is a low building... the column height above the ground is 7', the ridge is 10'2".

 

[SlideRuleEra]

If you can perform an inspection on each, individual post, perhaps increased load carrying capability can be justified. However the numbers in this report, "Service Life of Treated & Untreated Fence Posts", indicate that (in general) fifty years is too old, even for redwood.

http://juniper.oregonstate.edu/bibliography/documents/phpKKcnVf_post-farm.pdf

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net