Let in lateral bracing in all 4 exterior walls or sheet the exterior with 7/16 or better OSB. I've also installed X bracing on the walls with flat stock steel.

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Looks unsafe now.

There is no corner bracing, so consider putting vertical plywood sheets in the corners.

Framing for the openings doesn't present a special challenge.

 

To be clear, the unsafety you are pointing to comes specifically from the lack of corner bracing? Is it your opinion that,with added corner bracing, having 1/3 to 1/2 of the area of the westernmost wall open for doors and windows, the building will be stable?

 

Looks like it needs more ceiling joist/rafter ties to support the roof

 

I plan on replacing the existing rafter ties with more attractive and sturdier lumber. Adding more of them won't be a challenge, however, the bed is lofted on the opposite end so I plan to use the joists of the loft itself as extra building bracing and having rafter ties like so.

 

IMO, just corner bracing will not do it.

shear the whole building & nail it off in a tight pattern.

4-6 inches on the edges & 8-12 inches in the field.

make certain you add blocking if the shear does not go plate to plate.

roof is another project in itself...

 

To clarify, is the general consensus that having many openings on the west side will not affect my ability to stabilize this building much as the structural supports needed are elsewhere?

 

with the right engineering the whole west side could be glass or doors.

 

I’m going to second the engineer. Especially if you plan on putting a floor up there

 

Corner bracing, rafter ties, collar ties

 

Sheet the exterior, that will take care of shear. In the meantime if you want to open up walls for doors/windows, add temporary bracing. Being an old structure, you may want to plumb it up before bracing it in place, then add your exterior sheathing. On a smaller building like this we've used chain falls or come-alongs to square it up before re-sheeting it.

 

Okay, so we keep coming back to sheeting the exterior, however, if the bottom 8 feet of the west side is opened for a door and window the sheetable surface area is greatly diminished. Do we think the upper half is enough?

Thank you everyone for your responses.

 

What is your trade?

 

You may end up with a portal wall situation by opening up much of the west wall. Headers would need/should run to each corner wall. Sheething is best bet for sheer on the walls themselves then. Location and local wind loads will dictate your needs.

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Are you a contractor? These are simple questions and not very complicated.

Most skilled contractors would have a decent solution and would just need a bit of help making sure they were doing enough to make it solid.

Sheet inside and outside with plywood. Blocking, sheet the roof, add solid headers, angled bracing from corner to corner and the other suggestions folks here have given you and it will be very solid.

All of that or some of it. That is what contractors do and learn.

However, just realize, we aren't there, we can't see everything, we don't know the requirements in your area, weather, wind loads and have no responsibility for your actions and take no liability for what you end up with. We are just friendly guys who are chatting about stuff.

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Nope, you caught me - just a lowly peasant looking for free advice ( which I appreciate ). Learning where I can during a time that I don't have the cheddar to hire you fine folks.

 

How did you get rid of the smell of chicken poop and feathers?

 

The smell was already pretty much gone, the building is ancient.

 

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