We have an old barn that needs to come down. It has hewn log beams in it with wooden pegs holding it together. I would like to save what can be saved to possibly build a hunting lodge/cabin. My husband wants to push it down and burn it.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the smallest cabin dimensions that would still be roomy enough for say two hunters for a few days at a time. Also any other suggestions for how to convince my husband to try to salvage what we can would be great.

I'd say it kind of depends on how much stuff you want to have with you. My wife and I (and good-sized dog) lived out of a 14 x 14' cabin in the Yukon for 6 mos. quite comfortably. But it definitely made us very selective about what we really needed, and didn't.

you might want to look into selling it.  If the beams are of good quality and some of the lumber is still in good condition there are buyers out there.  My father makes his living doing this but I dont think he travels that far.  Check around with local antiques dealers and they may be able to help you.. You might want to post it on that c@@@@@ list sight too.  good luck!

some old trappers cabins where just 12X8. I guess it depends no how much room You need. Those old barns where built to last so You should get enuff wood to built a 2 or even 3 room cabin.

I'm bett'n them old hand hewn beams are WORMY CHESTNUT. That old wood is beautiful and would be a sin to just burn it. That wood has alot of history. I've had turkey box calls made and some of the chestnut was 100 yr old from cabins. The sound was excellent.

Some of the beams are huge and I've thought that anything very small might look odd with such large beams. I don't know.

Even if I don't get to use them for a cabin it would be nice if someone could use them. I also thought someone might like to buy them. He would be more apt to try and save them if someone would buy them.

Whatever you have is probably more than enough, if you aren't claustrophobic.  I helped a friend take down and reassemble a hewn log tobacco barn for the same purpose.  I'm guessing it wasn't more than 15' x 15', but we added a loft for sleeping and 3 or 4 could hunt out of it quite comfortably. The only drawback was our woodstove was way oversized and would run you out of that loft.  One of the small sheepherder type stoves made for wall tents would have probably been about right.  Once we chinked in the logs that place held heat like there was no tomorrow!

It would be a sin to burn it. If your beams are too big dimesionally they can be cut down and make 2,3 or 4 new beams depending on how large they currently are. A local saw mill or carpenter shop can do it for you. All that old barn wood would make a beautiful hunting cabin, especially useing beam and post, pegged construction. A 15 x 15 or 15 x 20 would be spacious. I would love to have an opportunity like you have!

You have to get a professional opinion about that wood. People are definitely making money selling old barn wood. Sorry I  can't offer any advice on cabin dimensions. I hope you turn those hand hewn beams into a pile of loot or use them to build yourself a dream cabin!

My son and I have a 16X24 cabin that sleeps 4 comfortably. 1 set of bunks and 2 single beds;table for 4.We can also store about 2 single cords of wood inside as well as lots of room to dry wet clothes.We have had 3 people all over 200lbs.staying at one time the 4th. bed was for storage.Hope this helps.What I did was measure all the furniture that was going in and drew up a scale drawing with everything we needed;then built the cabin to suit.

Those huge timbers are worth a lot of money if sold, but worst case they could be sawed into   lumber for a new cabin.

http://www.amazon.com/Cabin-Inspiration-Classic-American-Getaway/dp/1561586447/ref=pd_sim_b_1/190-7881221-8396150

Her's a decent coffe table type of book with good ideas.  All them under 1000 sg foot.

Last fall , I stayed in a friend's cabin, with an other friend, the cabin is just under 12x14, and we stayed 7 days in october for moose hunting, and it was plenty big a nought!! If you take your time on the layout, and that you have a nought selling hight to have bunk beds, a folding table. small wood stove. it was a great size for two hunter that past most of the day out hunting!!

Keep us posted on the progress!!

p.s. I would love to find an old building like yours to reuse!!

For goodness sakes Bona, don't let he wreak that barn. If you don't make cabin with them they could easily bring several hundred dollars or more.

Troy

If it's a really old barn and the wood is in decent shape you might see if it has any value to luthiers / guitar makers.  These folks go bonkers for old wood.

Do you have dimension, size of the barn as now, size of the beams, thickness, width, length?
I'll try to dig out some pics of the one I was in, and post them!

If you can't use the wood, sale it and use the money to build your self a dream hunting cabin!!

I will try to get some measurements. I have two nights of deer season left so I won't get to it until Mon. probably.

You might even make a Adirondack style lean to from the wood. They can be any size you want and provide great shelter for 2-4 hunters. Look really neat also!

Ours is 25' x 20' with 2 bedrooms and one main room kitchen/living room with storage loft.

The largest beams are 9 3/4 x 7 1/2. I will get some more dimensions soon.