Farmstead “Deconstruction” Done Right

2020 - Volume #44, Issue #3, Page #06

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Doug Crosby and his sons take down old farmsteads - reclaiming wood, cleaning up trash and even digging out foundations, if requested. Crosby warns that not every company that takes down farm buildings will do the same.
    “We get calls to come and see a building that needs to be taken down, and all the lumber worth reclaiming is already gone,” he says. “Someone will have agreed to take it down, but after the good stuff is taken, they disappear. All that’s left is a mess that has to be cleaned up and taken to a landfill.”
    Crosby notes there are many reasons to take down an old building. It can reduce property taxes, limit liability to family and friends, and reduce property/casualty insurance.
    With decades of experience under his belt, Crosby has seen it all. His Minnesota-based Last Chance Ranch takes down buildings of all kinds in the upper Midwest. They include not just barns, but silos, grain bins and elevators. Wood and rusty steel roofing are resold or made into furniture, doors and more. Unlike some that hire labor by the hour for a job, Crosby has a full-time, year-round professional crew.
    “They know what they are doing, and that’s important when you are taking down a building or silo next to one you want to save,” says Crosby.
    Stories of old barn wood being worth a fortune are rural legends, according to Crosby. While the value of recovered materials may cover deconstruction costs, it is as likely that tearing down an old building will cost the owner.
    A big problem to avoid for most rural landowners is the idea of burning or burying demolition material on site. Should that be suggested by a contractor, landowners need to know it is illegal in all 50 states, warns Crosby. It can lead to big penalties for the landowner.
    Detail what work will be done and ask for an agreement listing items and expectations. This is especially important if the owner has plans for the site, even if simply to plant it to a crop.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Last Chance Ranch, 47225 269th Ave., Laporte, Minn. 56461.

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Farmstead “Deconstruction” Done Right BUILDINGS Miscellaneous Doug Crosby and his sons take down old farmsteads - reclaiming wood cleaning up trash and even digging out foundations if requested Crosby warns that not every company that takes down farm buildings will do the same “We get calls to come and see a building that needs to be taken down and all the lumber worth reclaiming is already gone ” he says “Someone will have agreed to take it down but after the good stuff is taken they disappear All that’s left is a mess that has to be cleaned up and taken to a landfill ” Crosby notes there are many reasons to take down an old building It can reduce property taxes limit liability to family and friends and reduce property/casualty insurance With decades of experience under his belt Crosby has seen it all His Minnesota-based Last Chance Ranch takes down buildings of all kinds in the upper Midwest They include not just barns but silos grain bins and elevators Wood and rusty steel roofing are resold or made into furniture doors and more Unlike some that hire labor by the hour for a job Crosby has a full-time year-round professional crew “They know what they are doing and that’s important when you are taking down a building or silo next to one you want to save ” says Crosby Stories of old barn wood being worth a fortune are rural legends according to Crosby While the value of recovered materials may cover deconstruction costs it is as likely that tearing down an old building will cost the owner A big problem to avoid for most rural landowners is the idea of burning or burying demolition material on site Should that be suggested by a contractor landowners need to know it is illegal in all 50 states warns Crosby It can lead to big penalties for the landowner Detail what work will be done and ask for an agreement listing items and expectations This is especially important if the owner has plans for the site even if simply to plant it to a crop Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Last Chance Ranch 47225 269th Ave Laporte Minn 56461

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