Ideas to convert an old outbuilding
As most lovers of all things French know, one of the main advantages of French country houses is that they often come with an outbuilding or two. They could be anything from a shed, a barn, a garage, a workshop, a cowshed, a henhouse or a stable. Converting existing outbuildings into living space is something you may want to look into, whether to increase your living space or create a gite or guest accommodation. It is often a good step to take to secure an outbuilding anyway, as the older they are, the more likely to fall apart which can of course be dangerous: rotten beams, plenty of holes in the framework, bats and nests of wasps or hornets…
Problems with this type of conversion:
The major problem with this sort of conversion is that outbuildings were rarely designed for living in. Therefore they were not designed to stay particularly warm and dry. It’s worth renovating an old building rather than building a new one, though VAT is not reclaimable against a renovation and restoration project, and it is for new builds.
Then, by insulating the walls, you can make sure the building is easier to heat and will thus retain the heat for longer. One efficient method is to put wooden battens around the wall then fix plasterboard to them, laying insulation material against the wall. This method would only work if you use your outbuilding for summer. It is all the more ideal if your outbuilding is well ventilated.
Original ideas for conversion:
I–Another habitable surface
-> Should your house be too small to host a summer party, an outbuilding is a pleasant area to do so. Sheltered from any bad weather, it also avoids you having to worry about tidying your home after the party. Use planks to set up trestle tables for the meal.
-> If you have young children, a games room could be ideal instead of spending their time in front of video games or the TV.
-> If you often host family and friends, why not convert your outbuilding into a studio or a guest house?
-> Finally, you can even convert your barn into a gite or a B&B. Two advantages could be highlighted:
– On the one hand, it can be a great source of additional income
– On the other hand, this activity enables you to meet all sorts of interesting people…
However, make sure you investigate local laws and consult with your regional government. Consider hiring a lawyer specializing in real estate to make the process easier. When dealing with local government officials, make sure you get everything in writing.
II–Farm activity
-> If you’ve always dreamt about developing a farm activity why not transform your outbuilding into a henhouse? It is a less expensive livestock to rear as you can easily find chickens, hens, turkeys or guinea fowls at your local market. Furthermore, your chickens would be well protected from any fox attacks as opposed to if they were only surrounded by a wire fence.
-> If you have good sized budget, you can transform your outbuilding into a stable for one or two horses, or a sheepfold. Obviously you’ll also need plenty of land as these animals need grazing patches and spaces to roam.
Be careful : for an outbuilding, avoid ducks and geese who aren’t used to living under a roof but near water, unless you have a pond or a river crossing your land or close enough to your outbuilding.
As you can see through these examples, possibilities to transform your old barn are endless…