Barn has collapsed into the river

[januszsobolewski]

I am restoring an old watermill in France. A barn that I use as a garage has collapsed into the river. This is mainly due to old age and a storm. The riverbank gave way and took one wall with it, i have dismantled most of the rest of the barn for safety. Unfortunately, insurance doesn't cover "act of god" or "old age" and it's one of the two!

I am pretty handy with all aspects of DIY and have built a house in UK. My questions is, how do I dig new foundations (there weren't any before as the barn was a couple of 100 years old) on the river bank. Do I need to shore up the riverbank - if so how? Do I need to drive some sort of pilings into the foundation - if so how and what type? I can make the barn smaller and move it a little in from the riverbank but probably still need to do something special with the foundations? I really need to do thsi at low cost/myself.

 

[Shytalkz]

Oops...!

If you want it on the original footprint and close to the bank, then you need to form a quay heading to stop the bank being eroded in the future. The barn can then either sit on a raft or on piles behind the quay heading.

Alternatively, backfill the area of erosion, then pile the barn foundations and cast a combined ground beam and slab foundation. Future erosion of the bank will be less likely to affect the building stability.

Neither are really DIY territory. Second option is cheaper.

 

[Ossy]

Get some gabion baskets in to help prevent future erosion of the bank also. I assume it's on the apex of a bend in the river which is why it's being eroded. Another option is to plant willow into the bank to hold it together - very cheap but has to be done right to work, and of course doesn't provide an instant fix.

 

[januszsobolewski]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. Am out there again beginning of July so will take stock and decide what to do.

 

[SKETCH3D]

Before digging by the river, you should really speak to the environment agency to ensure that you aren't breaking any laws. Also the local planning department may have a say.

Just because there was something there before doesn't automatically give you the right to put something back. Sorry... Lots of hoops to jump through!