Repairing the Meat Curing House
A Hands-On Restoration of Historic Log Structure in Virginia
I have no formal background in restoring antique log buildings. But after watching every episode of the TV show Barnwood Builders—where a crew of West Virginia craftsmen salvages and restores historic cabins and barns—I felt encouraged enough to tackle my first repair.
The building in question was our farm’s meat curing house, once used to hang and age cured meats during the 1800s and early 1900s. This modest 12-by-18-foot structure was built of oak logs, chinked with clay, set on a stone footer, with a wood floor and a metal roof.
A Sinking Corner and a Rotted Log
Over time, one corner had sunk into the earth, causing two logs at the base to rot beyond repair. The sunken corner compromised the stability of the building.
One Barnwood Builders episode mirrored my problem—a building with a severely rotted log. From that, I learned the process:
- Remove the old chinking
- Jack up the building
- Insert a new log
- Rechink the wall
Not exactly simple, but manageable.
Making My own Logs (With a Little Chainsaw Help)
Unlike the professionals, I didn’t have reclaimed logs ready to go. But I did have green ash trees blown down in a windstorm. Like Abe Lincoln, I would have to shape the logs myself—except I used a chainsaw with a special ripping chain instead of an axe.
Once squared with the chainsaw, I fine-tuned the corners with a drawknife, cutting notches to fit into the corner structure.
Dating the Building to Circa 1845
Researching old Virginia log buildings revealed two details that helped date the structure:
- The style of the corner notch
- The use of flat stones laid at 45 degrees between the logs as part of the chinking
These details point to a construction date around 1845. In that period, typical chinking included flat stones, straw, or even horsehair, all sealed with clay and then whitewashed. I used mortar and finished with exterior white paint for durability.
From Restoration to Renovation: Building the Porch
With structural repairs complete, I turned my attention to the entrance stoop and stairway. What started as a vision of a basic repair quickly became a full porch expansion.
To preserve the rustic look, I used round wood posts for the porch supports and milled slab lumber from ash to face the modern floor framing. The handrails and balusters were crafted from ash and maple trees harvested on the property.
(Image: New Wraparound Porch)
Interior Repairs and Comfort
Inside, I patched the chinking, installed baseboards, added wall lighting, and made the space seasonally comfortable with a small wood stove and a window A/C unit.
Cozy in winter. Cool in summer. And full of history all year long.
Replacing the Roof
Mother Nature wasn’t done.
On December 23, 2022, a violent windstorm knocked a black locust tree directly onto the meat curing house. The impact caused major damage to the old metal roof, original rafters, and lapboard gables.
(Image: Tree Fallen on the Roof – December 2022)
I made temporary repairs at the time, but by December 2023, it was time for permanent restoration.
A New Roof for the Long Haul
For the roof, I chose painted steel panels—modern material, vintage vibe.
We rebuilt with:
- A new ridgeplate
- New rafters and nailers
- New metal roofing panels
The rotted cedar lapsiding on the gables was replaced with HardiePlank, and additional wall studs were added for support. Wooden trim around the eaves and a custom drip edge sealed up entry points to keep out birds and squirrels.
The old building now stands strong—restored, improved, and preserved for another century.
© 2025 Clyde Housel. All rights reserved.
This work may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the author, except for brief quotations in reviews or scholarly works.
