Tearing down a silo

I read an old post about tearing down a silo, but I was unable to determine whether they were successful tearing it down or not. We have an old silo on our farm that my husband is considering tearing down and he is looking for ideas on how to do it.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Everything depends on how close to other structures it stands, what it is made of and what kind of equipment you have access to. Can you post some pics of it and anything around it? Maybe some description of the how it was constructed? I might be able to get some ideas for you. But first, are you *sure* you want it gone?

Hmm...I think you should rent it out to musicians. Silos make the best place in the world for musical acoustics...you just need to find some good string pickers to fill it full of melodic sounds, eh?

However, if ya do take it down, save the very top, the rounded part...that part could be sold for many different uses...yard ornament, gazebo, deck roof, etc.

While attending our local annual "farm tour" here in Culpeper, VA, several years ago, we visited a farm that was converting an old cattle barn into a stable for horses.

There was a HUGE silo that was in the process of being dismantled, & the farm owner told us that it was being dismantled by some Amish folk, who were then having the materials transported to their community somewhere in PA &, I assume, rebuilt there.

I have no idea who you'd contact concerning this, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

Does it not depend on what the silo is made of? Dad had a stave (slab) silo put up in the 60s and when he sold the farm in the 80s, the people sold off the silo and a crew came and took it down and rebuilt it elsewhere. I would guess a cement silo would need a wrecking ball and I have no idea if a brick one could be dismantled with out destroying it. Kinda doubt it. :)

Probably. I don't recall what the dismantled silo was made of, but like you say - doubt it was cement.

Found this online:
http://www.savillehillfarm.com/FunStuff.htm
...appears to be a slab silo.

I work for a silo company, (in the office) but have never torn down a silo myself, so can't offer you any advice on that....I agree with tgif's post that you need to know what type of silo (stave, poured, tile, etc..) and what's near it and what equipment you have access to before you attempt do take it down yourself.
Often the silo's interior has a bearing on how easily it will come down, too.

Do you have a silo company in your area?

Many times they'll take them down in exchange for any useable materials.

And, as breezymeadow stated....many Amish folks (if you've a settlement near you) will take them down for the same reason.