Day 8,9,10

The last few days have been spent jacking up the back bedroom, and replacing termite infested studs, joists, and subfloor. Its been a long consecutive work week. (one day off for christmas) and I am very happy with what we have accomplished. As early as next weekend, we can start putting up gypsum, and texturing the walls. Next saturday I am having the shower heads raised for a 6' 4incher, so I dont have to bend over to get my hair wet. Then we can start rebuilding my cabinets and counters. More pictures later.

My new favorite toy!

Day 5,6,7

The last three days have been spent underneath the house. My body aches the good ache from army crawling around on my stomach and back. We have successfully jacked the kitchen up and placed the new mudsill spacers, furred up the joists, drilled and set new foundation bolts through the new and existing mudsills, and have now moved to the master bedroom. We have cut a hole in that floor now, and have removed all the dry rotted / termite infested wood from the back corner. We should be done with jacking up the house by tomorrow morning, maybe even this afternoon! Then we move onto Trims and Interiors (TI) Whoo Hoo. Millie got to lay outside today cause it was beautiful out there. The sun was a pleasant change in weather.

More Jacking Pictures (this is what we look at all day)

Shim under the Joist

'

New Mudsill Under Old Mudsill (Thats how much we lifted the house in this location)

Termite GUNK!

Day 3 and 4: Into the Deep

Today our crew shrank back down to two. Me and Dad. We finished pulling up the flooring in the kitchen, which was a pain cause there were 2 layers of linoleum on top of a layer of Fiber Board. Tapping in the nails, screws and staples afterward was a P.I.T.A. But its done now. So nothing original is left in the kitchen, except the plumbing. Midday we cut a hole in the floor to get a better access to the crawlspace so that we could inspect the sinking foundation. When we surveyed the floor using our Water Bubble Level we found that the South side of the house had sank almost 1" and 1/8th from the center girder in the house which is supporting the metal joists. After a day of crawling around under the house, adjusting the floor with 10 ton screw jacks, we are pretty close to being level again. I think we will have it by today. Next we are going to have to insert some boards under the mudsills (which are sitting off the foundation right now!) so that when we lower the dining room down off the jacks, the house stays close to level. 

ANyways, its been fun so far, despite spending 7 hours crawling around in dirt, concrete, and not to mention a spider heaven! God forgive me for killing a Black Widow today. They are magnificient spiders, but I dont think you intended for them to come within 2 feet from my face. Sorry.

Water Bubble Level

Light/Heater

10 T0n Screw jacks in action!

Green Metal Joists @ 4' OC

Day two: Cavalry Arrives

Today Dad and I pulled the carpet in the Master Bedroom, removed texturing from the drywall, pulled all the cabinets and counters from the kitchen, moved the appliances, and pulled up 80% of the flooring in the kitchen. Josh, Jennie, and mom showed up and were a great help. We accomplished much more with them around. Thanks guys!

My future bedroom

Before...

After!

Day 1 at the house

Well we didnt waste much time getting into the thick of things. As of the 8th hour of reconstructive activity, we have completely cleaned out the old owners stuff, pulled the sheetrock down in the garage, and demolished the master bathroom.  This is always the funnest part! Don't tell the project manager that we saw her napping on the job.