One Step Closer

Thanks! to everyone that has been able to come out and help! We really do appreciate it. This week we were blessed with help from family and friends. We were able to get our concrete foundation "footers" poured for our main support beam that we installed last week. We were able to reinforce and mostly rebuild the stairs to the basement. They had pretty much rotted away! We were able to get the kitchen joists lifted to "level" and the bathroom is "level".(Big thanks to A and M! for coming from NC to help!)

We mopped the upstairs multiple times with bleach/water and soap (Thanks uncle D!) trying to kill the obnoxious cat urine odor, tore out the bathroom tile (as part of the lifting project, Thanks P!). We were able to reroute, and plan some wiring fixes (Thanks Dad!)

I was HORRIBLE about taking pictures this weekend as I spent most of the time on the back in the mud under the stairs! or on my knees in the mud on the concrete, or, well you get the idea, it was muddy!

We have had GENEROUS gifts for building supplies, and I know that a lot of people are still looking. We REALLY appreciate all of those supplies. Possibly will have someone willing to help out on the water heater, which would be a huge blessing.

The "girls" all stayed home this weekend (except #2 who wanted to hang out at the new place) and packed. #2 boy was the little man of the house and apparently had a good time playing with his nieces. I am so blessed to have a family that has helped through this "crisis". I am so thankful that things have turned out the way that they have. We are growing closer, developing stronger relationships and learning to trust. It's fun. Thanks again to all! What a blessing you have been to us!

For those that asked....

Update on the chimney/fireplace. Looks like it's going to be big bucks to get the fireplace up to "snuff". More money than we want to spend on it at this time. The point of fixing it was to help heat the house this winter. Of course, being strapped for funds, and having received an estimate that is way outside of our ability to pay, I started the DIY research on chimneys, fireplaces, etc. Apparently, and had I just thought about it sooner it makes sense, the fireplace is net heat LOSER and not what we need anyway. So, the focus has changed to a wood stove insert which which actually help to heat the house, and still be within reach if I can find a used one that work and ran the liner up the old chimney myself. Know anyone has one setting in their barn or garage? :)

Update and Thanks

To all of you following the blog, sorry that I haven't posted recently. We were very busy last weekend, and this week has proven to be busy as well which I am very thankful for, we needed the work. We worked on adding in the structural support that the house needs this past weekend. We were blessed with help from friends and family that made the work a lot easier, and fun! 






As you may recall, there was a foundation issue that I took a picture of, you can see it again here to the right. This was caused by the removal of a wall on the main level of the home at the stairwell. This is pictured to the left. All that extra weight forced the floors down in the center of the home with no foundation to support it.




SO.... We jacked and jacked and jacked the house until we were able to get three 2 by 8s placed between two foundation walls in the basement. We still have another 3/4 of an inch or so before we are level, but we hope to work towards that this weekend. I'm going to need to dig three holes in the concrete/dirt floor and set three small footers for support posts for these columns. Hoping to get that done this weekend with some help.




We were also able to remove the remaining plaster from upstairs that needed to come out, remove the remainder of the mouse-urine-soaked baseboards and get some clean-up done. Thanks to everyone who came out to help! It was so appreciated.

We are starting to work out the wiring in the house and move some boxes around and correct small problems. Fortunately, most of the wiring seems sound, and it is at least updated and modern.  We might have found a good source of stone for the fireplace repair, will know more on that on Friday.

If you'd like to come out this weekend and help, please let us know. We will be out on Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday. We will try to leave a key for anyone that would like to do something when we are not there.

Brian

Materials Needed

People have asked what materials we need.  This list is a pretty good idea.  Not included is other things that would be very helpful but are more costly, like windows, soffets, etc.  Estimated funds needed for these things is ~ $2000 (this does not include the needed windows, etc, just what is on the list below).

• -15 sheets of 1/2" drywall
•  -3 sheets of 5/8" fire rated drywall
•  -2 sheets of 1/4" drywall-large bucket (5 gallon?) joint compound
•  -4 rolls repair drywall tape
•  - lots of corner metal for drywall (100 feet?)
•  - drywall tape knife(s)
•  -1 bucket drywall screws
•  -2 bags plaster
•  - texture brush for ceiling
•  - sanding sheets
•  - sanding sponge 
• -30 feet square galvanized duct for wall interior
•  -3 8 inch diameter to square converter galvanized duct junctions
•  -3 90 degree galvanized duct junctions ---square to square
•  - 60 8" square glass blocks (for basement windows 
• -20 concrete blocks 
• - 2 bags white mortar 
• - 2 bags Portland cement 
• -2 rolls R-19 insulation - faced
•  -30 bags (bricks) of cellulose blown insulation
•  -6 cans spray foam insulation.
•  -2 rolls 1/2 inch Pex plumbing line
•  - pex tools (borrow)
•  - kitchen counter tops 
• cabinets - may already have from friends?
•  - 3 16' 2x8's 
• - 4 basement support posts 7' tall
•  -bucket of framing nails 3"
•  - roll of 4 mil plastic 
• - various windows - will update
•  - 200 feet 6 inch baseboard trim
•  - 200 feet 3 1/2 inch trim
•  - 2 five gallon buckets primer (paint)
•  - paint rollers/poles/trays
•  - floor sander(rent) ~ floor polyurethane
•  - propane water heater

More demo - solving problems.

As is often the case, when tearing things out you get to find the mistakes that other people made. Like this one...