Fantastic series. For older-home owners (seaside MA) this is invaluable knowledge. Even where there are surprises, I appreciate the inclusion of your troubleshooting approach as this is almost assured to happen. Comments are surprisingly constructive (for YT) and helpful in areas where best practices could be added. For purely a factor of liability [coverage] + the resulting lack of experience/knowledge, the build trades either completely avoid foundation repair work like the plague OR the recommendation is automatically to completely excavate, raise, demo, and rebuild in an attempt to completely eliminate risk. In my own experience, multiple engineer inspections say there should be no inherent problem repairing the fieldstone/brick foundation issue from a technical perspective, but finding an outfit that will take on the project is like scaling a cliff face with one arm. Either they are clearly out of their depth or the all or nothing approach is a dealbreaker. Finally want to thank you for taking the plunge. So much of hesitation is the uncertainty of how much risk there actually is. You've taken on that risk for our benefit, but more-so done it in a way that is calculated and thorough showing the mitigation and knowledge necessary to really understand a project of this scale. Have a subscription and hope the latest projects are going well.
I got a house built in 1936 with a stone and mortar foundation and a heaved garage floor and was thinking about busting it out and repouring a new slab. My concern is keeping the house supported on dirt I guess. Was encouraged to see you set up jack posts on a block leveled in dirt.
FYI: The full weight of a house is carried by the foundation walls…and the “double rim joist” which are set directly atop those foundation walls. The floor joist are sized ONLY to carry the interior wall loads directly above….not the structure loads (ie the roof). By installing jacks beneath “interior” joist, a collapse is very possible. Instead, remove enough of the foundation wall to permit cribbing, blocking and jacks to be installed directly below the load bearing frame. NOT floor joist.
This is a very helpful comment. I’m trying to save my grandparents house that I inherited (1897 brick foursquare house with a stone foundation). Last summer I had a buckling brick wall so I had it torn down and rebuilt using my original bricks. It looked beautiful but I started noticing the wall bowing in one of the corners. After having an engineer look at it, he told me my foundation had a crack and I needed to get it fix. Come to find out, the retainer wall beside my house is cracked and pushing into my stone foundation. That plus constant water from a bad roof (I’m getting a full roof replacement and will be re-in forcing all my joists) caused that side of the foundation to move. I just had a foundation repair company come out to inspect and the guy told me his company wouldn’t take on my project because it was too much work or risk for their money back guarantee. I understood and ask him where should I start, even if his company doesn’t take the job. What should I do to keep the housing standing. He never answered my question. He just circle back to how much money this project is going to cost and that he didn’t think it was right for his company. After your simple explanation, I realized he couldn’t tell me because he didn’t know. Even though our city is full of old houses similar to mine. Old houses that he told me before the inspection he’s used to working on. He didn’t know. And this is the problem I keep running into. I explain to contractors and companies that my house is very old and still has most of it’s original stuff and they’ll tell me they’re used to working with old houses. And then they come to inspect the house and act like they’ve never seen brick walls before. I know this won’t fix all my problems but it’s a start. Thank you so much for this.
I have had similar experiences trying to get someone to help or even hire. Starting to gain enough courage to attempt but a lot at stake! Stressful! Starting New channel , however still learning. Need better camera go figure 😂 Appalachian homestead journey.
@@tylerbhumphriessounds like the guys I have talked to. Mine was built in 1862. Called balloon framing. It has the tendons, also. I am an old woman about to take on this project. Put a French drain around it, take out the compression from dirt pushing on the foundation and probably end up pouring footers because on one side I don’t think they did that. This guy has done is homework. Excellent. Just be careful on your insulation because these old houses were built to breathe. Stay safe!
@@amyreaves8054 I will keep your recommendation in mind. I replaced the roof shortly after making the comment above. When the ground thaws, we will start on the plumbing and that would be a good time to do the drain. I had to take a year off because everything became expensive but my financial situation has recently improved so I can finally move forward with more projects. I want to be living in the house by this time next year.
Hi Appalachian DIY, I just wanted to thank you for sharing your journey repairing your fieldstone wall and lifting your house. I am facing the same challenge with an old mill (Currier and Ives style) which I am in the process of restoring. Your information and instruction were/are excellent especially that you are doing the work yourself (which is also my issue, on a military retired pay). Peace be with you, Ciao, L (from the Northeast Maine).
Hi Appalachian DIY, I will not forget about you but I will have to raise the mill in the Spring. My planning and schedule were all thrown off by the pandemic limitations and the arrival of winter. I really appreciate the time and effort you have invested in sharing your experience with the YT/DIY community - It is of great help. May God bless you and your family; Happy Holidays, Ciao, L
Fantastic series. For older-home owners (seaside MA) this is invaluable knowledge. Even where there are surprises, I appreciate the inclusion of your troubleshooting approach as this is almost assured to happen.
Comments are surprisingly constructive (for YT) and helpful in areas where best practices could be added.
For purely a factor of liability [coverage] + the resulting lack of experience/knowledge, the build trades either completely avoid foundation repair work like the plague OR the recommendation is automatically to completely excavate, raise, demo, and rebuild in an attempt to completely eliminate risk.
In my own experience, multiple engineer inspections say there should be no inherent problem repairing the fieldstone/brick foundation issue from a technical perspective, but finding an outfit that will take on the project is like scaling a cliff face with one arm. Either they are clearly out of their depth or the all or nothing approach is a dealbreaker.
Finally want to thank you for taking the plunge. So much of hesitation is the uncertainty of how much risk there actually is. You've taken on that risk for our benefit, but more-so done it in a way that is calculated and thorough showing the mitigation and knowledge necessary to really understand a project of this scale.
Have a subscription and hope the latest projects are going well.
I got a house built in 1936 with a stone and mortar foundation and a heaved garage floor and was thinking about busting it out and repouring a new slab. My concern is keeping the house supported on dirt I guess. Was encouraged to see you set up jack posts on a block leveled in dirt.
Fearless. I love it.
realized ive watched a shit load of your videos, which have been a huge help, to do my home repairs.... so i finally Sub'd lol
Haha thanks
Thanks man. That was very helpful.
Hope it turned out okay in the end.
Working on editing the last video for this series now
FYI: The full weight of a house is carried by the foundation walls…and the “double rim joist” which are set directly atop those foundation walls. The floor joist are sized ONLY to carry the interior wall loads directly above….not the structure loads (ie the roof).
By installing jacks beneath “interior” joist, a collapse is very possible. Instead, remove enough of the foundation wall to permit cribbing, blocking and jacks to be installed directly below the load bearing frame. NOT floor joist.
Thanks for the info
This is a very helpful comment. I’m trying to save my grandparents house that I inherited (1897 brick foursquare house with a stone foundation). Last summer I had a buckling brick wall so I had it torn down and rebuilt using my original bricks. It looked beautiful but I started noticing the wall bowing in one of the corners. After having an engineer look at it, he told me my foundation had a crack and I needed to get it fix. Come to find out, the retainer wall beside my house is cracked and pushing into my stone foundation. That plus constant water from a bad roof (I’m getting a full roof replacement and will be re-in forcing all my joists) caused that side of the foundation to move. I just had a foundation repair company come out to inspect and the guy told me his company wouldn’t take on my project because it was too much work or risk for their money back guarantee. I understood and ask him where should I start, even if his company doesn’t take the job. What should I do to keep the housing standing. He never answered my question. He just circle back to how much money this project is going to cost and that he didn’t think it was right for his company. After your simple explanation, I realized he couldn’t tell me because he didn’t know. Even though our city is full of old houses similar to mine. Old houses that he told me before the inspection he’s used to working on. He didn’t know. And this is the problem I keep running into. I explain to contractors and companies that my house is very old and still has most of it’s original stuff and they’ll tell me they’re used to working with old houses. And then they come to inspect the house and act like they’ve never seen brick walls before. I know this won’t fix all my problems but it’s a start. Thank you so much for this.
I have had similar experiences trying to get someone to help or even hire. Starting to gain enough courage to attempt but a lot at stake! Stressful! Starting New channel , however still learning. Need better camera go figure 😂 Appalachian homestead journey.
@@tylerbhumphriessounds like the guys I have talked to. Mine was built in 1862. Called balloon framing. It has the tendons, also. I am an old woman about to take on this project. Put a French drain around it, take out the compression from dirt pushing on the foundation and probably end up pouring footers because on one side I don’t think they did that. This guy has done is homework. Excellent. Just be careful on your insulation because these old houses were built to breathe. Stay safe!
@@amyreaves8054 I will keep your recommendation in mind. I replaced the roof shortly after making the comment above. When the ground thaws, we will start on the plumbing and that would be a good time to do the drain. I had to take a year off because everything became expensive but my financial situation has recently improved so I can finally move forward with more projects. I want to be living in the house by this time next year.
Hi Appalachian DIY, I just wanted to thank you for sharing your journey repairing your fieldstone wall and lifting your house. I am facing the same challenge with an old mill (Currier and Ives style) which I am in the process of restoring. Your information and instruction were/are excellent especially that you are doing the work yourself (which is also my issue, on a military retired pay). Peace be with you, Ciao, L (from the Northeast Maine).
Awesome please check back in to tell me how your making out!
Hi Appalachian DIY, I will not forget about you but I will have to raise the mill in the Spring. My planning and schedule were all thrown off by the pandemic limitations and the arrival of winter. I really appreciate the time and effort you have invested in sharing your experience with the YT/DIY community - It is of great help. May God bless you and your family; Happy Holidays, Ciao, L
@@lancelot1953 thank you! There will be one last video in the series so keep a lookout in the upcoming weeks for that.
You should have atleast an 18 x 18 inch footer for those jacks.
Do you still own the house?
❤
Hi.where do you get the screw jack
Be careful
Haha yep we try our best!