Nothing is square in this house...

[SilverFox]

I bought my brother and sister out of my parent's home when they passed. The house was built in 1861. The first work I've done to it was to tear the front porch down and rebuild it. I thought I may could get away with just a repair but I ended up having to take it all the way down and rebuild it from scratch. Nothing is square... not even close. The front porch had square nails in it and the boards were true 2x6 and 2x8. I got up under the house and you can see the beams were axe cut in places, maybe all of them but I didn't crawl that far back under there. The front and side frame of the porch go in the brick columns and rest on those columns. You talk about aggravating. If I had it all to do over again I would have probably blocked it up inside the brick and used the block to carry the weight instead of running inside the columns and out the other side. I could have got things a lot more level that way. Just cased around the brick columns so you couldn't see it. I got everything as close as you can get it with what I was dealt and it looks OK but it sure feels like putting lipstick on a pig. You put a laser on the corners in this house it would probably blowup!

[porkchop 13]

Out of square and built to last back then is 10000's time better than the bullshit houses being built today. Due to houses being built with such inequality and zero pride or fucks keeps me super busy in the home improvement field of work.

[Saltydog235]

I bought my brother and sister out of my parent's home when they passed. The house was built in 1861. The first work I've done to it was to tear the front porch down and rebuild it. I thought I may could get away with just a repair but I ended up having to take it all the way down and rebuild it from scratch. Nothing is square... not even close. The front porch had square nails in it and the boards were true 2x6 and 2x8. I got up under the house and you can see the beams were axe cut in places, maybe all of them but I didn't crawl that far back under there. The front and side frame of the porch go in the brick columns and rest on those columns. You talk about aggravating. If I had it all to do over again I would have probably blocked it up inside the brick and used the block to carry the weight instead of running inside the columns and out the other side. I could have got things a lot more level that way. Just cased around the brick columns so you couldn't see it. I got everything as close as you can get it with what I was dealt and it looks OK but it sure feels like putting lipstick on a pig. You put a laser on the corners in this house it would probably blowup!

Dealt with it a ton. You got to pick the point that’s out the least and work from that. I’ve seen and uncovered some crazy stuff over the years. I have a love hate relationship with homes from the 1970’s back. Usually pretty well built but I know we’re going to be there a while fixing stuff we uncover. We basically had to rebuild the last one.

[Palmetto Duck]

Yeah you must not have worked on many old houses. Square is just a novelty in them.

[huntinghagen#12]

I had to have my foundation sured up after Helene, 139 year old house. Nothing square and original foundation, it was a job and a half.

A marble will roll all over.

[SilverFox]

There's a ton of work I would like to do to this house but I'm really afraid of what I may uncover like Salty said. I am pretty sure the only insulation it has was blown in to the attic. I've looked around with my thermal and you can see the studs in the walls. They had new windows put in several years back and that's probably all that's keeping the light bill from being sky high. 2 of the bedrooms have plaster walls from the chair rail up. It looks like I'm going to have to pick my battles wisely. I'm for sure not a carpenter.

[MKW]

1861?? You need to metal detect that yard...or better yet, let me.

[Saltydog235]

There's a ton of work I would like to do to this house but I'm really afraid of what I may uncover like Salty said. I am pretty sure the only insulation it has was blown in to the attic. I've looked around with my thermal and you can see the studs in the walls. They had new windows put in several years back and that's probably all that's keeping the light bill from being sky high. 2 of the bedrooms have plaster walls from the chair rail up. It looks like I'm going to have to pick my battles wisely. I'm for sure not a carpenter.

Plenty of options to insulate without tearing out. Your main concern should be wiring and pipes inside of walls, that’ll be where trouble is. I’ve had quite a few lately where I shake my head and know God is there because the house didn’t burn down.

[SilverFox]

The wiring scares me but the pipes are good. He had pex put in a few years back. I replaced the light fixture over the sink a few weeks ago and how it hadn't burnt the house down I'll never know. Half of the wires had no insulation left on them. Insulation and wiring is one of the reasons I'd like to open the walls up in here.

The yard has had several metal detectors all over it.

[Smilee]

Rip open all exterior walls. I’m talking make it look like a skeleton. Insulate and moisture barrier on the outside.

Rewire it at the same time. Won’t be cheap but it can be done right.

[DRDUCK]

Rip open all exterior walls. I’m talking make it look like a skeleton. Insulate and moisture barrier on the outside.

Rewire it at the same time. Won’t be cheap but it can be done right.

Listen to this man because he knows!

[usrgce]

1880 here. Found one capped bust dime. Nothing else!

[Southernduck]

I am finishing up my office now. 2 story solid masonry house with a hip roof. The trusses are 2x10 rough cut fat lighter and the studs in the walls are all rough cut too. Wear drill bits out in a hurry. The original knob and tube wiring was active when I bought it. We ended up ripping all the wiring and plumbing out and started a new. There is nothing square in the place and the plaster shows a new crack everyday. My Sheetrock guy just finished and his last comment was I can’t come back tomorrow because I will find 3 more cracks I want to mud. That place is soo much more better built than my 10 year old house. The quality of the wood today is garbage.

[charlie horse]

Old houses may have good lumber but the floor spans and foundation are usually shit.

[DRDUCK]

Old houses may have good lumber but the floor spans and foundation are usually shit.

CORRECT!

[Huntinjunkie]

Old houses may have good lumber but the floor spans and foundation are usually shit.

My house was built in the 50s and the floor joists were question mark on center.

[charlie horse]

You oughta see what went on in the mill houses. The original tract houses. Nail it off and wish it well.

[Chuck the Duck Slayer]

I’ve thought about getting one of those foundation specialist companies to come out and quote me what it would cost to get the farm house level, but i don’t think they would even go under it to look it for fear it might fall if they sneezed.

[Saltydog235]

You oughta see what went on in the mill houses. The original tract houses. Nail it off and wish it well.

Crawl up under one of these plantation houses or old 1800’s era houses. Some crazy “engineering” in some of them.

[PalmettoTrooper]

Cajuanwannabe helped us close on an old one recently. Sellers paid to have the foundation work done prior to closing and used Cantey. I went and watched and for the price, we should all start a foundation business. Big money