Construction journal: tearing down and building up

We have embarked on the maintenance of the oldest part of our house, which was built in 1997. Twenty four years is time enough for wind and water to take its toll.

This door has been leaking for a while. We needed to find out how much damage had been done to the under flooring. Michael took out the door and jamb on July 16th.

This door has been leaking for a while. We needed to find out how much damage had been done to the under flooring. Michael took out the door and jamb on July 16th.

We have been sleeping in the living room for 7 years now. The hole on the right is where the electrical box used to be.

We have been sleeping in the living room for 7 years now. The hole on the right is where the electrical box used to be.

Michael took down the wallboard on August 21. We ordered windows and siding in mid-July. The pandemic means it now takes 2 months for delivery rather than the 3 weeks it took in 2016.

Michael took down the wallboard on August 21. We ordered windows and siding in mid-July. The pandemic means it now takes 2 months for delivery rather than the 3 weeks it took in 2016.

August 23 and the insulation is down, revealing the wiring that needs to be moved. That blue box in the lower middle is a code violation installed by Michael’s father. It’s gone now.

August 23 and the insulation is down, revealing the wiring that needs to be moved. That blue box in the lower middle is a code violation installed by Michael’s father. It’s gone now.

Michael had to take off the siding from the original part of the house to follow the wiring and disconnect it from boxes so it could be removed from the area under construction.

Michael had to take off the siding from the original part of the house to follow the wiring and disconnect it from boxes so it could be removed from the area under construction.

Monday August 30 we purchased building supplies. Tuesday August 31 we took the siding off the wall.

Monday August 30 we purchased building supplies. Tuesday August 31 we took the siding off the wall.

Sure enough, the flooring was rotting. But only a patch that was 4”x5”.

Sure enough, the flooring was rotting. But only a patch that was 4”x5”.

I cut a foot length of 2x4 and held it up from the basement so that Michael could clamp it and attach it. This created a 3” wide platform for the 4” wide flooring patch. A 2x6 then covered whatever indiscretion remained, completing the wall sill.

I cut a foot length of 2x4 and held it up from the basement so that Michael could clamp it and attach it. This created a 3” wide platform for the 4” wide flooring patch. A 2x6 then covered whatever indiscretion remained, completing the wall sill.

Wall studs removed.

Wall studs removed.

The future window, which will replace the door, is framed in. Again, the hole framed in on the right used to be the electrical box. We moved it downstairs due it’s causing condensation in winter. There was no insulation at that point as the electrical service occupied the depth of the wall. It was late by the time we got this far, so I hung plastic to keep the raccoons at bay.

The future window, which will replace the door, is framed in. Again, the hole framed in on the right used to be the electrical box. We moved it downstairs due it’s causing condensation in winter. There was no insulation at that point as the electrical service occupied the depth of the wall. It was late by the time we got this far, so I hung plastic to keep the raccoons at bay.

Today we put up OSB (oriented strand board). It is much stronger than the press board Michael’s father used as both underlayment and siding. The lack of underlayment is why all the seams of the interior wallboard are ripped and buckled. The press board didn’t give sufficient strength to the walls to keep the house from flexing in high winds. It also shouldn’t warp. The press board pulled away from the sill, creating spaces in which insects and mice had access to the house. We hope the window and siding arrive before I leave for Colorado at the end of the month.

Today we put up OSB (oriented strand board). It is much stronger than the press board Michael’s father used as both underlayment and siding. The lack of underlayment is why all the seams of the interior wallboard are ripped and buckled. The press board didn’t give sufficient strength to the walls to keep the house from flexing in high winds. It also shouldn’t warp. The press board pulled away from the sill, creating spaces in which insects and mice had access to the house. We hope the window and siding arrive before I leave for Colorado at the end of the month.

We celebrated securing the house from tomorrow’s rain by doing a bit of gardening (more tomatoes!) and rescuing some baby bunnies who became entangled in the chicken wire surrounding the asparagus garden.

We celebrated securing the house from tomorrow’s rain by doing a bit of gardening (more tomatoes!) and rescuing some baby bunnies who became entangled in the chicken wire surrounding the asparagus garden.

Babies! We love babies! They are Grand.