First Things First

     MLK park trees know season.

      Most SwettLodge.blogspot.com readers come this far understand posts chronicle life events while chipping away at renovating Swett Lodge - hell bent for leather no costs barred renovation won't be found here.  Swett Lodge requires much systemic; results incremental, progress evident only to careful eyes.  Fresh paint, new roof will come but down the list.

      Mentally Swett Lodge raise prepped, Craigslist freebie windows distract.  Toyo wagon town edge journey; sift small pile old windows; return five wood frame windows home: four stand by glass replacements; one west kitchen window storm suitable.  Circle saw trim sash, leave slivers top/bottom.  Bottom sliver falls away installing, large glass pane rests on sill, sash couple nails held in storm's location.  Crude, cheap, effective weatherization.

  

      Answer second freebie ad; come away few cement block, few 4x4, large plate window strapped atop Gertie.  Home intact, relieved, find fits front window.  Clean, circle saw trim sash, muscle, screw in place.  Save bit o' wood.

     Inevitably hit nail sash trimming, beam fabrication ahead; warmed by sun through new front double window, file sharpen couple dull circle saw blades.  (New second sash visible behind blades.)

     'Lumberyard' layout Swett Lodge west side raise beam.  Nail together in three sections, shove under house.  (Far section hammer right nailed up; middle/near sections await.)

Union suit up; add knee/elbow pads, tools, radio, lamp: house under.  Hands/knees final locale drag beam sections, nail up as per layout, muscle end onto cement block.  Eight feet over 20 ton jack raise beam, as good beam should entire 30' length raises into place, cement block support.  Had planned raise beams temporary, decide now make 'em permanent: second freebie cement block for piers trip, 

collect aluminum frame front west fixed window storm suitable (nearly).  Cut/fit half inch gap closing wood strip exterior window opening top, clean scummy window, fit aluminum frame: voila - three of six living area windows stormed.

      Break fast couple mornings garden grown Crenshaw (local long tooth avers) melons - orange flesh honeydew reminiscent.  Cantaloupe next year.

      Under Swett Lodge, level five cement block beam piers.

 

Each joist different depth - deepest 9 3/8", shallowest 7 1/2": measure, record each; calculate necessary shims, 'lumberyard' cut/number shims, crawl under, nail in place atop beam.  Decide stiffening/unifying blocking desirable above beam, crawl space throw fifteen or so short square end 2x4s, follow with circle saw, cut/fit/nail blocks between joists above beam (yellow 2/12 wire supplying Swett Lodge's single circuit visible coming through perimeter joist from external circuit box).

 

Hundred year old fir knots caused more than one 'porcupine' nailing blocks solid - almost had to drill.

Everything set, jack beam snug under joists, stretch line half inch above beam bottom end to end.  Level cement block pier, various thickness shims under joists, 2x4 block between joists evident here.  Yellow stretched string reveals almost 2 inch deflection near Swett Lodge middle,

yet is nearly level, bubble between lines visible here.  Front (left) needs to come up a bit. 

      Another day jack house to nearly original west side level - makes center/west couple additional inch raise ready; allow new treated sill plate, rotted joist end reconstruction.  Next step: repeat beam/raise process Swett Lodge east side.  Next: whole house couple inches more up by increments.  Then: repair rot.  Excitement never dies!  Glad heavy yard work, cement moving done: winter's work less strenuous, more time consuming than last year's.  With luck accomplish fair amount this fall: interior rework antsy.  Meantime Swett Lodge firmer, flatter place.  First things first.  

      Peace