Under appreciated Swett Lodge under belly restructure continues daily focus. Back to nearly daily exercise - alternate day schedule, body too cranky - add daily guitar play; get up bit earlier, streamline morning chores: work time remains about same. Results feed complete work appetite, drive contractor.
Begin box store lumber yard purchases, am reminded lumber selection - like any purchase - personal choice. Rarely take pot luck from any purveyor; take time, sort through fair stacks treated/non lumber find straight grain, not too knotty, straight boards no wane - raw log edge - hey, lumber costs good money. Indeed, selecting appropriate lumber from Swett lodge 'lumberyard' also time consuming: optimize resources. Insulation, sheet rock ready will talk to box store about home delivery, for now manage Gertie haul home occasional necessary board/joist.
Position sill sealer, treated 2x6 sill plates prior, broom foundation top, hammer chisel lumps/high spots smooth - original construction had no sill, poured foundation top left raw. Have salvage squirrely treated 2x8x10 on hand, figure use for front east sill plate: board bow matches foundation top bow, circle saw rip 2x8 attain edge as straight as foundation.
Chain saw dice two original rotten east front side joists, lay on back, judo kick loose, remove. Cut/remove all nails protruding below floor. Jack/4x4 raise floor, relocate three previous owner installed unnailed 2x8s from 24 inch centers to sixteen inch centers to strengthen floor, allow use of 3/4 inch plywood sub floor rather than one inch boards.
Time remove rotten sub floor boards under east front wall/floor; chain saw balky. Essential tool: take time, putz. Find makeshift foam air filter saw dust plugged; remove; clean rag piece replace. Clean carb, adjust: runs OK now. Again, crawl under Swett Lodge perform sleight of hand: carefully saw under side rough cut sub floorboards - repeat saw strokes, slowly remove material - remove one ten inch rotten ended sub floor board at a time;
work all way to center beam (rotten joist remainders to be removed with west side rework just visible; lower 2x4 wall plate runs left of blond finish floor underside). East side rot extirpated.
Enjoy doing things, making things right; still glad under Swett Lodge east side crawl ending. Next few weeks above floor - repair wall system, wire, insulate, sheet rock - work: whole bunch easier than under house crawl; work; need something; crawl out; attain; crawl back in; drag tools, jack, materials along; work; saw; breath dust, noxious gas fumes; repeat ad nauseatum. Ready. Generally not self horn tooter: realistically doesn't hurt to point out probably half or less folk my age could actually get down on their knees, squeeze through 18 by 22 inch opening, crawl round for hours (don't forget dampness, cob webs). Current physical condition allows taking/working contortionist positions. Throw in lifetime learning/understanding tool manipulation, years working with/around buildings: been tough job but heck of a lot less tough for me than nearly anyone else.
Rot gone, sill plates in; go inside finish east side stub joists. Similar to bath floor treatment,
notch two 2x8 joists where they extend beyond unremoved flooring (right), support 4x6 (treated: regular slots in wood allow chemical penetration during pressure treating process). (Little bit notched near 2x8 visible 4x6 left, under 2x6 stub.) Plan reuse joist hangers attach stubs, ultimately call on Trusty Toenailer; four sixteen penny toenail each stub to 4x6, nail from outside through perimeter joist: gettin' more solid all the time.
Need replace sub floor under east house front before 2x6 stub install. Slip 2x4 foot full one inch thick (matching original rough cut one inch sub floor lumber dimension) plywood under finish floor, support one end on 4x6.
Attempt jack/4x4 raise other end from inside foundation to allow 2x6 stubs under sub floor on top of sill plate, find necessary jack one end 4x4 from inside foundation, other end from outside: crawl, haul, in, out, up, down, etc, etc, etc. Want end nail these stubs through 7/8 x 9 inch plywood pieces then nail plywood to 2x8 joist for added strength, ease of installation: no go. Nail scarf joint (end 45 degree angle cut cross nine inch dimension) four foot plywood pieces to joist; call on T. Toenailer, 4 sixteen penny toenail stub joists through plywood into 2x8 joist, proper position nail tag to sill plate: plenty strong. Here stub ends peek out 4x6 left, await purchase/placement 2x6x16 front east perimeter joist.
Days work done, temporarily replace couple siding pieces, maintain neighborhood decorum. 'Hi' from Swett Lodge.
Somewhere in the fray, decide plug front outdoor spigot, eliminate hassle working round it when not much used. Figure store trip in order, purchase plug; realize back faucet leaks not, handle stripped: fine plug (here silhouetted by light through hole in siding spigot used to pass through, small light glimmer above where chain saw accidentally notched siding. Note bug/rot eaten back side siding - these pieces will be replaced; bottom side one inch plywood sub floor replacement atop 2x6 stub joist.
Turn water off, take both systems apart, put desirable untamperable front faucet (has square handle holder which this combo faucet/church key fits) in back, back faucet as plug. Cut plastic bag strip - Teflon plumbing tape replacer - thread wrap, duo pipe wrench tighten: ready for action.
Awfully nice when work pays off: walking Swett Lodge east side distinctly more solid, less undulating affair; wonderful warm sun fills Swett Lodge front room through reworked front porch peak. Arduous Swett Lodge under belly work nearly complete for a while, above floor work ought to move along better, be more enjoyable. Always try take on nastiest work first: longer time enjoy edifying effect done work.
Work 'bout life's size these days: progress toward completion palpable, increases continue work focus. Frustrates - would like more round life; at least more easily recognize glimmer as tunnel's end light. Hope accomplish much over next months, possess enormous ability work concentrate. Perhaps Swett Lodge renovation overwhelmingly strenuous to some, pressure/challenge floats boat. Remind next time up to armpits in mud, some onerous beam struggling.
Reports here.
Peace,
be well.
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