More Rot

     Change often takes place slowly, may seem organic on the ground.  Shopping last week, bought highlands: Scottish oatmeal, has an interesting almost vinegar taste; barley.  Barley cooks almost as quickly as rice, flavorful alternative to that well used grain, belly fills like block of wood eaten - very satisfying.  Slowly Earth stove top cook - as nearly all Swett Lodge meals this winter - butter, raisin garnish Scottish oatmeal; satisfies immensely too.  Foggy morn, OR hills gaze, wood stove side warm, suck down oatmeal, except for cars whizzing by could be any time in the last few millenia; indeed: without technological 'progress' markers, life would seem to vary little one era to next.  

      Astrologer friend says Neptune, dreams/expectations/idealizations planet, permanently leaves 'home'/exalted sign Aquarius for Pisces these days after years dally along their border.  May not bode well for Hollywood - home of smoke 'n mirrors appreciated for their own sake - as in its exalted sign Neptune has almost literally been dreaming of dreams, while moving into a more pragmatic earthy sign as Pisces may bring more reality into our dreams/aspirations: one can hope.  Would be a welcome change for this media child.  Don't favor (totally :}) return to homespun cloth/dirty back roads; urge toward more glitz/glamor attenuation seems realistic on planet up against consumption/supply issues.

    

     Fortunately Wednesday morn last broke clear, late in day rain forecast.  Two garage roof battens of useable replacement flooring, salvaged from bath cabinets prior to uncovering floor; stripped off, stored with other replacement flooring.  Tuck reinforced tan plastic under linoleum/tar paper where they lap over peak; tar under lower edge spots, few 'questionable' roofing lap areas; three strip batten.  Await good rain for definitive answer; garage drying up, believe this will do the trick for another stretch - one day: replace entire roof system.

    

     Find first sub floor board rotten below east wall, length of house: remove.  2x4 bottom wall plate rotten mid house to back, pry out.

2x4 bottom wall plate toward house front solid, leave.  (Split end behind post to front corner.  Note rot shards by foundation.)

Rotten bottom wall plate removed to Swett Lodge back.

Go inside, remove floor/sub floor time.  Front room, two ten inch sub floor widths rotten: remove finish floor, two sub floor boards.  (2x4 bottom wall plate visible, left.)

Middle bedroom, only one ten inch sub floor board rotten; remove finish floor, sub floor board.

All but one 2x4 stud, plate below middle bedroom window rotten; remove from inside attempt damage siding as little as possible.  Full length stud (photo far left) rotten lower portion; circle saw, hand saw cut; remove.  Bottom wall plate, studs gone: not much holding siding together: that's OK, beam support under eaves allows wall hang free.  Rework header above this window, add studs below later date.

Remove one ten inch sub floor board into bath.  Earlier plywood topped 'fix' evident here: it'll get reworked too.

 

Very little separating east side Swett Lodge from out doors.

Reduce at least one siding board to splinters; all in all not too bad: replace board or two, little putty, some paint will cure most evils.  Little choice: prefer not leave opportunistic colonizing rot.

 This Swett Lodge cross section photo may be helpful for those wondering what all the technical stuff 'bout beams/walls, etc. is about.  Cement foundation wall appears photo bottom, rotten joist end protruding at right.  Appears just above cement wall but a few feet inside, new 6x6 beam added by me, board shims atop support pier at left.  Atop joist is one inch rough cut sub floor, under finish floor.  Outer original wall plate/studs removed this section, temporary 2x6 support wall few feet inside, visible.  New beam, temporary wall, beam under eaves support Swett Lodge during reconstruction.

Yank as much rot as possible, stove length dice, final resting place cremation prior: front porch burn pile.  Perfect.

Rotten debris scrape ground clean, load paper shopping bag, stove burn.  Leave clean, neat work area.  A bit anal 'bout site clean up, figure ultimately makes life easier: less trip/fall junk; organized stuff easier find; seeing/noodling issues easier; clean work area return less odious.

     Final, largest Hubbard squash meets chop block (keys: scale); remove/dice small section (see opening photo); eat for dinner along with latest Swett Lodge culinary creation: 'Double Penetration Dog' - two wieners atop large lettuce leaf, garnish, burrito roll, consume.   (Who says mind's mush?)

     Floor and above east side rot excised, crawl under Swett Lodge, circle saw partial cut floor joists.  Attempt hand saw finalize, realize rough cut fir requires power equipment.  Kate's visiting lake place, request she return with saws all.  Friday eve, fire up Gertie, jaunt out, first visit Scrap Jim's house.  Collects metal for scrap, comes up with all sorts interesting.  Don't want damage nice Stihl cutting joists, kind of under house manipulation large; saws all probably adequate but just; wouldn't mind small chain saw.  Hesitant to make trip to Jim's at first, good thing did: has small non working saw to loan.  'Bring it back working.'

     First obvious prob: fuel tank, bar oil filled.  Black fuel line leads into carburetor.

     Drain tank, gas rinse; next prob: brittle/broken fuel line.  Bike trip hardware store, buy fuel line, return, install.  Starts, runs pretty good now.  Final prob: auto chain/bar oiler inoperable.  Fill oil tank, discover leaks into crank case.  Pull off saw handle/carb unit, pry round magneto off crank shaft, find will be able to hatch (open at seam), get at oiler parts. 

 

Hatch, find oil line brittle/broken: replace.  Shiny vertical crank shaft (clear oil hose just right), piston rod extending into vaned cylinder head.  Blue gasket goo mating surface smear.  Rebuild.  Saw starts/runs OK, haven't cured oil tank/crank case leak.  Oil tank surrounding circular crank case meant to be discreet: isn't.  Jim has second saw could be made run, noodle; decide this saw runs OK, only need to cut joist ends, will use this saw, occasionally dip blade in oil during use, make up for non functional oiler.

Magneto goes on crank shaft, when spinning, electromagnetically excites coil (black blob protruding spark plug wire atop vaned cylinder head) providing spark at plug. 

     As we've seen here, little is perfect yet where there's a will there's a way: perseverance prevails.

     One way or another those joist ends are coming off, each an individual case as rot has taken its own course throughout.  Whether Jim's loaned junk saw does the trick, or have to gnaw 'em off - it's gonna happen, and it'll be reported here.

Enjoy.  Be well.

Burn

     Feel as though playing hookey: beautiful warm, sunny, dry morn; last rain identify garage roof leak, should repair.  With New Year, revisit last, review 'gotten to this point' decisions, largely happy 'bout drift: much continues organic resolution - support, rebuild Swett Lodge decisions streamline, refine; bolts, boards on hand doable.  All signs point ahead.
     Eugene colonizes brain, encourages Swett Lodge flowering OR experience bud view.  Not only wacko family clan here, accrue wacko friends as well.  What a deal!  Thursday eve, join Kate, Lakeside roll.  Receive neighbor's (Mr. Fireworks) call:  'don't wanna go anywhere New Year's Eve, let's blow off ordnance at Swett Lodge, have some folk by, partee'.  'K'.
     Burn Friday.  At Kate's lake place ash neighbor's pile half 50 yard, 25 foot high shared laurel hedge six feet height cut trims; shear hedge remainder, burn.  Kate sparks blaze 'bout 9am, put pile to sleep twelve smoky, ashy, chain saw yankin', house front/burn pile brush draggin', man's axe (3.5 pounds) wieldin', mud slippin' hours later.  Nice: Kate, friend Trish help.  Trusty cowboy hat; discover some LA thrift shop years ago; faithfully rain, sun, snow, wind protect; frazzle worn; fiery pyre consign, turn in prior.  So long, pardner!

     Roll home New Year's Eve day, hang out, stove stoke, eat dinner, friend shows.  Mr. Fireworks (MF) appears 'bout nine pm, decides truncate show appropriate.  OK.  Ordnance diddles awhile (never my cup of tea), 'ventually round 11pm says 'gettin' close', don cold weather gear, hang outside.  Bit later MF appears: 'paranoid', maybe no go.  Cajole, encourage haul works cross street into park dark corner, go, come back.  Midnight approaches.  'Noid MF takes rig onto sidewalk outside Swett Lodge directly under sodium vapor street light, stopped car's headlights shining his way from couple blocks off, torches both two minute fuses; hesitates - stands there - while fuses burn, shortly before detonation runs off: three good size aerial blasts, few smaller ground blasts.  Definitely New Year's welcomer, shining headlights car honks appreciation passing.  MF says 'never again'.  Paranoia got him.  Not many minutes later cops roll by.  Citizen few blocks off stages redeeming, multi rocket show.  Late, start noddin', MF does too: 'maybe I'll spend the night'.   Doesn't go over too well with Swett Lodge's proprietor - he lives end of the block: heave ho!  Glad didn't invite major bunch for what became minor show, find more exciting NYE companionship next year, hope never experience combat/MF!
 

     Holiday revelers bestow edible treats including cookies, caramel, home made noodles, sweets: most don't last long enough to photograph.  Exception: opening persimmon.  Family members gift thoughtfully, lightheartedly.
     Big New Year's event: Rose Bowl - Ducks versus Badgers.  Only cable airing, Kate works up Rose Bowl party streaming connection with digital lag issues.  Crummy picture exasperated, Spud splits half time prior to view at a bar.  Half time Jesse retrieves xbox from home, achieves clear picture.  Kate calls Spud, he returns.  Almost immediately picture acts up, Spud leaves again, turn radio broadcast on, finally get good picture going, able to enjoy final quarter or so Duck's victory.  If glitches to date any 2012 indication: ain't gonna be simple!   

     Two point five inches rain twenty four hour period breaks December dry spell, produces garage roof leak.

Plastic cover roll canvases, boxes prints/paintings; place five gallon pail, black tub under leaks.

Close roof inspection reveals shoddy workmanship (yep, yours truly :}): fortunately freebie heavy duty reinforced plastic adequate patch material on hand.  (Problem area where lower course black tar paper extends left beyond upper.  Tar seal attempted: NG after one year.)  Next dry day.....

     Crawl Swett Lodge under retrieve small stack 2x6s, etc. shoring wood; seven foot, eleven foot 4x12 previous owner installed beams - nice chunks.  Find water pools round newly placed beam support piers,

 

decide rework east side drainage.  

     Couple afternoons dig drainage ditch alongside carport slab (so far to post, eventually back to carport behind garage) disallow water running over slab, pooling next Swett Lodge,

extend beyond gate into front yard, 

  old drive way area relocate fill,

make nice nearly level east side run off flood plain, lush flat lawn to be.

     

     Await rain, further establish run off ditch/plain shape/depth; resulting fill augment grade level west (garden) side Swett Lodge.  First up, of course: garage roof repair.  Relaxing holidays allow next couple Swett Lodge steps bubble up: begin replace joist ends near middle east side where 2x4 sill plate/studs still good, work toward front.  Ensuing steps: evident in time. 

     Trust lame year launch not indicative year's quality.

     As always: been a gas.

     Happy New Year One And All!  

     Peace

'Cited 'Bout Rot

     Internet access increasingly spotty, intend New Year 3G phone rectify.  Limited/nonexistant comment reply apology: dswett@hotmail.com (my email) addressed queries more likely to solicit response.  Not largely missing internet access.  Have enough material to Swett Lodge work occupy for some time - not necessary to scout Craigslist for more; otherwise email, blog major internet activities.  Couple high speed country (Kate's house, library) visits/week manage.
     Holidays relax, enjoy.  Pleasure in family gather, food, hang out, view NFL, generally notch pace back.  Few daylight hours, warm stove/chill days encourage.  Family, friends phone visit, catch up; LA buddy wonders what's so exciting about rot?  Only say: Swett Lodge floor system repair angle more than year now, make right ready.  Not so much 'cited 'bout rot as excited to get rot gone, establish house on permanent, solid foundation.  Minor bug infestation evidence exists, suggesting most Swett Lodge floor system rot moisture caused where cement/wood contact.  Current building trends dictate wood contacting cement be treated, treated wood sill plate further synthetic foam sill sealer protected.  Swett Lodge's original seven inch joist height where joists cross foundation (with out sill plate) will allow 2x6 (actually measures 1.5x5.5 inches) joists mated/stubbed to existing joists as far as newly added beam (~3'), with treated 2x6 laying flat as sill plate.  Swett Lodge stays at original height, allowing straight forward front/back porch treatments. 
     New beam few feet inside east/west Swett Lodge foundation, temporary 2x6 wall couple feet inside east/west Swett Lodge walls, effectively raise Swett Lodge off cement foundation; but rotten joist ends allow exterior wall to slump below floor level by an inch in some areas.  Lean 2x4x8 against vertical trim front corner Swett Lodge, rest 2x12x16 atop, lift other 2x12x16 end onto six foot post, then lift under 2x4 eaves from ladder, nail to wall.  Back to front corner, raise 2x12x16 tight to eaves, nail to wall.  Nail 2x12x16 to wall along its length, try to hit studs. 

 

     Attempt repeat good luck on Swett Lodge back end, couple times 2x12x16 (heavy!) tumbles to ground - fortunate no casualties: institute permanent (for this project, 2x12x16 atop here) 'helper',

successfully mount rear 2x12x16, nail to wall along length.  

Piece in 2x12 chunk, close gap below rafter; lift center of 2x10x16, struggle up ladder; center nail, evenly lap front/rear 2x12s, nail length of 2x10 to 2x12s mating 2x bottom edges.  

 

Piece 2x10x10 to double back end rafter/wall raise beam, 2x8x8 doubles beam front end (at left), makes 4x8 (minimum) raise exterior wall beam.

      Measure requires extra time, brain space: avoid when possible.  Number of 4x4s, lots short 2x4s on hand, decide 'adjustable' posts adequate rafter/wall raise beam support.  Nail 2x4 (usually) top (usually) cross piece to two post separated 2x4 pieces, slide to proper height (yeah, that's a measurement) nail secure, snug position under jack raised beam.

 

Figure four posts do the job: if get into it, find otherwise (i.e. not strong enough), adjust.  Intuition proves correct - this time.

Need final configuration seven inches, attempt raise eight inches for work room.  Start with central post, jack either side, install post, repeat at front corner, get eight inches right away.  Back two posts require couple jack 'bites' to get 'em to raise beam/wall sufficiently.

Back corner starts nearly two inches low, reef hard on jack, all sorts cracking, splitting, popping sounds: achieve only 7.5 inches, decide will sufficiently allow 2x6 stub joists, 2x6 sill plate, foam sill sealer.

Light above 2x8 end rafter exhibits ancillary jacking damage: probably broke 2x4 rafter at house corner, beam went on, raised roof boards - all will be righted when new roof goes on.

 

Carport roof rafter lag bolted to 2x8 end rafter (lower right corner above) helps keep rafter/wall from raising.  Remove lag bolt, jack raise carport rafter, post fit, free 2x8 end rafter.  (2x4 'adjuster' bottom here.)

Accomplish adequate (7.5 inches plus) stub joist, sill plate, sill sealer, work room entire Swett Lodge east side.  Partial reworked bath floor depends on cement foundation one side, raises not: will remove whole section including claw foot tub; rework; add at least one full length joist, 2x6 new joist/rear foundation stubs.  

     Wall weight off joist ends, floor sag/wall slump allowing rot easily evident.

And looking alongside joist, easy to see it's a straight shot to add stub 2x6 back to blocking above new beam.

So, yeah, 'cited 'bout rot.  Drag few lumber items from under house including eight and ten foot 4x12 prophylactic beams previous repairman installed, enable accurate asset assessment; then remove rot, stub joists, install sill plate/sealer.  Ready.  Pleased: new Swett Lodge under pinning coincides with New Year; couple months worst structural work, history; breath new life into Swett Lodge. 

     Happy New Year to all who hang with Swett Lodge blog.  Writing style difficult enough, technical mumbo jumbo brain numbing - truly expect few understand attempted descriptions; none the less will keep after these posts as personal record; and who knows, maybe someone out there gets a glimpse.  Been 'round this block a few times in mind and reality so mentally leap where others might not.  Will continue to do best to bring Swett Lodge progress understandably to blog.  

Enjoy! 

 

Aha!

     Of course anything done round here, done by yours truly.  Lodge front circa November 2010.  Look closely: large healthy bower rising Swett Lodge rear left

absent last week's frontal view.  Perhaps one reason healthy living tree photos didn't appear with 'Felling' post:

beneficially pruned, obvious charm.  And last year's fall show,

never again revisit.

Sentimental 'bout the old tree, kind a sorry had to go, will certainly miss time to time.  Happy constant issue resolved.  Farewell.

      Seven yard city delivered free leaf load arrives: driver says 'can put 'em any where' and does without breaking plastic irrigation pipes. 

Number hours square tip shovel scatter load after load garden wide: few kale, collards poke through leafy winter coat.  Ash batch magnet remove copious quantities lath brads/nails, garden spread.

     Prepare tackle east side reconstruction; look over gate see neatened 'lumberyard' area.  White painted plywood bundled lath leaning against, stays: work under.

 

Look along wall toward house front under plywood, rot bulge evident above foundation.

 

Toward Swett Lodge back, under plywood, lowest siding piece already 'fell' off;

 all the way to back corner - bath area - rot very evident.

Begin here, in back, remove couple first courses siding - easy where rotted, like pulling teeth where solid - rotten perimeter joist pulls away by hand.  Reveal repair work previously perpetrated on Swett Lodge bath area at back corner that will be reworked; very rotten joist ends.

Remove siding/rotted perimeter joist, clear to front, circle saw dice into firewood.  Front porch haul wood,

rotten wood debris fill couple Earth stove bound paper shopping bags.  Debris free, ready to be rot freed, joist ends over foundation, under sub floor/bottom wall plate Swett Lodge east side front.  Good news: except for few vertical 2x4s under middle window, 2x4 bottom wall plate middle to back, few pieces subfloor; rot mostly in perimeter/floor joists.  Remainder front room lath wood pile evident between studs front corner.

Pivot right, look directly at couple dirty rotten joist ends (one inch sub floor clear below 2x4 bottom wall plate);

click right, more rotten joist ends, plywood and beyond!

Closer look reveals: yep, sure are rotten - oh, and new beam pier next jack.

Beyond plywood more rotten joist ends above crawl space entry - apparently cats 'n 'coons welcome throughout Swett Lodge these days.

Quick look affirms there is indeed something besides thin air holding this place up - shor 'nuff, beam put there by my cute little self.

More bad joist endage toward back,

and finally closer look at bath/back corner rework.  Bottom 2x4 wall plate is two inches low here - lowest on this side.

 

Foundation probably poured sans wire reinforcement - about six inches thick - will be fine with house weight sitting squarely atop, despite minor age imperfections.

As one can imagine, bottom siding courses removed allows adequate floor level ventilation throughout uninhabited Swett Lodge east section - sponge baths remain brisk!

     Wednesday Gateway Mall hike, couple buck and a quarter films relax, eat satisfying meal cooked by some one else.  Great blue portrait stands.

     Make no mistake: Swett Lodge current creative - art - project.  

     All along imagine size match joist ends/perimeter joist (seven inches) when reworking, raise house additional 1.5 inch, allow treated 2x6 sill plate (measures 1.5x5.5 inches).  Reconstruction fun: mumble jumble ideas/figures/forces/materials/plans fill head - see what falls out.  Aha!  New beams in place/staying few feet from bearing east/west walls; can marry 2x6 ('stead of original joist size) to original joists, bridge few foot new beam/original poured wall gap, leave enough 2x6 sill plate room without raising house above original height.  Sweet.  Less work; less material expense; elegant, more original approach: somehow feel closer to end of tunnel light.  Swett lodge will have to be raised considerably in spots - like bath corner - but is already essentially where it needs to be.

     East side work dangles lower back siding courses;

remove, yank out rotted perimeter joist, reveal previous partial bath floor rework.

Hollywood - dirty, quickly, make it look good - piece of siding in to cover damages 'til further action.  

'Tis the season to be jolly.  Successful, fruitful Swett Lodge year, intend enjoy the season as hope you and yours have opportunity to this year.  Swett Lodge work may be curtailed but not arrested especially with exciting direct approach at hand - progress appears here.  

Wonderful holidays!

May your stocking be rife with blessing - know mine is!

Peace