http://www.ellisok.com/ellisok/rescon.html

This may be a little more intrusive than you need but we have used a system similar to this to help level an old bed and breakfast here.

I have watched this process a few times and wouldn't think of doing it myself. My liable general contractor side says hire a professional!!!

Hope the links help!!


http://homerenovations.about.com/od/...a/homejack.htm

http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/f...t1/raising.htm

Thanks a bunch! Everything I have read thus far seems to lean toward hiring the job out. They also seem to state that most contractors don't want to do it. ACK!

Will keep plugging away at as many projects I can handle and leave the intrinsic to structure work to the pro's! Thanks again!

OK.. sooo.. jacking up the house is on hold a while but is definitely still on " THE LIST".

Because working outside makes me feel better, I am starting to plan the re-do of our yard/ lot. I have some very clear ideas of features I want but am having a hard time visualizing exactly how it all needs to come together.

Anyone know of any free landscaping design programs that could help with laying out the yard?

Thanks!

lifting the house
 

Jess, you can do it yourself. I raised an old farmhouse and made all the repairs myself.

it takes time. it took time to get that way and it will take time to get it back level. if you rush it. you will be looking at your house on the ground.

I will explain this whole thing to you and show you how when i come down that way for a visit. which will be soon. but you need to also check the source of the sag. is it just old age? or is it termites?

if its termites, house needs to be treated first. if it old age, cool. As long as you have good clearance. it not a hard job. its the time it takes to right it that makes it look harder then it is. The house has to be raised slowly over the course of a week or two. a bit at a time. when i did the farm. i did it in 1/8th to 1/4th inch every 2 days. this gave everything time to slowly move back into position. it means making adjustments every 2 days to several bottle jacks and supports. not really a biggie. but time consuming. How big an area it is will guide how many jacks and supports you need.

the biggest thing is make a list of supplies, check it twice before you do anything. the last thing you need is to be missing something in the process of raising.

wolfwalker

Awesome... that will be yet another "one less thing".. ( Our new mantra!)

We're really looking forward to seeing you and I am always open to advice/ suggestions.. lord knows anything that helps me in knocking out the list is a godsend!

i bought a torpedo level and tape measure this weekend. :D

They are UP! :D and none too soon 'cuz I have a date this Saturday! :)

At this point, I'm so proud of myself for getting them hung (and LEVEL even!) that I don't care that the curtains are too small for the window. Or that my bed totally doesn't match my current theme. And neither do my current bed linens.

YAY! :groucho:

:stillheart:

Success
 

Who would of known my project would have all these twists. My house is plumbed along with a new hot water heater. Only a few twists...I popped out a few tiles in the bathroom wall turning the shower valve and I might of put the blade of the reciprocating saw thru my bathroom sheetrock once or twice. My friend ended up getting pretty sick so I did most of the project myself. I've got one issue with the hot water in the kitchen that she is going to come and help me with this week. Hopefully we will have the sheetrock up and mudded by the weekend--I've left it down until she inspects all my work and makes sure I did it correct.

As soon as the plumbing has the okay then I'm putting in a new tub, with new tile on the walls and floors. I'll be building in a cabinet and taking out the medicine cabinet, putting in new sink, buying a huge mirror for the wall and a new light track and I'll be replacing the fan and moving some electrical. I'm hoping to have it all done by the third week of Feb and then maybe I can get back to my bedroom.

I appreciate all your help Jack. I don't know how one could do this in 4-6 hours alone..maybe it could happen but I certainly couldn't do it.

Oh I forgot this lil tidbit...this plumber at Lowes, big, burley, bearded, dude, biker type...this dude helped me immensely. Anyways, my burly dude Lowes best friends name is Joy. He brought me a lot of joy.

I bet he got a lot of shit when he was in school.

:giggle:

I spent my friday evening disassembling and demolishing the bathroom. Then I cleaned it all up, washed the tub and took my last bath in it. It was a good tub :bath: Tomorrow it goes, new one comes in and the walls come up . Next weekend is tile!

Fortunately, no surprises so far but I now get to see what shape the subfloor is in. :praying:

Wall tile project this weekend. Fortunately, my sister and brother in law have a business that includes doing tile. It will be a fun project to do with my sister.


:weightlifter:

The tile project was a huge success---I did have to egde up and straighten a few that my sister put down a little crooked--GEZ. Good thing she finds humor in my anal alignment obsession.

This weekend--Tiling the bathroom floor, a little patch to the wall where I just might of punched thru with the reciprocating saw--OOOPS, and painting the bathroom and the other wall we had to open. I have to reopen the wall to move the shower valve back but that should be pretty easy! Repatch and viola the plumbing and bathroom will be done and checked off the list!!

We are going to do some painting in a few weeks :)

Jack just doesnt know it yet.

Thanks Jack. I also discovered the power of a self leveling cross laser....I would never have thought of that. It feels good to be almost be over the hump, I'm getting tired of spending weekends with the water off for one reason or another.

So do you know what you're painting yet?

Upcoming projects:

Install fence...
Plant privacy trees around said fence...
Build deck...
Build pool/ kitchen area outside...
Create raised bed garden and sew grass over old row garden...
Continue cleaning organizing shed for working on all of above projects and refinishing some furniture...
Figure out how the hell to lift our waterstove and repair floor that has sunk under it..

It's gonna be a hella busy spring/ summer...

Oh! and collect wood all during the warm months so I don't go through these periods of it not being available during winter.. grrrr..

Good luck to all the DIYers!

LOL sounds like you are going to be way to busy and not have near enough play time. Just wanted to tell you, cut your wood during the spring and late winter. It has plenty of time to dry before winter and you don't have to worry about poison ivy or snakes which I know Christie loves LOL

LMAO.. We didn't see one snake here this year.. thank the powers that be! Her love of all things "creepy" is infamous!

I'll def be gathering wood up way ahead this year!

Ya'll stop talkin about me like I can't read LMAO!!

LOL Covers your eyes for you LOL Oh hope you are feeling much better these days

I am going to be working on building a raised garden this year. I have the wood and the corners (steel wedges). I just want to place it in the right spot for the sunlight. My biggest concern is my lil critters outback, esp. the owls. I have 2 owl families with small babies. I am not sure of how big the lil ones will be this spring. I know they are not eating rabbit, squirrels, or mice yet. They are just that small. But they grow.

I want to plant veggies this year. Maybe a brussel sprout bush, if room permits.

:deepthoughts:

Mountain Makeover
 

For the carpenters on hand, a makeover of a mountain shack:

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psb0c7ab4a.png

For more information and slide show, please visit:
http://www.bobvila.com/articles/moun...hack-makeover/

You can do anything with smarts and hands!

My kitchen is my make over for this year,it's plenty big just not well planed out.At the moment it's sickly blue grey color ,yes all of it,not sure what color I want so I am going to pick up some samples to hopefully find one I like.Who ever painted it used this heavy,thick cheep paint so I may well tear everything off the walls and start over.The floor has the peel and stick flooring so you can gess that it's popping loose in places.My son bought 400 blocks of Italian marble that,where it's nice I doubt it is right for the kitchen floor being it's sort of rose color with a white pattern in it..nope, gonna work.

my fave kinda DIY stuff is spray painting things pink then sticking rhinestones all over them!

maybe going Italian style would work with that marble. crisp bright white on bottom cabinets rich warm counter top then more earthy colour on walls?

you could have a lot of fun with tile on the walls to cover up nasty paint. Besides if its got lead in it you don't want to create lead paint dust.

I enjoy using the paint with primer already in it, covers ugly colour much better.

Some of that marble would make a great pastry making area. Yummy.

The local Restore has lots of fancy tile and accent tile. Would look wonderful in ethnic decor.

ah well. I love projects.

I would like to see before and after photos.

Thanks for sharing Rockin!

The laundry / bathroom I have been working on is almost finished. Just need plumber to install new sink/vanity and replace floor covering.

I need to take some almost done photos.

Its been fun seeing the transformation.

Replaced half of carpet in Den with friends help. So nice to get old nasty carpet out of here. Need more muscle help to get furniture in better places.

Not a bad idea,I will see what I can add to it,I also was thinking of useing some tile behind the sink for back splatter protection.I also have a small counter space with 4 doors that's is an eye sore.It's going to be ripped out and a large work station put in with stainless steel lining under it plus a trash drop in one corner.I have a garbage eating insinkorator for what needs going into it.

Good idea! If you use paper towels, I saw a kitchen that removed a false drawer front and put a paper towel holder in the space. Brilliant because now they are off the counter and not an eyesore under top cabinets. You could mount one under your newly streamlined cabinet top.

I could talk all day about remodeling and decorating.

Thanks for reading my post Rockin!

Building Wild from National Geographic

Great series for builders. If you havent seen it, it's worth the watch. http://channel.nationalgeographic.co...building-wild/

Wow!!! Thanks!!!

Fabulous find Jet.