How to straighten my boathouse?

[PILOON]

I love that building and even being 'retired' I tackle it just for the challenge, as long as others did the grunt work, LOL!
I'm sure I could do it.Done many worst projects.
The trick is to think outside of the box, AKA impossible is just a word.
Only solutions exist.
Triangulation, hydraulics, leverage all work for U as long as U know how and where to apply the principles.

Once a client (OK, was a buddy) wanted to lift, dynamite rock and build an add on to his cottage.
Asked me to take on the job so I said OK, and will do it for less than your lowest bidder.
Well I made a bundle on that job (well under) and he was super happy.
That's what does it for me!

 

[check]

A quick thought. With that new concrete pad you could attach ring bolts for tie downs and use cable or chain and turn buckles to start pulling things around. You say the cribbling is stable. Why not pour concrete caps on the corner cribbling and use those solid points fro pulling as well?

Actually, in The concrete pad picture you will see a retaining wall on the right hand side that I had left in place. I may drill and attach some sort of ring bolt to that thing and then pull the top right hand corner of the boat house toward the ring bolt. In fact I have a nice peg from the Hydro guys that they used to use to attach Guy wires to. That right rear wall where you see the upright 6 x 6 bolted on is seriously leaning towards the lake.

 

[Cat_Driver]

No earthquakes here, Cat. The existing crib is in good shape, now that I have replaced the top five or six layers of the old cedar Crib. And as I told Moss, I can move the bottom of those walls with just a sledgehammer, because I haven稚 nailed them down to the crib members just yet. The real problem is that the top won稚 move and so if I hit a sidewall over all I知 doing is adding to the lean.

You misunderstood me. Use the HARDWARE that they use for earthquake stability on homes and commercial buildings. Once you get a new solid base secure and strenghthen with the steel used in earthquake retrofit.

I'm envisioning waiting till the ice freezes the lake and get in position to place new end poles and then build from there.

 

[Cat_Driver]

 

[Cat_Driver]

 

[pmsmechanic]

This thread looks interesting enough to follow.

 

[check]

Latest pics. Anything look particularly strange?

 

[check]

Next job is to put up scaffolding inside The boat house, so that I can hand up boards to replace the rotten ones for the roofers. Will be building a bridge with either of those two 6 X 6's or some long 2 x 8's, and then put a platform on top for the scaffolding to sit on.

 

[check]

A little problem. That end 6 x 6 is supposed to be level with the water.

 

[Jaylegger]

A little problem. That end 6 x 6 is supposed to be level with the water.

View attachment 606320

Was it recently level with the water?

 

[Cat_Driver]

if you were here in the USA and not in Canada they would condem that building as unsafe.
A good wind storm might bring that entire structure down.
I'm surprised it's still standing at all!

 

[fried1765]

if you were here in the USA and not in Canada they would condem that building as unsafe.
A good wind storm might bring that entire structure down.
I'm surprised it's still standing at all!

Cat_Driver: Likely it would be condemned in California, but likely not condemned in heartland USA.

 

[EddieWalker]

The more pictures that I see of this, the more I think that you are wasting your time and money on this structure. Everything is twisted on it and you will never be able to get those beams and studs to become straight without replacing them. Basically, you will have to rebuild the entire structure while avoiding death to yourself and your help doing it one piece at a time. Tear it down, save what you can and build it new with better support and framing.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Maybe some of the original exterior board could be re attached on a straight frame?

 

[EddieWalker]

Maybe some of the original exterior board could be re attached on a straight frame?

If "This Old House" was doing this job, I'm guess that's exactly what they would do. Tear it down, built it again, and make it look like the original with all the old siding.

 

[MossRoad]

On that note, if this old house did it, most of us on TBN could not afford it. Remember the old shows when they'd do things on normal budgets for normal people? I still watch it is because, well, they do it right, and I learn a lot. But their budgets are astronomical. I guess that's the price you have to pay to preserve historical structures.

 

[PILOON]

Preserving a certified heritage building is another whole story.
Example: widows that were hand made in wood have to be exactly same, not aluminum as example even if 'cloned' so to speak.
Paints again a challenge, if milk paint then oil based SW can not be used.
Biggest problem lies in the shortage of old time trade artisans and often materials.
The historians can be rather picky.

Our city just asked to have an old church declared 'heritage' and that scares me as to costs. (typical city answer is "The cost per taxpayer will be minimal"), but it all adds up. As to me that old building is really not worth preserving.
Basically it was dumped onto the city for tax breaks.
Shucks I was even offered it for $1.00 but IMHO there was nothing that it could be practically converted into.
Also it was off of the beaten path.
OK, perhaps an artist's studio or recording studio. (both of which are always cash poor)
High ceilings=hard to heat, very poor insulation and at that not wet a big area (small town)

Where I lived as a teen the house next door was declared 'heritage' so I am aware of the extreme costs involved. Fortunately the present owner is deep pocketed and respective of history. Added to the picture that 'heritage' is home (and studios) of two very well known prolific artists, one a painter, the brother a sculptor, but the main problem it is buried in an area that has become a highly developed residential zone.
Consequently it will probably never enjoy public visitation.

On the upside I own both a few paintings and some sculptures of those artists.
Both were well enough recognized that their art work was part or the Canadian Centennial train that trans versed the whole country a few years back and as such some of the art shown came from my personal collection so they are well documented as to provenance.

Heritage is very honorable but be prepared to maintain and or restore at a cost.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

The more pictures that I see of this, the more I think that you are wasting your time and money on this structure. Everything is twisted on it and you will never be able to get those beams and studs to become straight without replacing them. Basically, you will have to rebuild the entire structure while avoiding death to yourself and your help doing it one piece at a time. Tear it down, save what you can and build it new with better support and framing.

I'd make sure it can legally be rebuilt before tearing it down. Building close to water is a much bigger deal than it was 100 years ago. Often buildings like that can be repaired but not replaced. Even if "repair" means replacing it piece by piece.

 

[MossRoad]

...
Shucks I was even offered it for $1.00 but IMHO there was nothing that it could be practically converted into.
...

You missed a golden opportunity..... :laughing:

Church Brew Works | Pittsburgh Brewery & Restaurant in an Historic ChurchChurch Brew Works | Pittsburgh Brewery & Restaurant in an Historic ChurchChurch Brew Works | Pittsburgh Brewery & Restaurant in an Historic Church

 

[aczlan]

I'd make sure it can legally be rebuilt before tearing it down. Building close to water is a much bigger deal than it was 100 years ago. Often buildings like that can be repaired but not replaced. Even if "repair" means replacing it piece by piece.

And if it does come down make sure to document exactly how far out it went. I know up on the thousand islands they get pretty picky when you rebuild a dock that the dock needs to be no bigger than the one that's replacing...

Aaron Z