LIFTING TILTED HOUSE

[hdmyers]

We bought our house knowing we'd need to level it... at time of purchase it was 'yeah, just pour concrete basement floor and all would be great lol'. We have just finished using helical piers. Here is picture of before, during and after. (before has deck, after no deck.) next step is pump concrete underneat, lift top off bottom and level it to the now FULLY PLUMB/AND LEVEL ICF FOUNDATION. We estimated 10ft piers, actual depth 80-95 ft each. 21 of them OUCH.


all the pics: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bw1CMCjxRefbMzNFUUJ4Z3g0RjA&usp=sharing

 

[hdmyers]

For reference. max lift on front left corner was 15"... and slab has no cracking etc. (3 piers inside the house)... this spring we do the stonework on foundation ourselves...with a little help from my friends who are stone masons.

 

[RobS]

Wow, that's a unique project. Can you explain more about why you have to take the top off and re-level that part?

 

[CCWKen]

Wow! You sure have the "brass" to take that job on. You must be young. I remember my first house in Ohio back in the 80s needing a lot of work but we got into a nice neighborhood at a low price. It took a new kitchen and remodeled basement along with many repairs but we sold that house seven years later and built a new house five times the size from the profits. That and a huge 15-year mortgage.

I admire your determination and will to restore an older house and make it a home. By the looks of the surrounding area, the work appears to be worth it. A big Texas style 10-gallon tip to you! :thumbsup:

 

[hdmyers]

Wow, that's a unique project. Can you explain more about why you have to take the top off and re-level that part?

The original foundation was put in and it sank on one side. Looks to me like house was lifted and shimmed. Then the foundation sank more on the one side.... So now after fixing the basement that was tilting to the left, the top now tilts to the right. The fix will mean the house sits on foundation level as well. (currently mickey mouse shimming iwll be taken out and made right). Hope that clarifies the two stage level approach.

 

[hdmyers]

Wow! You sure have the "brass" to take that job on. You must be young. I remember my first house in Ohio back in the 80s needing a lot of work but we got into a nice neighborhood at a low price. It took a new kitchen and remodeled basement along with many repairs but we sold that house seven years later and built a new house five times the size from the profits. That and a huge 15-year mortgage.

I admire your determination and will to restore an older house and make it a home. By the looks of the surrounding area, the work appears to be worth it. A big Texas style 10-gallon tip to you! :thumbsup:

Thanks We have 15 acres on water front... i was sucked in by that factor. When we are done the work, we don't perceive a windfall in profits...but when we do sell, we will have a sound foundation and no headaches. We did by the property pretty cheap...but putting posts 80+ ft in the ground sure ate up the grandiose dreams of profits. I love being on the property. My wife and I are committed at this stage to sticking around there until we can no longer keep it maintained on our own.

 

[hdmyers]

A few more pix of lift day
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bw1CMCjxRefbMzNFUUJ4Z3g0RjA&usp=sharing


cheers,

 

[RobS]

The original foundation was put in and it sank on one side. Looks to me like house was lifted and shimmed. Then the foundation sank more on the one side.... So now after fixing the basement that was tilting to the left, the top now tilts to the right. The fix will mean the house sits on foundation level as well. (currently mickey mouse shimming iwll be taken out and made right). Hope that clarifies the two stage level approach.

Ah, makes perfect sense now. Thanks for the clarification!

 

[Looking4new]

I take it that the house is in Muskoka? IF it is on Lake Joseph it will still be worth a small fortune when you sell. even if it is in the Kawarthas it will still be worth a small fortune.

 

[hdmyers]

I take it that the house is in Muskoka? IF it is on Lake Joseph it will still be worth a small fortune when you sell.

It is Minden...on a navigable river, top of a lake chain, so no Muskoka excitement. mebbe valued at 325k after stonework and new deck is in play. Value is in peace of mind, and not seeing neighbours unless you want to. I couldn't afford an outhouse in Muskoka

 

[GPintheMitten]

Wow! So those steel pipes around the perimeter stay forever? 85 ' ... did you go down to bedrock?

I'm surprised the slab stayed together by just supporting the perimeter.

 

[hdmyers]

Wow! So those steel pipes around the perimeter stay forever? 85 ' ... did you go down to bedrock?

I'm surprised the slab stayed together by just supporting the perimeter.

The slab was very well built...and it's a uniform lift (they do 10 pumps on the jack 6 guys at a time, working around the house) . There are three supports internal, but they weren't used during the lift. they will get tied into the slab now, during the concrete pour (pressureized concrete pumped from inside).

The whole thing does get monitored during the lift...and at 15" it is quite a lift.

We are very pleased to get that much lift successfully. I bought myself 6" of grade height increase all around which you can tell from the pictures is a bonus. I'm on a flood plain... and have had water within a foot of the front door on one occasion (100year flood my *** lol). cheers,

 

[GPintheMitten]

Please post back on your stonework. Very interesting.

 

[skyhook]

Nice work, I fully understand the "flood plain" theory. It looks like the "bottom half" is all cement and was poured just slightly below ground, (digging the foundation deeper would have invited too much water).I'm in sort of the same predicament, we have a chalet along the Ottawa river and also on a flood plain, I am in the process of thinking on "lifting the chalet ( it has no foundation) and adding something similar to your "bottom half", just not sure how high to go. It looks like your next step will be to "divert" the water around your newly laid foundation "away" from it. If I were younger, I would tackle this myself but I don't seem to have the energy I use too. Your an inspiration, and i look forward to your finished outcome, again...well done.:thumbsup:

 

[Looking4new]

I couldn't afford an outhouse in Muskoka

Me neither. I'm just south of North Bay.