Scaffold question

[Oldchuck]

I am in the process of getting ready to start an exterior restoration on our old farmhouse... CIRCA 1780 something...

Can't help with the questions but I'm curous k about your house date of "1780 something." It's my understanding that Indiana in those years was pretty much uncontested Indian territory, part of the Ohio country which the Americans aquired from the British at the conclusion of the Revolution and then had to fight several wars with the Indians to be able to settle it. How sure are you of that date?

 

[kbiddle]

Well all I can say is what I have found .. the small town I live in outside of Bedford was a railroad town with pictures going back to the very early 1800's... this was here before that so I hear....even that the first deed on the land was recorded in I want to say like 1807 or something along those lines....
I am only going by that and what the orignal seller told me... as it had been in his family the whole time...

But again I am not 100% sure...

I can say I have seen some old stuff but never have I seen floor joist like this..
Theya re easily 30" Dia still having the bark on logs...

 

[Timber]

Can't help with the questions but I'm curous k about your house date of "1780 something." It's my understanding that Indiana in those years was pretty much uncontested Indian territory, part of the Ohio country which the Americans aquired from the British at the conclusion of the Revolution and then had to fight several wars with the Indians to be able to settle it. How sure are you of that date?

No it looks right as far as the old construction is concerned. If you notice there is decorative molding anywhere on the old construction. 1800 it the beginning of automated mill work. More like 1804 it was everywhere. That is when all you Victorian & Federal homes came into existence

 

[kbiddle]

Well all I can say for sure is you better pack your lunch if you are going to cut a hole in the old structure that and a chain saw...

 

[Piperflyer]

Did you ever think of renting a JLG lift. When I was in the restoration business that's all we ever used. Scaffold could not compare to the versatility of the JLG. We never used scaffold unless for some reason we could not get a lift in the area and that did not happen much.

 

[kbiddle]

Well I have considered that the only issue is you would be pressed to get it all done in one session... As I am doing most of this solo I didn't want to be under pressure to try and hurry up and get it done because of rental fees...
I have even looked into buying one for the project then reselling but as I don't know a whole lot about them I have kind of shied away from that...
Oh that and they are fairly pricey...

 

[Mr. Green Jeans]

If you have an Craigslist in your area, you should check that. I found enough on there to do my little project, then I resold it on Craigslist for the same that I paid for it.

 

[ray66v]

Scaffolding is only worthwhile, if you need to have a lot of room to work off of. Sometimes it gets in the way, and makes the job harder. And sometimes it does not give you the ideal choice for the height you want to stand on.

Ladders and jacks, or a set of pump jacks, will be more useful, and versatile on a job like this.

 

[Timber]

I have used just about every kind of staging an climbing equipment there is from Boson chairs, swing stage, Condor lifts, scissor lifts, Fixed staging, Pipe staging, Painters poles, Aluminum & Wooden Pump Jacks, & Ladder jack. The bottom line is there is a tool for every job. For domestic 2 & 3 story structures the proper staging is Ladder jack & Poles. They are cost effective and extremely versatile. There is nothing better

 

[schmism]

got my scaffolding on craigslist.

 

[Timber]

Wow good guess...
That is exactly the case... I have beat my head against the wall on that one alone... there is just not a good way to solve that I would love to jack and pour a new one but... I dont have those kind of resources...

OK here are a few pic's
This is the side I will be starting on...

Where the new meets the old... one of our contractors left it like this but that is a whole different issues...

Wider view of that side...

The back (chimney will go as wel as reframe and make larger windows...) maybe french doors

Looking down the back wall...nice lean eh?

Front Side... that was a 1 car garage that I converted to my office and laundry room...

Front view...
The porch will be torn down and windows made about 2' shorter in length to increase the picth of the porch roof for metal rooking after it is extended to be wrapped around the left side there...

Close up of the fine craftsmanship

Allot of work yes...being able to do it myself on my own time and budget will be the only way...

Ok 1st off you have a killer home hear I really love what you have done so far. Hear are my thoughts. The windows you have installed are a dead give away that this is new construction. It also looks like you have more than 1 kind of window. I suggest The brick molding around the windows and the new doors. Take that molding off and use 1 X 4 pine so it is trimmed out in the correct time period. On all your new replacement windows just buy the inserts don"t buy the complete window. It will be cheaper and you can trim it out yourself. Same with the doors.

Let me tell you about your existing siding. That is what is known as clear Pine claps. You can not get that anymore, that is from old growth trees. There is a tool called a Tool-dog used for stripping off the lead paint. I will get you the link. for it. Do your insulating from inside or use cellulose. That siding and trim is sound and petrified with lead. There is nothing money can buy that is better than what you have.

The inside is Plaster & Lath. How bad are the walls. I can tell you taking it out is a real mess but better to do it from inside than out. For 1 all that knob & Tube wiring is probably attached to the inside of the exterior walls. Your going to want to replace that with Romex anyway.

Keep the house in period, Use the same trim on doors and windows and watch the sill lines & keep them uniform. The key to adding to old construction is to make the New look like the old. You want to walk around the house and not see the addition. When you done it should all look like it was built at once

The porch is very close to the ground, What is going on with that as far as rot is concerned ? The tall windows are real nice but the inserts will be a custom build. By the way see how big those window sills are. On you new windows rip new sill noses out of a 4 X 4 and face nail over new windows. You will probably have to cut the existing sills off flush with the sheathing. It is cheating but it will make the windows look period. Anybody that knows old houses knows the 1st give away is the window sills.

 

[kbiddle]

Timber,
I totally agree... I should have started by saying this is all still work in progress...

I agree 100% with everything you have said... well almost...
The issue with the windows is that some of the exiting are still in and of course the new ones on the new construction side. However the new one are all the same manf. and series... Lowes Pella to be specific... in regards to the remainder of the exiting windows... yes new ones to size would be custome so the plan it to use replacment that come close to the original size.
Example is over the front porch I want to shorten them down by a foot or so to increase the pitch on the new porch that will go on. They will be all trimmed the same once complete... and the plan is to use 1x4 pine... Dang this is starting to get a littel scary as we think alike...

I too would agree that the inside would be the best local for adding insulation.. however let me tell you a bit about what a wonderful thing the previous owners did... seem that all the plaster was cracked ( after they put a new roof on removing 3 + layer...imagine that) they had it drywalled... the problem is that they just drywalled to the trim... so U have drywall that butts up to the 6" base trim... just peachey... guess they did not want to pull the trim and do it right...

Regarding the wire... alaready pulled all new which was a royal pain, I think they had like 1 outlet per room.. but that part is done so the attached to the exiting exterior is of no real consequence in that case...

While I do want to keep it somewhat in period... I for sure want to make it as energy effecient as possible as well as lower my maint. IE: no more exterior painting... And yes I know HARDI board only needs painted every 40 yrs... still too much for me plus the cost is higher...

My goal as you said is to blend the old with the new... as seemlessly as possible... which was one of the reasons I was considering the new decking outside etc... as I reframe and bring the windows into a standard size I wanted to be able to check everything from a stability standpoint...insulate, hosewrap and blue board then get to haning siding and breaking metal in the spring... still allot of work yet to do...
Tear down the chimmney, etc etc etc...

I do very much appreaite you and everyones feed back keep it coming... I am eager to take as much advise as I can get....

Or better yet stop by and bring your hammer...
I guess it is like my wife says... we basically got the house for free...as I got this 120+/- AC and they threw the house in .... LOL

 

[Timber]

LOL you know your project better than I do, I can only help you with what I know. You are the one that is doing the work. I can not say I disagree with what you intend to do, I am only suggesting options you may or may not have considered. You can pop your trim on the inside windows and build it out a little so it is not flush with the Drywall. The older the house the more chance that {Jack The carpenter want a be} got at it LOL You certainly have quite a project on your hands. I would love to help you any way I can. Ask any thing you want and keep good photo documentation. It will help in the years to come

 

[kbiddle]

OK...
I will buy the beer what time should I expect you...
LOL

 

[Timber]

My wife said I can't go play with my friends till I do all my chores hear.
She is such a Kill Joy

 

[kbiddle]

Timber,
I sent you a PM let me know what your thought is...
Thanks