As many of you may already know the house we are working on has been around almost 100 years, many of those while being neglected. When mom decided to gut the house we knew it was going to be a BIG project. Though just how big, we weren’t really sure at the time. There were many items we found that could only be seen by tearing down walls. Some however were more apparent for example, no insulation.
All of the exterior walls have been furred in using 2x4 construction, with new plumbing, electrical, and insulation completed up to code, inspected and approved. Drywall installation is the final step before the finish work begins.
After tearing down all the ceiling on the main floor it was apparent that some of the structure was in very bad shape. Many of them had been cut through for either plumbing or HVAC. Almost every one of those showed pretty severe signs of failure with large cracks along their length. To repair we had to sister the failing joist. This requires using a jack to get the failed joist straight, then attaching a board to either or both sides to hold it in place. This process takes time, is exhausting, and generally is accompanied by a geriatric house groaning in pain the whole time. After you're done, you have what I call a “Hugh Hefner”, that is one or two new boards surrounding a much older and far less attractive one, that is probably only good for paper.
Now to improve the sturdiness of what is there. We added Blocking between every joist. This allows the load on one joist to transfer its weight to the nearby joist as well as prevents the joist from twisting and creaking. In a new home, they are generally done quickly by cutting the same length and slapping them in. In an old home, every joist is spaced with reckless abandon using what I imagine is a spandex tape measurer, meaning some are 13” some are 16” and each one needs to be cut accordingly.
In the office the damage was so bad from the joist being cut to accommodate the old plumbing that all the joists were sistered and the ceiling was dropped 7 inches. We also added a Heat-Recovery Ventilator. A heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) uses the heat in the outgoing stale air to warm up the fresh air. A typical unit features two fans—one to take out household air and the other to bring in fresh air. You can see the unit on the left side of the photo with the two insulated vents going to the exterior. It is especially important when a home has been insulated and properly sealed from the elements.
A huge thank you and shout-out to my son, Matt, who understands the importance of building for another 100 years and thank you for following along as we restore My Private Idaho!