The old farmhouse was built in the 1920's. Houses were good in those days, built with real lumber and a hammer and nails. The wood was fit tightly, often grooved. When the roof was replaced 2 days ago, the old cedar tongue and groove boards below the shakes, was in prime condition. Although there is no insulation in the walls, they too are that same tongue and groove board construction and the walls are still quite solid. It was later, when the owners did not really know how to do things and did them anyhow, that they screwed up big time. The porch was added later, maybe thirty years ago. There was no proper connection between the roof on the house and the porch, which was a lean to in construction style. The roof absorbed water and leaked down the wall and into the windows, which for some unknown reason, were siliconed shut. The porch was built over the old stair well. At one time there was a direct outdoor stair case leading to the yard. The first home owner told me as a boy he used to carry the wood into the basement through that entrance. The next owner, in his wisdom, thought he would dig a root cellar where the old stairwell was, under the porch, which was built, and was amazingly surprised when it caved in. OMG!
Anyhow, the porch has no foundation. It was simply constructed on the dirt and guess what? It rotted. Surprise! Some people should not ever be allowed to touch things they do not know how to do. So, when I removed the soil that had been pushed up against the porch walls, most likely to stop the cold, the wood sort of fell away with the dirt. Robbie availed himself of the situation and dug a little hole to get into the shade and coolness and out of the rain. But, the porch has to go. The roofers stopped at the improper joint and tomorrow we begin to tear it apart. Then on Saturday, there is supposed to be a construction crew coming to build it properly, along with a little deck. This will be so much better and cleaner. The old house deserves to have a properly constructed porch that compliments its style and so it will have. Stay tuned.
Anyhow, the porch has no foundation. It was simply constructed on the dirt and guess what? It rotted. Surprise! Some people should not ever be allowed to touch things they do not know how to do. So, when I removed the soil that had been pushed up against the porch walls, most likely to stop the cold, the wood sort of fell away with the dirt. Robbie availed himself of the situation and dug a little hole to get into the shade and coolness and out of the rain. But, the porch has to go. The roofers stopped at the improper joint and tomorrow we begin to tear it apart. Then on Saturday, there is supposed to be a construction crew coming to build it properly, along with a little deck. This will be so much better and cleaner. The old house deserves to have a properly constructed porch that compliments its style and so it will have. Stay tuned.
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