We went over to Lizzy with a contractor right before Christmas. We asked him to provide us estimates for fixing the foundation, restoring the roof to its proper shape, and replacing the non-historic windows with the goal of having an exterior tight and structurally sound house. He was hopeful after seeing the foundation, as, apparently from the inside, he expected it to be much much worse. He worked on our Oakwood house and we have a great deal of confidence in his work, professional ethics, and billing.
He did caution us against jumping in the kitchen/hallway as there is a joist that is about to break.
While we were there I was saddened yet again by Lizzy. I know it's just a house. But here, this house is standing in for human suffering taking place for the profit of others. This house was rented out in this shape. Children made their home here. While we were in the back bedroom that will eventually be the kitchen, we found a hypodermic needle. While in the crawlspace we found those plastic sharps-esque stoppers that used needles are placed in. A lot of them.
It was then that I noticed the upturned barrel in the corner, the lights above, and realized that at some point, the crawlspace of this house was a shooting gallery. Who knows how many people have gotten high on that earthen floor while kids were playing inside on moldy carpets in a fire damaged house. Who knows how much money people made on that house, sucking every last useful cent out of families through the structure.
So for a little while at least, we'll not be going inside Lizzy unless it's broad daylight. We'll clean up and quietly sleep and let some more of the sadness of the place dissipate through the cardboard siding and cracks in the walls. Harris created a drawing of the house and I'm going to be digitizing it this week in the hopes that we can get our application submitted.
Proposed Timeline -
Have plans approved (or very nearly so) by May.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
trash removal costs
Harris and I had planned on doing all of the demolition ourselves. However, we didn't count on how little light there is at night and how dark the house is (charred wood) now that we've removed a lot of the white surfaces (drywall and painted paneling). Our Craftsman lantern does absolutely nothing against the darkness that inhabits Lizzy.
She wears white on the outside and is black on the inside.
We decided to hire Bill to fill the dumpster. All told, we paid him $135 cash and agreed to buy his next amtrak ticket (we would have anyway...) to carry the detritus we've already removed, and he paid someone else $20-30 (unclear) from that money to remove three ceilings. Apparently the guy is 6 foot 3 inches tall and in under 45 minutes had three drywall ceilings removed and all of the junk in the dumpster...without a ladder.
Later that evening, I got the wild hare of "oh man, this dumpster is leaving tomorrow and there's still room in it. Bill and I went back to Lizzy and removed carpets from two rooms. This work was gross and disgusting and very hard on Bill. I was there mainly for show it seems as I couldn't get a good grip on anything. I tried. I supported. In the end, Bill removed two carpets, but not the padding. Here's what's under the padding.
Wood Floors!
It's also difficult to see because of the char, but there is a wood ceiling in the front room. Once the drywall was down in the other three rooms we found attic. There are two rooms remaining where there might be wood or plaster ceilings left and one room we're pretty sure is going to have attic. The hallway is attic.
Next steps include getting the floor plan drawn (as is) and then creating our proposed plan that includes creating one central entranceway and moving the kitchen out of the hallway.
This image of our hallway kitchen shows some of the best plaster remaining in the house. You'll notice a drywall patch that is incomplete, water damage, and smoke/fire damage.
We have dawdled a little in drawing out our plans. First we couldn't get the measurements right, then we had moved so much junk around we couldn't measure right, but we need to get back to work. Now that the house is relatively clean again, we'll get to drawing.
We are also waiting for new estimates for the foundation work. We're toying with the idea of doing this house without a loan and the cost of the foundation repairs will determine if that's a realistic goal. We're really not sure if the foundation work will be $5,000, $10,000, or $40,000. We know we need new piers and to rebuild skirt wall, and jack the house, and replace girders. Once we get the foundation stable, we'll focus on the roof and walls.
She wears white on the outside and is black on the inside.
We decided to hire Bill to fill the dumpster. All told, we paid him $135 cash and agreed to buy his next amtrak ticket (we would have anyway...) to carry the detritus we've already removed, and he paid someone else $20-30 (unclear) from that money to remove three ceilings. Apparently the guy is 6 foot 3 inches tall and in under 45 minutes had three drywall ceilings removed and all of the junk in the dumpster...without a ladder.
Later that evening, I got the wild hare of "oh man, this dumpster is leaving tomorrow and there's still room in it. Bill and I went back to Lizzy and removed carpets from two rooms. This work was gross and disgusting and very hard on Bill. I was there mainly for show it seems as I couldn't get a good grip on anything. I tried. I supported. In the end, Bill removed two carpets, but not the padding. Here's what's under the padding.
Wood Floors!
It's also difficult to see because of the char, but there is a wood ceiling in the front room. Once the drywall was down in the other three rooms we found attic. There are two rooms remaining where there might be wood or plaster ceilings left and one room we're pretty sure is going to have attic. The hallway is attic.
Next steps include getting the floor plan drawn (as is) and then creating our proposed plan that includes creating one central entranceway and moving the kitchen out of the hallway.
This image of our hallway kitchen shows some of the best plaster remaining in the house. You'll notice a drywall patch that is incomplete, water damage, and smoke/fire damage.
We have dawdled a little in drawing out our plans. First we couldn't get the measurements right, then we had moved so much junk around we couldn't measure right, but we need to get back to work. Now that the house is relatively clean again, we'll get to drawing.
We are also waiting for new estimates for the foundation work. We're toying with the idea of doing this house without a loan and the cost of the foundation repairs will determine if that's a realistic goal. We're really not sure if the foundation work will be $5,000, $10,000, or $40,000. We know we need new piers and to rebuild skirt wall, and jack the house, and replace girders. Once we get the foundation stable, we'll focus on the roof and walls.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Wood Ceiling!!!!
Ceiling cat? Are you there?
There's a wood ceiling!!!! Pictures coming soon.
Harris has been sick and the weather so cold he hasn't been able to get over there to get good pictures. By the time I get home, the light is minimal and pictures just don't capture the beauty.
It's beautiful in a charrded why did they leave it but so happy they did way.
Wood ceilings are a fantastic find. It means we most likely won't have to go with smooth surface ceilings in all of the rooms since we have evidence that there were wooden ceilings.
There's a wood ceiling!!!! Pictures coming soon.
Harris has been sick and the weather so cold he hasn't been able to get over there to get good pictures. By the time I get home, the light is minimal and pictures just don't capture the beauty.
It's beautiful in a charrded why did they leave it but so happy they did way.
Wood ceilings are a fantastic find. It means we most likely won't have to go with smooth surface ceilings in all of the rooms since we have evidence that there were wooden ceilings.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Dumpster drama
We'll be adding $40 to the cost of the dumpster. It seems they could not find a place on the property to locate the dumpster so it has to be placed in the street. For the honor of placing the dumpster in the street, Harris and Madeline spent an hour and a half at City Hall + $40 this morning.
You run into things like this a lot. Basically, City Department do not communicate well nor do they help you anticipate problems. On Wednesday they couldn't decide how much notice was needed nor if we should be prepared to pay with a check or credit card. Today, it's an on-street fee for a dumpster because they didn't like the off street locations provided.
It's best to have a little free time to navigate these things.
You run into things like this a lot. Basically, City Department do not communicate well nor do they help you anticipate problems. On Wednesday they couldn't decide how much notice was needed nor if we should be prepared to pay with a check or credit card. Today, it's an on-street fee for a dumpster because they didn't like the off street locations provided.
It's best to have a little free time to navigate these things.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Dumpster
The first dumpster arrives on Thursday!
After talking to Solid Waste and One Call and getting different information from both, Harris just went to Solid Waste to fill out the paperwork. We're going to clock this at 1 hour and the $200 dumpster rental fee.
On Thursday our friend Bill will remove the paneling and drywall that we've taken down so far and place it in this dumpster. If this is quick work and there is more room in the dumpster, then we'll see about getting more stuff down from the ceilings and into the dumpster.
Once this is complete and we can wander around inside again we will draw the proposed floor plan for the tax credit application.
After talking to Solid Waste and One Call and getting different information from both, Harris just went to Solid Waste to fill out the paperwork. We're going to clock this at 1 hour and the $200 dumpster rental fee.
On Thursday our friend Bill will remove the paneling and drywall that we've taken down so far and place it in this dumpster. If this is quick work and there is more room in the dumpster, then we'll see about getting more stuff down from the ceilings and into the dumpster.
Once this is complete and we can wander around inside again we will draw the proposed floor plan for the tax credit application.
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