Demolition continued in the basement over this past weekend, though I only worked for about 4 hours each day. As I removed the drywall and strapping to uncover the block walls, I also uncovered further mysteries and potential problems. It is difficult for me to see anything but dollar signs at this point, and those dollar signs are flying out the window.
The curious case of the concrete wedge
Can anyone explain the purpose of this concrete wedge?
This is definitely a case where I wish I could approach the previous owner for some enlightenment. One wall in the rec room was angled near the top (picture a crown molding, only this was done with drywall). I always thought this was done to add some character. But when I removed the drywall, and the plywood that was behind the drywall, I discovered that the angle was built up with concrete….that the plywood had acted as a form while the concrete cured. The obvious question I have is “why?” Is this a structural repair, possibly reinforcing the top row of blocks? Is this something that was done for rodent control (some of the electrical wires had been chewed). I have never heard of or seen anything like this before. Very curious indeed.
Water water everywhere
Well, not everywhere, but there are definitely some moisture issues to deal with. The ground at the front of the house is lower than the rest of the yard. I removed a wood porch from this area a couple of years ago, and our future plans call for a concrete porch when we rebuild the addition. I balked at spending money on filling a hole that would just have to be dug out again in a few years, but methinks that the water infiltration in the basement can mostly be solved through landscaping.
Bin almost full
I still have, at best guess, a dozen or so 4×8 sheets of drywall to remove, plus the underlying strapping. I should be able to fit this material in the bin and will likely have the bin hauled away on Wednesday or Thursday.
Next steps
I’m already thinking ahead to what needs to be done next. Once the basement is gutted, I’ll rent a jack hammer to remove the cast concrete porch at the front door (there is no foundation for it, and it is sinking and rubbing against the brick and block causing damage that will have to be repaired). Then I will build up the landscaping so water will drain away from the house, and see if this solves the water infiltration problem. If not, it will have to be dug out again and perhaps a membrane will have to be installed, at least at the front of the house. When finances permit, we will forge ahead and have the heating upgraded. Once that is done, the second floor can finally be finished. And perhaps by next year, the workroom in the basement will be completed, along with a new bathroom. That will then allow me to finishe the bathroom, laundry room and bedroom on the main floor. Whew! It would be nice to finish one thing at a time, but when everything is interconnected, the whole process can become overwhelming.