Progree Report - Week Two

Now that the General Contractor is back, the project is starting to heat up quickly. We have been busy making decisions on windows and mechanicals as they have the most impact to the project. The next up are kitchen cabinets and flooring. Here's what's been done so far:

- Excavation started and completed. Unfortunately a part of the fence and the neighbour's brand new interlocking path has fallen victim and will have to be repaired.
- Cold cellar (which was actually under our dinette) mostly demolished with the exception of the wall supporting the jack which in turn supports the second floor.
- Gravel for basement in new addition laid.
- New opening from the basement to the future Rec Room has been cut and blocks removed.
- Concerte block walls for new addition basement built.
- Framing done in the North wall of the Master Bedroom and closets, ready for insulation.
- Celing in Second Floor hall removed, found that the center part of the celing is bowed down about 2" relative to the edges.
- Wall panels and celing tiles demolished in existing Basement Recreation Room.

I was told that one of the corners of the block wall had to be strengthened because it was going to support a steel post above for the second floor. I knew that the post had to be there but no idea what the reenforcement entailed, which is actually just to fill in the holes in the concerte blocks. I enquired if a pier had to be built and the contractor said that this was all that's necessary.

A hole was found in the roof valley above the Master Bedroom. The only way to see it is during the day when the daylight comes through. It does not seem to be causing any leakages but definitely needs to be addressed.

On the Second Floor Hall, once the lathe and plaster came down, it was revealed that numerous attempts were made to stregthen the celing and address the sagging. It seems that there are two attempts at nailing additional pieces of wood to the original joists (but some of it was just strapping, which obviously did not have the strength). There was also two layers of celing with steel mesh in between to mask the problem.

The problem seems to be that the spans are too long for the 2x6 used, especially considering that there is actually a loft above it as well. There is a wooden post in the middle of the room but it is only supporting three of the joists at best. We plan to add two laminated wood joints perpendicular to the original joists to support the celing. This also transfers the support to the side walls which in turn is supported by a wall below on one side and a double joist on another. An added benefit is that we can get rid of the post in the middle of the area. However, we will have a 6" drop in the middle of the room due to the new joist.