House Deconstruction
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hobie
Silver Member
Wow! That must have been a lot of work! Nicely done! Great to see the wood being salvaged.
two_bit_score
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Thanks for posting this. I'm currently in the process of demoing some poultry houses on an old farm I bought a year or so ago. So your experience could be helpful to me.
Could you please explain how you actually did the demo? Tear it down by hand board at a time? Backhoe? Details?
What are you going to do with the lumber you salvaged?
I am salvaging some copper wire, tin roofing and a few posts and very few 2x6's. Most of what I have gotten to so far is pretty far gone and has wound up in the burn pit.
I did see the New Holland with pallet forks in the pics. How did that work for you? Would a grapple have worked better?
Thanks for sharing your pics and experience.
Could you please explain how you actually did the demo? Tear it down by hand board at a time? Backhoe? Details?
What are you going to do with the lumber you salvaged?
I am salvaging some copper wire, tin roofing and a few posts and very few 2x6's. Most of what I have gotten to so far is pretty far gone and has wound up in the burn pit.
I did see the New Holland with pallet forks in the pics. How did that work for you? Would a grapple have worked better?
Thanks for sharing your pics and experience.
Ranger Rick
Gold Member
That was quite a project. Any idea how old the house was? I looks like it may have been a post and beam building. Do you have any plans for reusing the wood or other materials? Rick
JB4310
Super Member
House looked in rough shape, looks like there is no foundation. But the chimneys caught my eye, 4 fireplaces? at first I thought they looked pretty solid, but man they came apart way to easy, the brick looks like it was left clean of any mortar?
Around here they get 50 cents a piece for good used brick.
Great pictures showing the process.
JB.
Around here they get 50 cents a piece for good used brick.
Great pictures showing the process.
JB.
OP
stoneyfork
Member
two_bit_score
- The demo started by removing all the interior wall coverings which were dry wall, bead board, plaster and lathe(a real pain) or t&g paneling. In my case I left the roof and exterior coverings in place to keep the heart pine flooring dry
- Once I had a dry looking weekend I knocked off the exterior wood siding from the inside out
- Next, I started on the roof removing the tin and purlins and pushed over the rafters
- Then I pulled down the chimneys a long rope and the tractor which was actually much easier than expected.
- This left me with the timber frame and floors. I pulled up the floor on the second floor one board a time on the bottom floor I cut the joists at each end and used a sledge to pound down on the joist which pulled them away from the flooring so I didn't have to pull the first floor up one board at a time. I could do this because these floors were through nailed using locally produced iron cut nails that slid out of the wood rather easily.
- Finally I cut some of the tenons on the timber frames and pulled them down in sections with a rope
- All this work was done by hand with a hammer, sledge, 48" Gorilla Bar and sawzall. The pallet forks were awsome because I could stack directly on them, drop my load on a hay wagon, haul it to my storage building and unload with the pallet forks again. I also used them to lift and move the heavy beams. Don't think the grapple would have worked as well for moving the stuff around as the forks
- I hope to sell most of the heart pine and use the oak and tin on other buildings on the farm. I traded the "wavy glass" windows to my neighbor for deer corn. I saved the doors, fireplace mantles and interior trim to either sell or reuse. Burned the rotten and unuseable wood
Ranger Rick
- House was estimated to be around 100 years old, all the wood except for the sills was sawn so probably not too old. Supposedly was a trading post at some point for the Iron Furnace next door that was built in 1863 to supply the Confederate Army with iron when their other sources of iron were cut off. I have attached a picture of the stump that the house was built over, I assume they cut down the tree and just built the house over it.
JB4310
The mortar if you can call it that just crumbles into dust. The brick is interesting, we have found peoples names scratched into some and a childs hand print in some. Been giving the brick away, should probably see if I can get something for it, I have a lot.
- The demo started by removing all the interior wall coverings which were dry wall, bead board, plaster and lathe(a real pain) or t&g paneling. In my case I left the roof and exterior coverings in place to keep the heart pine flooring dry
- Once I had a dry looking weekend I knocked off the exterior wood siding from the inside out
- Next, I started on the roof removing the tin and purlins and pushed over the rafters
- Then I pulled down the chimneys a long rope and the tractor which was actually much easier than expected.
- This left me with the timber frame and floors. I pulled up the floor on the second floor one board a time on the bottom floor I cut the joists at each end and used a sledge to pound down on the joist which pulled them away from the flooring so I didn't have to pull the first floor up one board at a time. I could do this because these floors were through nailed using locally produced iron cut nails that slid out of the wood rather easily.
- Finally I cut some of the tenons on the timber frames and pulled them down in sections with a rope
- All this work was done by hand with a hammer, sledge, 48" Gorilla Bar and sawzall. The pallet forks were awsome because I could stack directly on them, drop my load on a hay wagon, haul it to my storage building and unload with the pallet forks again. I also used them to lift and move the heavy beams. Don't think the grapple would have worked as well for moving the stuff around as the forks
- I hope to sell most of the heart pine and use the oak and tin on other buildings on the farm. I traded the "wavy glass" windows to my neighbor for deer corn. I saved the doors, fireplace mantles and interior trim to either sell or reuse. Burned the rotten and unuseable wood
Ranger Rick
- House was estimated to be around 100 years old, all the wood except for the sills was sawn so probably not too old. Supposedly was a trading post at some point for the Iron Furnace next door that was built in 1863 to supply the Confederate Army with iron when their other sources of iron were cut off. I have attached a picture of the stump that the house was built over, I assume they cut down the tree and just built the house over it.
JB4310
The mortar if you can call it that just crumbles into dust. The brick is interesting, we have found peoples names scratched into some and a childs hand print in some. Been giving the brick away, should probably see if I can get something for it, I have a lot.
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riptides
Super Star Member
Wow!
What was the history of the place? How old? Find any other cool stuff under it? In the walls?
We did the exact opposite of what you did, some people call it remodelling... hahah
In our case when some flooring came up we found 1920 newspaper prints on the wood floors. They had not been finished, only around the edges, and the ink had transferred the print image to the floor.
We got a lot of oak out of some parts of the house. it was difficult, tedious, time-consuming work salvaging that stuff. So, nice job or your part.
Those iron cut nails make for interesting decor, we have plans for shadow boxes with some of the other circa 1900 metal, pulleys, and what not found at our place.
Find any coins? Did you run a metal detector through it yet? You should!
How about the banister on the stairs? Usually back in those days the stairs were the best, heaviest wood available.
Man, that is a lot of work.
What was the history of the place? How old? Find any other cool stuff under it? In the walls?
We did the exact opposite of what you did, some people call it remodelling... hahah
In our case when some flooring came up we found 1920 newspaper prints on the wood floors. They had not been finished, only around the edges, and the ink had transferred the print image to the floor.
We got a lot of oak out of some parts of the house. it was difficult, tedious, time-consuming work salvaging that stuff. So, nice job or your part.
Those iron cut nails make for interesting decor, we have plans for shadow boxes with some of the other circa 1900 metal, pulleys, and what not found at our place.
Find any coins? Did you run a metal detector through it yet? You should!
How about the banister on the stairs? Usually back in those days the stairs were the best, heaviest wood available.
Man, that is a lot of work.
Tig
Elite Member
Thanks for posting. The brick story is particularly fascinating. You should save the marked ones for a rainy day. Someone may want to research the names. Great family keepsake if you can find the descendants.
I plan to tear down my place next fall. Looks like it will be a lot of work to clean the interior and get to the point of your first picture. Then it's a lot of work again to tear down but at least the result is dramatic.
I plan to tear down my place next fall. Looks like it will be a lot of work to clean the interior and get to the point of your first picture. Then it's a lot of work again to tear down but at least the result is dramatic.
The Dougster
Gold Member
First off, let me tell you how envious I am of all the beautiful wood you are recovering... I loved it!
My brothers and I had to tear up and remove the very old home we grew up in and I had a tough time explaining to them just how we should do it to be safe... My explanation was to tear it up in the reverse order it was built... first the roof, etc...and work our way to the ground.... When I saw your photos, which were great and I thank you, I noticed that you didn't follow my advice, which came a bit late didn't it? lol After seeing the photos, I would have been concerned about safety... I tend to worry more than I should....
Excellent project ... you should be proud.
My brothers and I had to tear up and remove the very old home we grew up in and I had a tough time explaining to them just how we should do it to be safe... My explanation was to tear it up in the reverse order it was built... first the roof, etc...and work our way to the ground.... When I saw your photos, which were great and I thank you, I noticed that you didn't follow my advice, which came a bit late didn't it? lol After seeing the photos, I would have been concerned about safety... I tend to worry more than I should....
Excellent project ... you should be proud.
OP
stoneyfork
Member
We found some interesting stuff, some Progressive Farmer and Farm Mechanics magazines from the 20's and 30's, a cast iron "pig" from the furnace, some old wrought iron hinges and railroad spikes and a penny from 1945 under the floor. On the bottom of some of the floor boards written in grease pencil was " E H Robinson - Eagles Siding". The Robinsons were historical owners and the RR spur to Eagle furnace next door was called Eagles Siding so I assume the floor boards were shipped in on the RR. The timber frame construction is very unusual for the surrounding area according to my neighbors and I assume whoever built it came in on the RR.
We plan to have the metal detectors in to look here and at the old house site across the creek. I also will dig in the area under the house since the area is very rich in Indian artifacts based on its location on a big loop of Cripple Creek. The wood was very tight grained as evidenced by the attached picture. I have also included a picture of the top of the rafters that were pegged together and as most of the joints were, marked with Roman Numerals. It was a lot of work to tear down, I can't imagine the amount of work to build since they had to make all of those joints. I gave my neighbor took the stair material so he could build a small cabinet for the former owners in his wood shop, the stuff he has planed down so far looks really nice.
We plan to have the metal detectors in to look here and at the old house site across the creek. I also will dig in the area under the house since the area is very rich in Indian artifacts based on its location on a big loop of Cripple Creek. The wood was very tight grained as evidenced by the attached picture. I have also included a picture of the top of the rafters that were pegged together and as most of the joints were, marked with Roman Numerals. It was a lot of work to tear down, I can't imagine the amount of work to build since they had to make all of those joints. I gave my neighbor took the stair material so he could build a small cabinet for the former owners in his wood shop, the stuff he has planed down so far looks really nice.
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Treemonkey1000
Veteran Member
Looks like a "Sweat equity" project. Very cool stuff there. That stump looks practically petrified under the flooring there.
You could make a few bucks selling the bricks and nails to folks that reuse that stuff to make their homes and businesses old time looking.
You could make a few bucks selling the bricks and nails to folks that reuse that stuff to make their homes and businesses old time looking.
two_bit_score
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Thanks for the info. It confirms my inclination that a set of pallet forks will come in really handy.
It was a lot of work but looks like you did a great job!
It was a lot of work but looks like you did a great job!
riptides
Super Star Member
Man, wood just doesn't grow like that anymore. The stuff we get today is superfast growth from seed to product.
I marvel at how well constructed my house was/is on the original parts. Which by the way were the only thing we saved during the "remodelling".
gordyy
Gold Member
I can feel the pain after that teardown
when growing up my brother and I tore down a few barns houses and out buildings on farmsteads in the area
made a few dollars doing it
then figured I could make more sitting in the seat of equipment than pulling nails out of boards
but its the only way to get the real good old growth wook
when growing up my brother and I tore down a few barns houses and out buildings on farmsteads in the area
made a few dollars doing it
then figured I could make more sitting in the seat of equipment than pulling nails out of boards
but its the only way to get the real good old growth wook
Taylortractornut
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Your bricks are worth anything from 1.00 to 2.50 each. I tore down and old house for a customer and he wanted it all gone. tore dow nthe chimney and loadeed it into the tdump truck and chipped them. Just a peck with the hammer. This fella from Memphis was atthe shop and building a facade on a building gave me this price for the bricks.
frwinks
Bronze Member
good for you for taking the time to do it properly looks like you saved some beautiful lumber for your next project
I watch developers/contractors torch old houses/barns on my way to work on weekly basis.... it makes me sick how much sound material goes up in flames just becasue it's quicker and cheaper to put a match to it rather than take it down pc by pc... all to make room for disposable housing
looks like you saved some beautiful lumber for your next projectI watch developers/contractors torch old houses/barns on my way to work on weekly basis.... it makes me sick how much sound material goes up in flames just becasue it's quicker and cheaper to put a match to it rather than take it down pc by pc... all to make room for disposable housing
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Very Impressive. I've done some demolition work for different clients, and it's always allot more work then I expect it to be. The nicer and neater of a job that you do, the more effort it takes.
Nice to see your pictures from start to finish. I really enjoyed them.
Eddie
Nice to see your pictures from start to finish. I really enjoyed them.
Eddie
OP
stoneyfork
Member
Thanks for all the comments. I have the site pretty well cleaned up except for the brick. Based on the comments I have received I have started to stack the good bricks on pallets to see if I can sell them. Attached are the photos of the site currently and the last load of wood on its way to dry storage.
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JB4310
Super Member
Few nice timbers there, not much under that house though?
Would like to see a close up of some of those bricks.
See if they can be split length wise. Good quality clay brick can be cut with a hammer like pcs of a pie. poorer quality brick will just break in half when struck with a hammer.
From your description sounds like they were hand made, might not be the hardest brick but could still be worth good money for their unique character. Could be worth much more than even high quality recycled factory made brick.
JB.
Would like to see a close up of some of those bricks.
See if they can be split length wise. Good quality clay brick can be cut with a hammer like pcs of a pie. poorer quality brick will just break in half when struck with a hammer.
From your description sounds like they were hand made, might not be the hardest brick but could still be worth good money for their unique character. Could be worth much more than even high quality recycled factory made brick.
JB.
