Jeremy's House Rebuild Part 2

We had really good weather for the first two weeks since we arrived. The last couple of days it has started to cool off and we've had some rain and wind. Our main focus right now is to get the utilities hooked up and to get the house weather tight. This past week we installed 6 dual pane windows with a few left to do. We have also been working on the electric. Most of the wiring had to be replaced.

The two new windows in the dining room. We also put two in the living room and two more in Jeremy's bedroom. The replacement windows fit right into the old openings, with minimal shims. Of course nothing is really square in a house this old. We had to special order one of the windows as the local home improvement store didn't have all we needed. The trips to the store are an exercise in patience. They are extremely over shopped and understaffed.

Another thing we've been working on is washing the windows, doors and wood trim that was removed during the demolition so it can be used again. It's easy to see the flood water line on the front door. All the woodwork will need to be re-finished, but since it is hard wood it held up well.

The new basement wall with the concrete curing.

The west wall of the basement had to have some vertical I-beams put in place to reinforce it.

The other main accomplishment this week was the inspection for the rough wiring. Today Larry and Jeremy worked on installing some switches and outlets. Wednesday the electrical contractor will come to install the new panel box with new breakers and get it all hooked up. Claudia worked in the back yard cleaning the heater ducts with the power washer.

Jeremy's House Rebuild Part 1

Jeremy's house was severely damaged during the flood this summer. When we finished our job in West Yellowstone we came to Minot, ND to help him rebuild. We arrived on September 23 and started right into work the next day. As you can see there is much to do and when the weather gets too cold and snowy we will be heading south. We have been helping as much as we can for the few weeks we are here. He goes to work at the base at about 6 am most days and when his duties are taken care of there, he comes to the house and we work until it gets too dark.

The back yard and view of the back side of his house. Aside from the work on the house, the yard needs to be leveled off and the sidewalk needs to be repaired.

The north basement wall caved in. When we arrived the contractors had shored up the house, removed the debris and were getting ready to pour the footers for the new wall.

The demolition work was pretty much completed when we arrived and Jeremy had started laying the plywood sub-floor over the old plank floor. You can see some of the old planks to the left of the picture. The studs in the walls, which are over 100 years old were sprayed for mold and they will stay.

In the kitchen he was able to save the upper cabinets and only took out the lower portion of the walls. He did have time to evacuate most of his personal possessions, but all the kitchen appliances and the furnace and water heater, which were in the basement, were lost.

The sub-flooring is finished!

View of the front of the house.

The porch needs extensive work, mostly in the front corners.

The forms for the new basement wall. It will be 8 inches thick with insulation on the inside and out. The blocks are like hollow Legos. The concrete was poured today. These pictures were taken a few days ago. More to follow.

Foam blocks as seen from the basement.

The basement staircase will need refinishing, but it survived well. Guess Jeremy did a good job building it. Of course all the studs and sheet rock walls had to be removed. He most likely won't finish off the basement again.

The bottom part of the stairs to the second floor. The lower portion is temporary, as the old ones did not survive the flood.

Most of the second floor will not need work. Jeremy had to take out the carpeting before the house was sprayed for mold. We took out all staples and bits of carpet padding, and now it only needs new carpet.