Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Hack job that needs fixing
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MACK586
05-13-08, 12:08 PM
I recently inheirited a home with some pretty shoddy work done on it. The house was built in 1934 and the previous owners put two additions on it that are tearing the house apart. The first is a porch with a roof on it that is not tied into the supports in the attic but just seems to be resting on the roof of the house. I can see the shingles underneath it if I peel away the valley a little bit. What would be the best way for me to get this thing off the house without tearing the front of it off?
My next one involves an addition to the back of the house which is about 5' x 6' (still don't get this one myself) and there is no foundation whatsoever and is tearing the left rear corner of the house off. Would taking a sawzall and then just cutting this thing off of the house be the best way to get rid of it? I can see the bricks beginning to crack and I do not know how long it has been "hanging" there but I am worried about the house coming down with it if I do it the wrong way. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
My next one involves an addition to the back of the house which is about 5' x 6' (still don't get this one myself) and there is no foundation whatsoever and is tearing the left rear corner of the house off. Would taking a sawzall and then just cutting this thing off of the house be the best way to get rid of it? I can see the bricks beginning to crack and I do not know how long it has been "hanging" there but I am worried about the house coming down with it if I do it the wrong way. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
lefty
05-13-08, 07:08 PM
MACK586,
Welcome to the Forums.
Your first situation -- the way the porch roof was tied into the house roof -- that's fine, assuming that the ridgeline of each of the two roofs (the house and the porch) are perpendicular to each other. That's the way it's done. OK -- they SHOULD have removed the shingles under where the porch roof ties in, not it's no major problem that they didn't as long as they roofed the valleys properly.
Now, the 5' X 6' addition is another story.
(Of course the following is being said 'sight unseen', so take it with a grain of salt!)
A Sawzall's good but a chain saw is quicker, albeit not as accurate!! (Stick with the Sawzall.)
If it doesn't have a foundation, it's being supported by the original part of the house. Start with the outside wall and work your way to the original house.
Welcome to the Forums.
Your first situation -- the way the porch roof was tied into the house roof -- that's fine, assuming that the ridgeline of each of the two roofs (the house and the porch) are perpendicular to each other. That's the way it's done. OK -- they SHOULD have removed the shingles under where the porch roof ties in, not it's no major problem that they didn't as long as they roofed the valleys properly.
Now, the 5' X 6' addition is another story.
(Of course the following is being said 'sight unseen', so take it with a grain of salt!)
A Sawzall's good but a chain saw is quicker, albeit not as accurate!! (Stick with the Sawzall.)
If it doesn't have a foundation, it's being supported by the original part of the house. Start with the outside wall and work your way to the original house.
MACK586
05-14-08, 07:19 AM
Thank you very much.