Replies

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Jan 23, 2002 05:34am | #1

   *
   josh....

   << Or is this tear-down & rebuild the answer?>>

   yes you can, esp.if you use some of the old cast ends just made for that purpose.. wether you would be successful or not is the question..

   i'd address the foundation problem 1st... then the wall.. the rods and screws might keep things in place until you can develop the skills to redo the brickwork yourself.. but you are not looking at an easy thing.. as you already know from the $40K price.

   the tear down (wall , right ?) and rebuild may be the right thing but do some more investigating.. or post some pictures here...

1. 
   Josh_Spring | Jan 23, 2002 05:41pm | #2

   *Thank you Mike, yes the tear-down was just the wall.I did not mention that this wall has been "bowed" like this forat least 10 years.I will be up there this weekend and will grab some shots & post.Thanks - Josh Spring

1. 
   IanDGilham_ | Jan 23, 2002 07:42pm | #3

   *Josh,The original foundation subsidence may have been the result of an unusual wet/freezing or whatever spell which hasn't happened again since then. The fact it has not moved for 10 years doesn't mean it couldn't fall down tomorrow if those same conditions recur.Brick walls become unstable once they move just a small amount out of upright. The steel rods, or 'Tie irons' as they're called here, are normally placed right through the building from front to back, with a wall plate on each end, with no guarantee of a fix for the problem.Mike's right, the tear-down and re-build needs to go hand in hand with a new foundation.I advise that you call in some professional advice on this one -- we really can't do so unseen.

1. 
   eddie | Jan 24, 2002 02:21am | #4

   *josh,this was tackled quiet a lot in ireland, many years ago, when the economy was not so good.the 'tie-irons', were common practice, sometimes even in new build. they were crossed wrought iron like an 'x', from front to back like ian said.the thing to amke sure of is that the 'x' is on the inside and the outside of both walls, so as to clamp the walls, then connect them with a bar, that has a couple of inches of threads on both ends, then if you feel lucky enough, turn the bar, you get the picture. personally, i wouldn't turn the bar too much, just snug it. now,nothing in this world is guaranteed, but this won't go anywhere in my opinion, and the 'tie-irons' look the part too, at least over here.good luck

1. 
   Matthew_Steadman | Jan 24, 2002 07:00am | #5

   *You might try the demo work your self to cut cost. It's messy, time consuming and you have to make sure every thing is well shored before starting. I would ask the mason how much it would save first.