*
My house was built in 1954. It was moved from original location to a new foundation in about 1976. I bought the house in 1996. Now, where do I start… a few interior doors won’t close. I trimmed the top of one and it closes but won’t latch. The door frame is skewed, as are most of my windows (a different problem entirely). I went under the house (small crawl space, red clay floor) and the brick column closest to the hot water heater discharge is leaning worse than the Tower of Pisa. I installed a screw jack in the mud near the column and tightened it enough so that the brick column now wiggles, but that one door frame hasn’t moved (I know because I marked some lines on masking tape on the frame and door). I ran a hose from the hot water discharge to a deep area near the corner of the house. This area collects water… it rained last night is is a pool of water. There is also a pool around the foundation. I know I’ll probably need to dig some French drains and install a sump pump, right? What do I do with the leaning (useless) column and how many more screw jacks should I get? Maybe it’s time I call a professional?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Practical steps you can take to hire and develop entry-level workers and ensure long-term growth for your business, from fostering a supportive learning environment to creating clear career pathways.
Featured Video
Highlights
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
*
My house was built in 1954. It was moved from original location to a new foundation in about 1976. I bought the house in 1996. Now, where do I start... a few interior doors won't close. I trimmed the top of one and it closes but won't latch. The door frame is skewed, as are most of my windows (a different problem entirely). I went under the house (small crawl space, red clay floor) and the brick column closest to the hot water heater discharge is leaning worse than the Tower of Pisa. I installed a screw jack in the mud near the column and tightened it enough so that the brick column now wiggles, but that one door frame hasn't moved (I know because I marked some lines on masking tape on the frame and door). I ran a hose from the hot water discharge to a deep area near the corner of the house. This area collects water... it rained last night is is a pool of water. There is also a pool around the foundation. I know I'll probably need to dig some French drains and install a sump pump, right? What do I do with the leaning (useless) column and how many more screw jacks should I get? Maybe it's time I call a professional?