Lifting of house continued.....

Last week the demoliton continued. The Electric was disconnected. and a temp pole was installed. The gas was cut off at the street. We almost had some serious problems with PSE&G. But the long and the short of it was that the guy from PSE&G (who was TICKED OFF- and ready to slap us with a fine for not calling before we started ANY demolition), in conversing with Chris, discovered that they went to the same High School and graduated a few yrs after him. So he then softened his tone a little and said that he wouldn't charge us what he was going to. phew. ;-) It pays to have gone to PVHS. ;-) PLUS, we had another problem with the machine operator. He pushed through some of our foundation wall (in a few places- aarrggghhhhh :-( Now we have to repair /fix or replace. Not an expense we were looking forward to.:-( Chris spoke to the operator and he said that ---- happens. And Chris said yeah well not like this. SO he is going to work with us and help us clean it up and fix it at his expense. So that was good.
Then on Thursday (June 17th) Wolfe's House Lifters came out to the house and RAISED it aprox. 25". It was a pretty interesting process to watch. They first worked on prying the wood(sill) by hand and a type of crowbar away from the cap of the foundation wall. Then they cut some holes in the walls and inserted 3-4 LONG steel beams all the way through the house to the other side for support. THey then proceeded to build cribbage's (I believe 6 in all) down in the basement. (You'll see what I am talking about in the pictures that I am posting. After they were finished building those, they inserted jacks in the middle of the cribbage and hooked up air hoses to the jacks and turned on a huge compressor and began lifting the house off the foundation COOL AS. :-)
Now hopefully this week the progress will continue with the Mason showing up and start to build the foundation walls. I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED :-)

This past weeks progress continues....

Demolition continues.....

We had a BIG week this past week. I think the pictures will tell it all. ;-)

Video of Brick being removed

Here is the latest...... Removed the exterior brick from the house today. Here are some pictures and video's. Not responsible for sound of the narration. :-)

NOT MUCH progress to report RIGHT NOW. Demolition has taken a LOOONNG time. Especially when it is just done on the weekends. :-( The Missionaries have been a HUGE help to Chris. (It's nice to be YOUNG ;-) As well as a few other people.(You know who you are. ;-)) I told Chris that he can play Bob the Builder for the demolition. But that's it. I want to be able to get back in our house before I die. And if he only has time to work on it on the weekends, I figure that we wouldn't be in the house till 2025 or later. So THAT'S NOT HAPPENING! He's had fun breaking things apart and tearing things down. But 2 months is LONG enough. NOW it's time to put the pedal to the metal and get this project moving ALONG at a quicker pace.
The next thing on the schedule is getting the brick removed from the house (next week)and then having the house lifted up 18 inches (June 16th). After that the Mason can come in and add the additional foundation and then put the house back on the foundation and tie it down. Then they are excavating around the foundation to waterproof the the whole foundation and then backfill around the foundation. After that, PLEASE ;-) Let the framing BEGIN.... I'll keep you posted on the outcome of the schedule thus far.... And I'll definately take pictures and video of the house being raised. That should be cool. (hopefully no unforeseen problems with that process). STAY TUNED :-)
PS. I know I sound like I'm complaining about Chris not getting things done faster (and I am :-) ) But he is working a FULL TIME job and has a calling in church and he is on the town zoning board, and he has his parents to watch over and he gives his time to others who are in need, etc. Need I say more? This project is a FULL TIME JOB in it self. And there just aren't enough hours in the day. He is a busy guy, and it's hard for him to LET GO and GIVE SOMEONE ELSE THE REIGNS. But it's time ;-)
I Love you honey and thanks for ALL you do. YOU CAN DO IT. LET GO! ;-) OXOXOXOXO