My friends renovated an 1830’s brownstone in Jersey City, and there has been a steady stream of “discoveries” that need to be addressed, such as light fixtures randomly filling with brown water.
My solution: Call a roofer before Ivan gets here!”
(I am terrified of heights, and I hate all things electric.)
But, the thing that I am finding fascinating is the floor in the basement apartment. It seems that the corner of the hard wood floor has started to buckle after only 16 months…
This leads me to ask questions, and here is what I know:
The floor is raised off the surface of the basement on joists
The joists may or may not be directly on the basement floor
The basement floor is compacted dirt, that has been there since the building was built, (It is beyond me why they did not pour a slab over the dirt when they had the oppurtunity)
The floor in the apartment has not been wet, but they have no knowledge of what is going on under the floor and in the dirt.
Any thoughts or suggestions on how to approach this one?
Replies
You already know the answer. You just want re-inforcements, right?
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I am just wondering if you all think that its just humidity, or if the joists are getting soaked and warping causing the subfloor to go boing!
I am also wondering if there is a solution that is more simple than ripping it up and pouring a slab...
I'll take a stab at this one.
If the basement appartment joists have been there for 175 years, they're probably done doing any moving around. Even with new joists, the joists probably wouldn't be the culprit. It depends on the hardwood floor you used but typically, many manufactured hardwood floorings are drier than a popcorn fart and when they get installed, they will attempt to reach some sort of moisture equilibrium with their environment. In many cases, they will absorb moisture and expand and if accomodations aren't provided for this expansion, they will buckle.
Oops, I mis typed, I think the joists are pretty new, as in just installed, but, now I am wondering if relief cuts where made along the walls (under molding) to allow it to expand would fix the issue.
get some heavy plastic sheeting down on that dirt will help a lot too.
I'd say it buckeld cuz of that moisture, relief cuts under/behind moulding? I seriously doubt that'll do anything helpful.
basically, your kinda screwed, if it did have a place to go, or shrink up, it still needs to be refastend...ugggh. Rent a piano and roll it around to flatten it out, whacking in screw shank nails near the wheels...as ya go.
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Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
the good news is its not my place, or my call on how it was done, but it does make me sad to see some of the "craftsmanship" on this job
For instance black drywall screws holding up the rain gutter brackets all the way up the back of the house. And a penninsula in the kitchen that moves lots when leaned on....
Sounds like another attack of a 'handy hack'...
Yes it was, but the contractor was "so inexpensive"
I keep telling them to pay more now instead of paying LOTS later.