So we’d like to level the house.
The house is a 1930’s story and a half, not quite a two story with a full basement. Over the years the basement has sunk several inches at the front of the house. While I have not shot a laser or accurately used a level, there appears to be approximately a 7.5 inch difference over 25 feet between the walls. (2.5 degrees?) A marble rolled from back to front might break the sound barrier exiting the front door.
We (and when I say we< I mean she) bought the house complete with slope, however the PO did say that the foundation had been stabilized. Showing us some large angle iron bolted to the interior basement foundation wall. There has been no detectable movement while we’ve been here, the last 3 years..
The joists are 2×8 inset into the foundation walls, the mudsills have no visible bolts holding them.
The Plan…
As the basement is/will be gutted and the house has direct vent heating the chimney will come down first. I plan to put blocking in between the joists, then chisel out the concrete around the joists. Then I will hang a beam (3-2×10) about two feet away from the foundation wall and build cribbing (4×4 or 6×6) up to the beam at 3 points (approximately 31’ span) and a second set of cribbingx3 at the main beam using 6 hydraulic jacks to lift and 4 teleposts to avoid leakdowns.
If the basic plan is sound, my questions are; at what rate is it reasonable to raise the house? What have I failed to consider?
Replies
I frankly think a 7-inch lift is more than an amateur should attempt.
At the very least, always have a helper around who can call 911 when you get trapped under collapsing cribbing.