Rant: The difference a year makes on this old house rehab I took on

I started a full gut rehab on a 1920s craftsman in Portland back in March. The before photos show knob and tube wiring, plaster dust everywhere, and a foundation that was basically holding on by a prayer. Fast forward to last week and I finally got the last of the trim up in the living room. It took me 14 months, three different subs bailing on me, and about $47,000 more than I budgeted. The biggest change was the floor system - we sistered 27 joists after finding termite damage in the back half. What kind of timeline shifts have you guys run into when you uncover hidden rot or structural issues?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sam16d ago

Step back and look at the whole house as a system, not just the parts that are failing. That termite damage in the back half might mean the rest of the structure has moisture issues you haven't found yet. Doing a full blower door test now could save you a ton of headaches down the road.

hollyg5916d ago

Portland has some seriously wet basements this year, and I bet that moisture is creeping up those joists faster than you think. You might want to check the crawlspace vapor barrier before anything else dries out.