The saga continues...

[daemonluna]

So here's where we're at.

• The basement continues, and I don't have access to the washer and dryer quite yet, but I might by this weekend.
• The giant trench in the ground on one side of the house has been filled! 
• The trench on the other side is half filled, since they're still working around it, and using the window to get in and out of the basement.
• There is a new giant hole in the ground at the back of the house, under the porch and bathroom.
• We will be getting an additional basement room underneath of about 6' x 15', since the contractor has to have at least four feet of clearance for the plumbing, he's just dropping it all the way down to a full-height ceiling, since that's easier for him too. Bonus?

When the contractor reached into the hole in the porch to demonstrate that there was nothing but leaves insulating it, he found a mummified long-dead creature with his hand. (It may have been a raccoon.) He shrieked like a five-year-old, and delegated its removal to one of his crew, who also shrieked his way through the process. I don't blame them, I don't like dead things either.

Our contractor has been imparting his findings about the extension to us in tones of breathless drama. I mostly understand his explanations, but might have mixed up some technical details. The gist is, it was... not well done.

• It was framed in on the bare ground with untreated wood, using 2x4s instead of 2x8s, and in one case, a piece of shelving wood.
• Joists don't touch the floorboards in places, and are unconnected to anything at the end in others.
• There is no insulation and it was only dead leaves and loose dirt that kept the pipes from freezing. 
• The floor joists aren't actually supporting the extension; it's essentially hanging from the roof beams.
• The bathtub is not properly supported, is only sitting across several 2x4 beams, and it's an awfully good thing that we only used it for showers.

Right now, we can still go into the bathroom, but can't use the tub and shower on the main floor. There will probably be concrete poured tomorrow, and I have some hopes for laundry this weekend. Will they find more moments of WTF? Remains to be seen! Odds point to yes.

Comments

[dine]

wow - it's cool to get an update on the basement saga. so much excitement! mummified animals, criminally poor construction, and a new basement room! 9hopefully) the prospect of getting to use the W/D and bathroom soon