First Floor Ceiling Joist Reinforcement-Benton Project

On the Benton Project we found that the Structural Lumber was in good shape for the most part on this stage of the building project.  During the Design Build Demo we removed a staircase that did not meet current building codes and because the area was not framed to current build techniques for proper structural support

Notes:

1.  removed the stair case- and carefully supported the area during with adjustable 'House Jacks'

2. We added additional Support Joists and  Joist Hangers for the ceiling and floor

3.  Added 3/4 in plywood on the floor

4. Built a Laundry Room in place of 1/2 of the Removed Stair Way. Note 2-  The Front Wall of the Laundry Room now supports the Area where the Ceiling Joists needed extra support see photo below. 

5. Because all the 2nd Floor Plumbing, 2nd Floor Laundry Room, was located directly above this Area we ran all the pipes, exhaust vents, etc in the Lowered Ceiling of the 1st Floor Laundry Room and Bathroom Stack Wall.

removed the stair case- and carefully supported the area during with adjustable 'House Jacks'

We added additional Support Joists and  Joist Hangers for the ceiling and floor

Support Joists and  Joist Hangers

• Built a Laundry Room in place of 1/2 of the Removed Stair Way. Note 2-  The Front Wall of the Laundry Room now supports the Area where the Ceiling Joists needed extra support see photo below. 

• Because all the 2nd Floor Plumbing, 2nd Floor Laundry Room, was located directly above this Area we ran all the pipes, exhaust vents, etc in the Lowered Ceiling of the 1st Floor Laundry Room and Bathroom Stack Wall.

See More of the  

Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Part 10: Interior Framing-Plumbing-Laundry Room

Part 11: Kitchen Framing Tip #36-Benton Rehab Project

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotty for any Home Improvement Projects or Energy Reducing Needs and Scotty, Scotts Contracting will respond ASAP. Company Web Address: http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com

See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

~Improving the Curb Appeal~

~Paint Pro Tip # 36~

Benton Rehab Project-

See the Difference a few Gallons of Exterior Grade White Paint can do!

-Before Painting Benton Project-
Scotts Contracting, St Louis MO Nov 2012

Front View before painting Benton Project
Scotty-Scotts Contracting

After Photo: What a difference a few Gallons of Good Quality Exterior Grade White Paint will do to increase the Curb Appeal- Benton Project- Scotts Contracting-St Louis Renewable Energy

See More of the  

Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Part 10: Interior Framing-Plumbing-Laundry Room

Part 11: Kitchen Framing Tip #36-Benton Rehab Project

Part 12: Water Main Repair- Benton Rehab

Part 13: Benton Rehab Project Drywall Installation and Tip: Number 1172

Part 14: Custom Flooring Patch Hardwood Floor Repair-Benton Rehab

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotty for any Home Improvement Projects or Energy Reducing Needs. Company Web Address: http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com

1st Floor Weatherization-Benton Project

3 Main Energy Efficiency Measures Taken on the Benton Project

1. R22 Insulation installed in 2x6 Wall Framing Members

1. Vapor and Air Filtration Barrier

1. Additional HVAC Cold Air Return Duct

R22 Batt Type Insulation-Friction Fit-
Johns Mansfield No Itch Insulation

Water and Air Barrier

The Above Photo is the Water and Vapor Barrier used to seal the wall frame.  This material is recycled Billboard Sign Material.  The true R-Value of the Material is not known.  We do know that the material is Ten Times stronger and thicker than normal vapor barriers on the Market today. 

I added an additional HVAC 'Return' Air Duct to help
the Efficiency of the Electric Furnace

before Modern Day Insulation they used Hair, Newspaper,
and other Miscellaneous Materials

See More of the  

Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

 

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

 

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotty for any Home Improvement Projects or Energy Reducing Needs and Scotty, Scotts Contracting will respond ASAP. Company Web Address: http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Repairing Water Damge-Exterior Wall-Benton Project

Our Safety was the first thing in order on this stage of the project.

We ensured this by utilizing the Temporary Support Posts seen in the photo below.   Because the water damage to the: 2x6 Wall Framing, Sheeting; was so severe we used 5 Temporary Support Posts in a 6ft Square Area.  One post held up the Buildings Roof and Overhang; while the remaining were used to hold up the 2nd Floor Floor Joists.

1. Add Support Posts 5 Total
2. Carefully Remove Water Damaged Lumber
3. Dig 2 Piers
4. Set Sono Tube and Rebar
5. Fill with Concrete
6. Allow to Cure
7. Fix the 1st Floor Floor Joists and Attach to the New Band Board with Joist Hangers
8. Build the 2x6 Exterior Wall
9. Repair the water damaged floor boards
10. Add Exterior Sheeting 
11. See Upcoming Blog Post on 2nd Floor Framing and Adding Support Beam

In the Photo Below-

What were they thinking? See the Blog Posting by Clicking here.

Exposing the Water Damaged Wood Prior to Repair

Good View of the Support Posts used to Stabilize the 2nd Floor and Roof

Directly above the Ladder in the Photo below- notice that there isn't a Support Beam under the 3rd Floor Floor Joists.[Cantilevered Floor Joists]   Granted the Building had stood for 100+years.  But we decided to add a Decorative Beam across the Entire Rear of the Building.  See Future Blog Posting: Framing the Second Floor.

1st Floor Wall Framed and Sheeted onto the Second Floor. 

See More of the  

Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Part 10: Interior Framing-Plumbing-Laundry Room

Part 11: Kitchen Framing Tip #36-Benton Rehab Project

Part 12: Water Main Repair- Benton Rehab

Part 13: Benton Rehab Project Drywall Installation and Tip: Number 1172

Part 14: Custom Flooring Patch Hardwood Floor Repair-Benton Rehab

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotty for any Home Improvement Projects or Energy Reducing Needs and Scotty, Scotts Contracting will respond ASAP. Company Web Address: http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Paint Pro Tip #35

by Scotty-Scotts Contracting, St Louis Renewable Energy

*As seen in the following photo: Use an Old T-Shirt to cover the Tank on a toilette bowl before painting for easy clean up. See the Benton Rehab Green Blog Series at:http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/2012/10/series-green-blog-posts-covering.html 

Paint Pro Tip #35 by Scotty, Scotts Contracting-St Louis Renewable Energy

* * * I recommend to remove the Tank Lid before placing the T-Shirt around the Tank before painting.  This will alleviate the possibility of breaking an expensive Tank Lid when removing the T-Shirt after painting.

Send your construction tips to scotts contracting and I will gladly post them on this Green Blog.  Build a Green St Louis, Scotty



This Tip was used in the Benton Rehab Project- Total Rehab of a 4 Family Building see the Blog Series via Google + or at http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com

See More of the  

Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Part 10: Interior Framing-Plumbing-Laundry Room

Part 11: Kitchen Framing Tip #36-Benton Rehab Project

Part 12: Water Main Repair- Benton Rehab

Part 13: Benton Rehab Project Drywall Installation and Tip: Number 1172

Part 14: Custom Flooring Patch Hardwood Floor Repair-Benton Rehab

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotty for any Home Improvement Projects or Energy Reducing Needs and Scotty, Scotts Contracting will respond ASAP. Company Web Address: http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com

What were they thinking?

Fixing A Prior Home Repair Gone Wrong- Instead of fixing the wall correctly they choose to cobble it together.

 I want to point out the 2nd Floor Area.  Note: There are 2 Floors.  Why would the prior no-good carpenter build the double floor this way?  The Answer goes back to the prior photos and a hint in the History of the Building.

• See Photo Above
• Hint: I mentioned a water collection system called a Cistern in the History of the Building.  
• My Definition: Small Water Collection Tank, that is generally attached to a home kitchen area via a "Old Time Hand Pump" which brought the water into the home.
• Though the original plumbing was long gone.  We did find a 200 Gallon Cast Iron Cistern located just off the Corner of the Building.  Directly under the Corner of the Building in the spot where the Pier Footing should be.

We determined that:

1. The Original build of the Structure had started to sink in this area.

2. the prior carpenter had built (flim-flamed) a 2nd Floor above the Sinking Floor.

3. Eventually the corner still continued to sink and when it sank enough for Water to work its way into the building. The Damage escalated.  Once that happens-as you can tell;it is a major renovation project, to fix the water damage.

See More of the  

Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

 

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

 

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotty for any Home Improvement Projects or Energy Reducing Needs and Scotty, Scotts Contracting will respond ASAP. Company Web Address: http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Sponsored by:
 

Tuckpointing the Attic Walls-Brick Home Rehab Project

As you can see in the following photo you can see daylight through the Brick Wall.  This generally is your first clue that if you do not fix the problem soon-there will soon be structural damage to the Masonry Building. In this article for the Benton Rehab Series I am going to share:

Attic Tuck-pointing Pictures and Information about what to do when the Bricks have completely deteriorated.

Attic Tuck-pointing Pictures and Information about what to do when the Bricks have completely deteriorated.

As with most of the Older Brick Homes in the St Louis Region.  The Brick Walls in this home are three courses thick.  In this particular area 1 to 1 1/2 of the brick courses had completely deteriorated.  Without relaying the entire brick wall the only way to fix this problem is to fill the missing brick up with mortar and trowel smooth.

In the following photo you can see how I completely sealed the damaged bricks in this area.

Brick wall is ready for another 100 yrs of Service!!!

 When filling large areas in; such as in this photo.  Apply the Tuckpoint Mortar in 1 to 2 in lifts.  Pre moisten area with Hudson Sprayer to allow adequate time for the Mortar to cure and reach its design strength.

See More of the  

Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Part 10: Interior Framing-Plumbing-Laundry Room

Part 11: Kitchen Framing Tip #36-Benton Rehab Project

Part 12: Water Main Repair- Benton Rehab

Part 13: Benton Rehab Project Drywall Installation and Tip: Number 1172

Part 14: Custom Flooring Patch Hardwood Floor Repair-Benton Rehab

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotty for any Home Improvement Projects or Energy Reducing Needs and Scotty, Scotts Contracting will respond ASAP. Company Web Address: http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Sponsored By:

Benton Project CAD Drawings

On Mon, Nov 5, 2012, Scotty-Scotts Contracting, St Louis Renewable Energy scottscontracting@gmail.com wrote:

CADD Courtesy-Scotty,Scotts Contracting-St Louis Renewable Energy

Eighty Percent of the Time Construction Projects seem to run more efficiently, finish on-time, and stay within budgets when a set of Design Plans are available for the project.

Old Western - Old South St Louis Architecture Decor and Feel for a Modern Day Apartment- Benton Gut Rehab

Typical Wall Framing Detail-Benton Project, courtesy of Scotty, Scotts Contracting

Floor Plan #1256 Benton Project, courtesy of Scotty, Scotts Contracting

See More of the  

Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

 

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

 

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Scotts Contracting is available for all your General Contracting Projects in St Louis, MO.   Use the following web links to contact Scotty for CAD Drawings, Project Assistance, Remodels and Repairs for your Home or Business in St Louis, Missouri.

Twitter                                                         Facebook

Web Site: http://stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scottscontracting@gmail.com
Job Site Photo Album 
Green Blog

sponsored by:

Tuckpointing Interior- Rehab of 4 Family Part 3

 How we  brought the Old Western - Old South St Louis Architecture- Decor and Feel into a Modern Day Apartment- Benton Gut Rehab

We performed extensive tuck-pointing on the Building for: 

• Aesthetic Purposes -for the Interior-see Soulard* Red Colored Mortar in this picture below ) and 

  Structural Purposes  (see upcoming Green Blog Post) both of which have Energy Saving Benefits!

  

  Soulard Red Decorative Tuck-pointing

  
  

Materials/Tools Used for the Project:

• Type N- Masonry and Tuckpoint Mortar Mix
• Red Coloring (Soulard Red)- Dry Mix
• 4 in Diamond Plated Grinder Wheels
• Various Tuck-pointing tools- Concave Pointers
• Hudson Sprayer
• Step Ladders and Walk Boards
• Safety Glasses / Dust Masks
• Wheel Barrow and Garden Hoe

Before During and After Pictures of this stage of the project

 

  

After we Ground out the Mortar Joints we then Tuck-pointed the Soulard Red Decorative Mortar Mix into the Mortar Joints.  Type N Masonry Mix "Pro Mix"

• Before We Removed the Damaged Exterior Wall.
• We First Tuck-pointed the Brick Walls of the Building.
• We could then Safely Remove the Damaged Lumber and Walls- after shoring up the existing Ceiling Joists (upcoming post in the Series)
•  Rebuild the 2x6 Walls (upcoming post in the Series)

   

  
  

  
  

Building the 2x6 Walls and Door Frame

1. Removed all the old plaster from 2 walls int the Apartment then
2. ground out all the mortar joints to a depth of one-half to three-quarters of an inch
3. We then blew all the loose mortar from the area -To clean out the joints and prepare the Mortar Bed for the New Mix
4. Dampened the area with a Hudson sprayer filled with water- before applying the Masonry Mix -On older buildings this is a critical step as it will help the Masonry Mix adhere to the Bricks while the New Mortar cures.
5. We then filled the cracks with Type N Masonry and Tuckpoint Mix
6. Brush the area for a consistent look
7. Clean Up the area and enjoy the Decorative Look of the new Red Accent Walls

 

   

Scotts Contracting Decorative Interior Accent Wall Tuckpointing with Soulard Red Type N Masonry Mix

 

Scotts Contracting Decorative Interior Accent Wall Tuckpointing with Soulard Red Type N Masonry Mix

 The 'Soulard Red' Decorative Tuck-pointed Accent Walls- when combined with: 

• Modern Drywall that has a 
• Smooth Textured Finish and a 
• 'Refinished Douglas Fir Wood Floor' which Mother Nature has provided a natural reddish tint will give this kitchen and bedroom area the:

Old Western - Old South St Louis Architecture Decor and Feel into a Modern Day Apartment- Benton Gut Rehab

See More of the  

Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Part 10: Interior Framing-Plumbing-Laundry Room

Part 11: Kitchen Framing Tip #36-Benton Rehab Project

Part 12: Water Main Repair- Benton Rehab

Part 13: Benton Rehab Project Drywall Installation and Tip: Number 1172

Part 14: Custom Flooring Patch Hardwood Floor Repair-Benton Rehab

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotty for any Home Improvement Projects or Energy Reducing Needs and Scotty, Scotts Contracting will respond ASAP. Company Web Address: http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com