These Old Houses Built Like Crap

nywoodwizard

I'm still doing a basement remodel in a 1950's cape , I'm laying plates but one area floor was lumpy so i chip up the cement a bit to smooth it out with new mortar , now i know why these houses are so out of level. footing must of been a little shy so they stuck a small piece of wood under the lally column and cemented over it. I guess i know why the upstairs floors are so out of level.
They don't build them like they use to,Thank god! I found a 2x8 flush header in the stair well opening about an 1" out of level, on a 8' run. Sill plates around the foundation in one area is so tipped up on the inside it looks like it wants to slide of the foundation, a good 1/2" ,i guess it started with the foundation its so out of level, they must of use a skid of slate to shim it up, probably half fell out thats why the plates are so tipped up, I'll deal with the foundation being 1 1/2- 2" out of square, but the plates worry me ,I'm thinking of bolting on some straps and securing to the inside of the foundation wall. Lifting and re shimming is not an option, 1 and 2 story has been completely redone. What a piece of shiz this house is.

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