Downstairs demolition 7: Crazy-quilt

We had hoped to salvage some of what we detached from the house. No such luck. That the materials were rotted, moldy, covered in rodent evidence or soil wasn’t the only problem…

Rather than using wall studs for the framing, the previous owner saved natural resources and money by jerry-rigging a mélange of wood scraps. It seemed like an absurd amount of extra exertion, but we had evidence that these were people with a penchant for patchwork.

Is wasn’t a good sign to hear Harry the structural engineer exclaim: “I don’t know why these walls didn’t cave in!” Harry showed us where, instead of using 2”×4” or 2”×6” dimensional lumber, a previous owner used door jambs. They also failed to use joist hangers—an 80-cent piece of metal—to secure the ceiling, instead toe-nailing into the beams and cracking the edges of the wood.

Calling Casa de Roo a “Home-made home,” Harry adds that he sees this kind of thing all the time, particularly in little lakeside communities.

Most exasperating, perhaps, is that this hodgepodge wasn't tied together into a structural system. Beams didn't transfer weight from ceiling to floor, there were places where sections had been removed or otherwise ended randomly, and there was a creative use of shims. Each section of the faux framing has its own quirks and character; above are a few highlights from the crazy-quilt (click on image to enlarge).

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