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German House Rebuild

1M views 3K replies 160 participants last post by  BigJim 
#1 · (Edited)
I have began taking down the chimineys. One is very old and has come down pretty easy, no cement in the mortar. It was packed full of soot and crud that was at least 2ft deep inside. It collected water like a sponge and transfered it to the inside walls. The 2nd is much newer with cement in the mortar, much harder to get down. I think the big jack hammer from above is the way to finish it off. Here are a couple of pics of the easy, old chiminey. When I start over it will be just a shell. My friends think I'm crazy!
 

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#5 ·
They are normal red brick interior. It is Sandstone on the outer walls, thick. I might use Ytong on my raising of the upper walls, up 2 meters. I want a very good thermal brick on the upper story.
I am actually American, just been here since 1989. I am 1 of 3 "Shumakers" in the whole German phone book. My Ex-wife is one of them so it actually is 2. Not a common spelling over here. Check it out here if you have time to kill.
http://www.dastelefonbuch.de/
 
#4 ·
2nd Chiminey Down

We got the 2nd chiminey down today! I also started knocking the fill from in between the beams. I need to get the outside walls down to a flat level, under everything laid on top of them. They ran a beam on top of the original wall and set the rest of the roof and floor beams on it. Over the years crud has piled up and started rotting things. Look close and see the mess. I will keep you updated.
 

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#7 ·
As people have seen the roof off over the last week they all ask "Who is going to do the roof?" I answer with "ME" Their reaction is NO! you "MUST" hire a carpenter "Zimmerman". You simple American don't know about roofs! This is just the amunition I need to do it myself. I have done other roofs before but they don't know that. I'm being watched and judged every step. This is going to be fun! Today I met the man who made the staircase that is in the house right now, it is about 50 years old. It is very nice work but.... It will not work for me as I finish it out. For now I will leave it to finish the upstairs. Tuesday the backhoe shows up to dig the sewer trenches. Updates as things go along. SHU
 
#8 ·
Further Progress

I have made it further the last 2 days. Old beams are coming down. I have gotten the top of the wall knocked down to where the new wall will begin. The old beams were so rotten I'm suprised it didn't just fall down. Water, sewer and electric are next. I will keep updates as things go along.
 

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#11 ·
Stinks bad too. Must be not good for the body. Good thing it is all going away, everthing except the outside walls. I am considered the crazy American by the neighbohrs. There is no way I can do it myself! The house was a bonus, I only paid the price for the property. Discounted at that. The house was too much work for anybody else. Knock it down and start over. I will let you all be the judge as things go along. DIY at it's best!
 
#12 ·
2nd floor down

Today I managed to get the 2nd floor and cross beams down. I also got all the upright beams cut up. Really got to look out for nails in these old beams. Dulls your chainsaw right away!
 

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#13 · (Edited)
A little further

I have gotten all the junk from the chimineys out. It was 3 shovels per bucket and 3 buckets per wheelbarrow load, alone! I have been told again and again that I must have help to do my walls and roof. I "MUST" have a "Meister" to do it. They will be blown away when this American guy shows them. I don't have the $$ to pay someone to do work for me. The 2 upper beams in the picture are 12 meters long, 40ft. I need to get them down. My plan is to pull them down to the inside, then cut to 7 and 5 meter lengths. My hands are as good as anybody's. Too bad my back is not. I only weigh 115lbs. I will post pictures as more interesting things happen. Thanks for following. SHU
 
#14 · (Edited)
#17 ·
Beams are down

Today I got the big beams down. They didn't play nicely but brute force won, a come-a-long. My neighbor came over to see if I was still alive after he heard the big bang and didn't see me. All kinds of old dirt and rat poop ect... came raining down. Now I need to cut them to usable lengths and make firewood out of the rest.
 

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#21 ·
Scott -

Your neighbors are probably afraid you will build temporary housing like most people do in the U.S. That is probably why they want a "meister" on the job and don't think an American is capable. (Maybe the American mis-spelling of your name is the reason - LOL)

Those windows you have would probably blow the minds of most American builders and especially DIYers. I saw some near east of you in Prague. I imagine yours are basic and not the multiple operation/opening versions. - They can be amazing.

Do you have any idea of when the house was fist built? I imagine you are not the first remodeler.

Keep us filled in with the deveopments and challenges.

Dick (not Schuhmacher or Shoemaker, but in between).
 
#23 ·
Windows

The windows are the multiple opening type with drop down shutters. I can have night time any time! I will not be installing them until the roof is up. I don't want to drop anything and damage them. They are sitting in the barn along with the solar panels and chiminey. Destruction phase is almost over.
 
#25 ·
progress

The destruction phase is pretty much over. I have had a little help the last couple days. We have gotten all the bad beams out of the 2nd story floor. We have most of the good replacements in place but not set or leveled. Very nice to have help for this. I have gotten the top of the outside walls cemented level. We knocked down 2 interior walls today between the kitchen and living room. I have decided to have an opening between the 2 rooms, a pass through. The stairs are out. I will replace them with a new less steep type. The original angle was steep and dangerous. I am still waiting for my building permit to raise the walls. It sure would be nice to get a roof up. I have many days worth of clean up and cutting of old beams. I would rather build than clean up! Things are moving forward.
 

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#26 ·
Inside walls removed

I tried to get a couple of pics from above to show the walls removed. The huge pile of brick has been removed, thrown through the window and then thrown into the container. No other practical way but by hand. It was nice to have a friend help me with this. Next things will be pour footings for the chiminey and support posts, remove any high spots left from the old foundations, level everything out, dig the power and kitchen drain channels. I need a roof! It's raining!
 

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#27 ·
update

I have gotten a little further. This wall had the stairs against them as you can see, quite steep angle. It also was not straight with the adjoining wall. We tore it down and I will rebuild it inline with the rest of the wall. I also have poured the foundations for the chiminey and 2 posts that will support a massive beam accross the center of the livingroom. I'm still waiting for approval to start the upper walls. I have been having disagreements with the local building suppliers about radiant floor heat. I will have 2 inches of hard blue foam on the bottom and sides, rebar mesh with the PEX tubing tie wrapped to it. Then I will pour concrete directly on this. They don't do it like that around here. Here is the link where I got my information. www.radiantdesigninstitute.com/ I hope you find this interesting. Regards from the Oberfalz, SHU
 

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#28 ·
Further Progress

I've gotten further along. The footing for the bathroom wall is poured. It looks skimpy but it is sitting on a huge slab of sandstone that has been in the ground for over a hundred years at least. Needless to say I think it has settled. I have also gotten the footings for 2 of my upright beams poured. They are level and also level to each other. This gives me a great reference to work from the the rest of the floor. It might not make sense right now but as it goes along you will get the idea. More pictures to follow. SHU
 

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#29 ·
Some Progress

Today I got the top of the end wall leveled. I will put a 4x12 beam on top of it. All the rest of the upper floor beams will be referenced to it. I have gotten the chiminey set and leveled. I have also been cutting up the old beams, boring work. I would much rather be building but things need to get done. I hope you enjoy this. SHU
 

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#30 · (Edited)
Laughed At

Yesterday I was laughed at about the house. I mean real laughter, what a joke of a place. Should have just torn it down. She was an American, go figure. That has really got my defensive "I'll show you" dander up. To bad the person that laughed will be leaving in Dec. They won't see it when I'm done. I see that over 800 people have viewed my posts, WOW! Very few replies though. I hope it is interesting for you all. It is a different way of building that's for sure. I'll keep updating as things go along. Regards from Germany, SHU
 
#31 ·
Thanks for the update.

It looks like you are doing a very thorough restoration and your home will be good for a few more centuries - not like the American or some British temporary "flips" on TV that are sponsored by material retailers.

I appreciate your opinions on the casual American tourist that is leaving shortly. I have been in many similar homes older than yours in Germany and eastern Europe that were very desireable and confortable. At the time, I wished I had been able to stay.

On one photo, I saw a multi-cored cermic or clay block. Where will that fit into your home? I know they have been preferred and used in many homes in Europe as a competitor to lightweight block (Leca, ceranzite, etc.).

I saw your "cousin" Michael Schumacher on TV today from Vallencia, Spain at the Spanish Grand Prix. Apparently, Ferrari sent the jet in to pick him up instead of him flying his own to work from Monaco for the 1/2 million $ per month he gets as a racing consulatant.

I personnally appreciate the photos of what you are finding and how you are rebuilding for the future. - Have you ever been tempted to use the old "gas concrete" (AAC, Ytong, etc.) for any walls? It has been around for 50 years, but never really was sucessful despite the government underwriting and support.

Good going!!!

The other SCHU
 
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