19th century recycling

[Bill Kibbel]

The 2x12 floor joists below this 1871 hotel appear to be boards from the sides of coal cars.

[hausdok]

Kewl!

OT - OF!!!

M.

[Les]

In Lansing, Mi there are whole neighborhoods that have sheathing and sub-floors of wood crate material. Some of the material is 12" and lots of it is 18" clear and #2 pine. Also lots of 2x3" hardwood studs and lots of 2x6" hardwood joists. Same houses were then insulated with blocks of asbestos in the attic. The cosmoline paper from the crate was used for building paper and under hardwood floors. The dining rooms were floored with mixture of red oak, white oak and maple scraps of infinite lengths. Some of the scraps were quarter sawn, some plain sawed and some radial sawed. Nifty houses that are now 75+ years old and still performing as intended.

[Rob Amaral]

Nice post. I did a rectory here in town (02081) that used a previous church tower's steeple rafters. They were all beveled to create the octagonal upper portion. Stones were re-used for the foundation as well. The congregation 'gathered' here (local parlance) in the early 1700's.. There's a huge former railyard SW of Boston (Readville) that has 'parts of it' in local houses...