dtontarski Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Inspected an 1880 built home yesterday. I've attached a few photos of the framing and support beams. Do you think this is how is was built in 1880, or do you think this has been modified? The space above the beam just doesn't seem like the best way to bear a load. The bottoms of the beams were wrapped in heavy cardboard. Maybe to thwart off head injury? I removed some. The wood was solid - no evidence of pest or weaked wood. There is some floor deflection on the above floors, but it doesn't seem bad for over 120 years. Was it a common practice to use steel posts in 1880? Download Attachment: Boylan 080.jpg 120.93 KB Download Attachment: Boylan 083.jpg 99.88 KB Download Attachment: Boylan 086.jpg 110.04 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Fabry Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Hi Don, The framing looks very 1880 or slightly later. It's a nice basement...what were the walls made of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtontarski Posted March 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 The walls appeared to be poured concrete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Fabry Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Hmm, the notched beam and joists look that old, but it would have been pretty trendy in this area to have had wire nails at that time. I'm changing my opinion to around 1900. I'd guess the posts have been replaced. Maybe when they placed the concrete for the floor years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Chad nailed it. The earliest use of wire nails for construction here was 1895 and not commonly used 'till after 1900. Cast iron columns, not steel, would be more common before 1910. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Posted March 17, 2007 Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 The house I grew up in (1890s) had floor framing like that, big-time notches. No problems at all. The steel columns probably replaced the original wood ones after the floors sagged when the columns started to dewoodify. Jesse PS "Dewoodify." Yeah, I know it's not a word. But it should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtontarski Posted March 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 What about dates for first use of poured concrete foundation walls and cast iron columns? Other than here and on the job, where can I learn more about old homes? "Dewoodify" - classic term for classic homes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtontarski Posted March 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 Sorry - I didn't do my homework. I just went through some earlier threads and answered the concrete question. Up till 2:00 AM working on report and rushing to leave for an inspection in a blizzard. I love this job! (Really!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtontarski Posted March 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 "Dewoodify" - actually - Sorry Jesse - we can't use this - I understand Pfizer is using it one on their sites! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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