Raising a balloon frame two story house 1

[chicopee]

Referenced structure is over 100 years old and is to be raised 2' above its foundation. Foundation wall is of field stone for the first five feet and of motared brick for about another foot.

The plan is to raise the house with wide flange beams supported by screw jacks to be placed throughout the cellar as closely as possible to the footing. Since it will be impossible to actually place these screw jacks directly under the exterior walls, holes will be made along the length of the foundation to place additional jacks(hydraulic) directly under the sill plates. As the screw jacks are turned a few threads each, the hydraulic jacks will then be raised to offer additional supports to the exterior walls, in turn theses walls will be shimmed to offer continuous support as the existing foundation would offer. The process will be repeated numerous times to achieve a 2' raise.

The house plan is somewhat rectangular. The center one third of the plan area is wider by 4' on one side and 2' on the opposite side than then the end areas. There are two beams at the floor plan discontinuties for the support of the floor joists.

IS THIS PLAN REALISTIC OR TOO MUCH WORK IS BEING CREATED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE HYDRAULIC JACKS? HAS ANYONE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SITUATIONS AND SUCCESSFULLY RAISED SUCH HOUSE? INPUT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

 

[dicksewerrat]

Call a few house movers. They do this all the time. Hire one to do the work.

 

[chicopee]

dicksewerrat-unfortunately it is not my call. Would you by anychance have an idea about the dead load value per square foot for such a house? I estimate at 20 lbs/sq.ft.-what do you think?

 

[boo1]

House movers use a formula for plastered homes of 3-ton per room for every room in the house including closets (every door in the house) or the dead load material wieght (in the building code). Typically one can determine how much a house weighs by the pressure that their pump for their jacks is pushing during a lift.

A site for actual material weight is:

http://www.foretruss.com/WTMAT.pdf

 

[DRC1]

I agree wit dicksewerrat, If you can't hire a house mover to do the work, at least hire him to consult. I have never jacked a house, but have jackrd other structures. Typically, pockets are knocked out of the foundation wall and beams are slid throughto pick up the sillplates. these beams are on fairly close centers. These beams could then be picked up by a pair of fairly husky beams running the opposite direction. I would use only four hydraulic jacks at the 1/5 points of the two beams. Come up about an 1/8 inch at a time and be sure it is level before proceeding to the next increment. Get jacks with locking collars and you wont have to worry about them bleeding off.
You wont be able to get jacks with 2 foot of stroke so plan to be able to block the load, reset the jacks and start re jacking. Don't go more than 80% of the rated capacity of the jacks, and don't go more than 80% of the maximum stroke (bad for the seals).
Fianlly before jacking, I would place scafolding inside the house to move load off the exteroir wall
If you don't have a house mover do it, draw up a jacking plan and review it with everybody so everyone is rowing in the same direction.

Good Luck!

 

[chicopee]

Good news-owner abandon idea to raise the house.

 

[Wasdifferent]

DRC1,
Good advice, don't try this at home. The International Association of Stuctural Movers lists their current members on their web-site

http://www.iasm.org.

The guys who do this every day make it look easy. It isn't. Your first surprise will likely be your last (C sharp or you will B flat).

-Mike

http://www.sewellgeneralcontracting.com