CABIN 1.7: CRAWL SPACE EXCAVATION - PHASE 2

Once the framing was removed from the floors in North portion of the cabin, and the beam was reinforced with some additional bearing capacity we were ready to complete the excavation.  

The strategy was to complete the excavation in approximately five (5) hours with a four man crew.  I ended up being the fifth individual on the crew.  Three were digging and putting the excavated dirt in buckets.  I was taking the dirt and moving it to the wheelbarrow outside and one person was on wheelbarrow duty.  With five people we were able to move a lot of dirt.

The dirt was really hard requiring an electric jackhammer with both a spike and spade attachment.  The assault on the crawl excavation was also complemented by the traditional shovel and pick arsenal.

Excavated crawl space

The excavated area was sized to address two important criteria:

1.  Maintain the structural bearing slopes of the existing foundations; and,

2.  Provide access to the perimeter of the structure for the installation of new heating ducts, 

      perimeter insulation and utilities

The photo above shows the condition of all the existing framing prior to structural work that was done for the floor framing.

This view shows the excavated area which exposed the cast iron sanitary sewer lines, galvanized water supply lines. amd shows the floor beam that was buried in the ground that was damaged by carpenter ants. 

Next Post:  structural re-construction and re-inforcing.