How Do I Properly Remove Damaged Floor Joists?
I have a twelve foot span. The floor joist are damaged. How far do I have to sister the joist to make them structurally sound?
Robert,
Jake Schloegel, CR, President and Founder
I can’t answer this without seeing your situation. There is no code written to deal with this type of problem. Each case is different. I can tell you this, when we have come across damaged joists, we typically have gotten a structural engineer to advise us on a solution. The city building official has required us to do this.
Solutions to damaged joists have included attaching a full joist alongside the damaged joist, from end to end. There are specific nailing patterns, such as 4 rows of 16# nails, evenly spaced, 16″ on center. We have attached BE” plywood on each side of the joist, 4′ on each side of the damage, with a similar nailing pattern. Both of these remedies were determined by a structural engineer.
Floor joists sizes and spacings are figured by floor loads and types of lumber. Damaged joists throw off the calculations and there is no simple way to correct this problem, short of replacing the joists.
Good luck.
Jake
Historical Hyde Park Renovation Fireplaces!
The Hyde Park duplex we are working on has beautiful and historically significant fireplaces. We researched these fireplaces when we remodeled the neighboring duplex last year and were excited to discover that they are actually finished with tiles created by Ernest Batchelder. Ernest Batchelder lived from 1875 – 1957 and is best known as a tile designer of distinctive cast-ceramic tiles influenced by the Gothic Revival and English Arts and Crafts Movement. Here is a link to an article about Mr. Batchelder and from there you can also view more of his fireplaces, http://www.tilenut.com/Batchelder/Batchsynopsis.html The pictures we are displaying were taken in the duplex we are currently remodeling. It is fascinating to view the detail and different personalities of the accent tiles on these fireplaces.
Hope you enjoy these pictures and the article about Ernest Batchelder. Maybe you have a Batchelder fireplace?
Historical Hyde Park Renovation Safe Lead Paint Removal
We began working on the historical Hyde Park renovation a few weeks ago. Since the building was erected in 1921, we followed safe lead practices as required by the EPA which included the isolation of the entire building, removal and proper disposal of all debris. Upon the completion of demolition, the building was verified as lead-free and ready to be toured. The attached pictures show the first floor kitchen and hall bathroom. This bathroom is the same one that was pictured in our blog posting of February 7. You can see up into the second floor hall bathroom from the first floor! This is a great project and watching it come together will be lots of fun. Keep tuned!
Popcorn Anyone? This Media Room is So Inviting!
Entertaining Media Room!
We recently completed a lower level remodel in conjunction with Design Connection, Inc. This media room looks so inviting! What a great place to view a favorite movie or sporting event! (I’ll take extra butter!)
Debby Allmon Recommends Safe Way to Remove Mirrors
Debby Allmon was featured in this past Sunday’s Kansas City Star answering a reader’s question about the safest way to remove floor-to-ceiling wall mirrors.
Question: I have floor-to-ceiling wall-to-wall mirrors in my living room and bedroom. I want them gone (they’re not my taste). I have no problem destroying them to get them down. What is the safe way to do that?
Answer: Sounds like you have a potentially dangerous job on your hands, so take precautions if you decide to remove the mirror yourself. Wear gloves and protective glasses. Lay a tarp over the area in front of the mirror. You should also use wide tape and crisscross it all over the mirror so that if the mirror breaks, the tape will help keep it intact. Because the mirrors go from floor to ceiling, I am assuming they are glued to the wall, so here are ways to attempt removal:
•Cut the mirror out from the drywall.
•Slip a piano wire or guitar string behind the mirror and saw back and forth to release the adhesive.
•Pull the glass using a suction-cup removal device (mirror cups, found at glass companies).
•My old standby: Call a glass company and have them remove it.
If you have a question or problem with something in or around your home, ask a Handyman. Our panelists have expertise in building, remodeling, painting, carpentry, plumbing and more. Send questions to home@ kcstar.com or Handyman, House + Home, FYI, The Kansas City Star, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108.
Debby Allmon is a certified remodeler and vice president of Schloegel Design Remodel in Kansas City.
Historical Hyde Park Project Before
We are really excited to be starting a project in historical Hyde Park. This wonderful duplex was built in 1921, and still posses many of the beautiful, unique qualities found in buildings built during that era. The generous moldings, doors and trim are original. Much of the trim was maintained in its original rich, warm brown tone, but some has been painted. All of the windows, trim and doors will remain in tact.
We will be cleaning and touching up any stained trim, repainting any painted trim. Signs of aging, such as cracks in the plaster, will be erased. We will be updating both kitchens and four bathrooms while maintaining the personality of the era.
The original built-in cabinetry located in the small breakfast rooms off the kitchen will remain in tact.
We hope you will enjoy following along with us as we take this work of art and restore it back to its original grandeur.
We will be keeping you up-to-date on our progress with this wonderful project.
Dramatic Bathroom Makeover!
Bathroom Makeover Before
Bathroom Makeover After, Beautiful!
Wow what a dramatic bathroom makeover from Schloegel’s One Week Bath! The old pink tile and pedestal sink came out in this bedroom bath and was replaced with classic white subway tile and a furniture style cabinet with Carrera marble top. We chose a pomegranate color for the walls that truly makes a dramatic statement. How elegant and easy — just one week!
Schloegel Celebrates 2011 REMY Awards
Our team at the REMY awards.
The Kansas City chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) held its annual awards program, REMYs, on January 27th. Schloegel Design Remodel is proud to announce that it won awards in the following categories: Honorable Mention in Bath Remodel $30,000 – $60,000; Winner and All Star in Kitchen Remodel $80,000 – $120,000; Winner, All Star, and Best of Show in Room Additions $100,000 – $250,000. Schloegel Design Remodel is the only Kansas City remodeling company to have won an award each year since the start of the NARI Awards program in 1990.
We know it takes great customers and a great team to achieve this kind of success. This photo includes part of the SDR team responsible for the awards, left to right, Jake Schloegel, Wade Wallace (lead carpenter), Doug Drury (lead carpenter), Donna Kirsopp (Design Consultant), Chris Peterson (Production Manager), Connie Young (Office Manager) and Gayle Jagoda (Design Consultant).
The REMY awards honor those remodeling companies for their craftsmanship, professionalism and their commitment to excellence in remodeling. Entries for the program are judged on a 100 point system that included project overview, before and after photos, budget considerations, overall aesthetic appeal and communication with the homeowner. All Star Awards were presented to those entries that achieved 94 or more points.
Debbie Allmon on Restoring Mexican Tile
Our own certified remodeler and vice president here at Schloegel Design Remodel, Debbie Allmon, was recently featured in the Kansas City Star, answering a reader’s questions about Mexican tile. The reader’s asked:
When my house was built, Mexican tile was put in the front hall, in concrete, over a subfloor. It was then painted with what I think is a white acrylic paint. I would like to make a change. Could the paint be stripped to return to its former Mexican tile color? Could I paint over the white paint with a concrete paint? Could this tile be removed and replaced with a ceramic tile floor? I don’t know if I could do any of this work myself but would appreciate knowing whom to contact for further assistance and information.
Debbie gave this reader some great advice about the tough design predicament.
You could attempt to strip the paint from the tile and grout, though I am doubtful you could get the floor back to its original Mexican tile color. Not knowing if a sealer was used before the floor was painted causes concern about the success of stripping the paint. Another factor is that the grout may have absorbed the paint, and you would not be able to strip the grout. You could test a chemical stripping product in an inconspicuous spot on the floor (if there is one) to see if it works. I would not recommend directly painting over the white paint because the new paint may not adhere to the old. And if the existing paint is failing, you can expect the problem to transfer to the new paint. Your floor could be removed and replaced with a ceramic tile floor, which I think is your best option for look and longevity.
Debbie also recommended checking www.remodelingkc.com to see contractors listed by area and specialty. And of course, Schloegel Design Remodel can always help with home design and renovation projects in the Kansas City area! To read the rest of the article, visit the article on the Kansas City Star.
photo by Sharon Mollerus (CC)
Can I Use a Vent-Free Fireplace in a Bedroom?
Jake,
I have an antebellum home and am renovating a bedroom that once had a fireplace which was torn out long ago. I’d like to install a vent-free gas log set in this room, but I do not want to put it in a cheap pre-fab vent-free firebox, but hope I can build a real- looking firebox from real firebrick inside a chase that looks like a real interior chimney.
I thought I could frame it out, line with durock and colid concrete block, then face with firebrick. Not sure what to do with the top (inside the chase) or if the whole thing is a bad idea. Just seems like a 300 pre-fab box is a bad idea when I can buy a pallet of historic for the same price. thanks for any advice!
James
————
James,
Be careful, you are treading in dangerous waters when it comes to old fireplaces that have been torn out and covered up. Sprinkle in the antebellum age and now you are nearing the class 5 rapids.
There are various opinions on the uses of vent-free fireplaces. Check your local codes to make sure they are allowed in your area. I am not aware of any vent-free fireplaces that are allowed to be used in sleeping rooms. Vent-free fireplaces are factory sealed units and any kind of modifications to them are not permissible. They should carry a UL label or equivalent.
For your old fireplace and chimney, I would suggest that before you do anything you should have it checked out by a qualified chimney company. You can find information on chimney specialist in your area at the Certified Chimney Sweep web site or the National Fireplace Institute web site.
Be careful.
Jake
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