Last time on the Model Remodel Show, Ben and the crew got a jump on spring with some late-fall excavation work. This time, they aim to take back some of the calendars that winter stole with a late March snowstorm.
One way to save time and labor costs became clear over the long winter: Forget about trying to save little pieces and parts and knock them down to the bare foundation.
This week, they begin with the roof, the newest sections first, then they pluck the walls and cut up the floor, using a small excavator for extra muscle.
"There's a couple of ways to take off roof systems, you can go inside and peel the ceiling out and sit underneath with 2x4s and sledgehammers and beat the sheathing off from underneath, but it's torture on the body.
We've found over the years that we can break the roof up into sections and pick them with the assistance of a machine. If you work smoothly and efficiently, you end up getting more accomplished in a day in a cleaner and safer manner that you would beating it apart by brute strength."
—Ben Bogie, Built to Last Design and Build
Next time, they'll frame and sheathe the floor system.
About the Author
Dan Morrison
Dan Morrison is a founding editor of ProTradeCraft.com, where he is also the editor-in-chief. Fun fact: Dan is also a founding editor of Green Building Advisor and executive editor of Fine Homebuilding.