Not everyone starts building a house from scratch, someone gets a dilapidated building along with buying land. If you are from the category of these people, then do not rush to demolish the old house, maybe it is not so bad and will be suitable as a basis for a future building. Reconstructing an existing building is cheaper than building a new one.
Determination of the condition of the structure
To identify the possibility of reconstructing a wooden house with your own hands, analyze the existing dilapidated structure, or rather, invite a specialist who will assess the condition of the foundation and load-bearing beams. Visually inspect the building, if it failed or slanted, then there are definitely problems with the existing foundation.
If the structure is level, it is still necessary to inspect the foundation foundation. With uneven settlement, large cracks can appear on the walls. The presence of small cracks may indicate seasonal ups and downs when the foundation is located above the depth of freezing of the soil. Evaluate the drainage system, check if excessive moisture accumulates under the house. The best time of the year to assess the condition of the structure is spring, when a large amount of melt water is on the surface of the earth.
Capital reconstruction of the house
For the possibility of further repair and reconstruction of a wooden house, it is necessary to assess the condition of all elements of the building. Capital reconstruction is needed in the following cases:
- the room does not keep heat well;
- cracks and gaps between the wooden elements appeared;
- appeared deformation of the log house;
- rafters, crowns and other elements of the frame became worthless;
- there was a need to expand the useful area of the house.
Work on the reconstruction of house elements may include the replacement or strengthening of load-bearing structures, a superstructure or an extension to the house. In this case, the technical specifications and dimensions of the building can be changed. The price of reconstruction of an old wooden house will depend on the condition of the existing building, as well as on the global extension.
Foundation reconstruction
If you decide to attach the second floor to the existing house, then the reconstruction of the foundation must be carried out without fail. At the same time, it is not enough to take measures to strengthen it, it is necessary to carry out a major reconstruction in order to avoid further problems.
To carry out such work, it is better to attract qualified specialists who, with the help of special equipment, will carry out the reconstruction efficiently and quickly. Only a specialist will be able to choose the best way to organize a new foundation for the building and provide a safe way of reconstruction. The choice of the method of reconstruction of the foundation of a wooden house depends on the type of existing foundation and the degree of its destruction.
A wooden structure can be lifted on jacks and a complete replacement of the old foundation can be made, for brick structures this method will not work. The classic way to strengthen the old foundation is to organize the support along the entire perimeter.
- Pits dig, which partially expose the existing foundation, the depth should be 50-60 cm greater than the depth of the old foundation.
- Reinforcing cages are placed in pits.
- High-strength concrete is poured.
The work should be carried out as soon as possible, since with a long stay of the old foundation in a bare state, deformation and blockage of the house structure can occur. Track the status of the building position using the level. If you want to play it safe, you can organize an additional reinforcing belt around the perimeter of the entire building.
Additional insulation
If the structure is old, then you will probably have to take measures to insulate the structure. If there is a wooden house made of timber, then the first step is to treat the entire surface of the walls with an antiseptic, this will prevent the appearance of fungus and mold in places with minimal air movement. Be sure to cover the entire surface of the walls with a vapor barrier film.
We mount the crate on the surface of the walls, the width of the cell depends on the size of the insulation boards. For crates, you can use wooden boards or a metal profile. We install a heater.
Foam-based material cannot be used to warm wooden houses; its water and vapor impermeability properties can cause moisture to accumulate on wooden elements, which in turn will lead to the formation of fungus and mold. The most convenient heater to use is mineral wool or penoplex. From above we mount the second layer of vapor barrier film.
On the crate, you can install elements of the external decoration. The most popular of them are:
- vinyl siding;
- metal siding;
- block house;
- lining;
- front panels.
Roof reconstruction
Reconstruction of the roof can be carried out for various reasons, we list some of them:
- expansion of the subroof space;
- change in the number of storeys of the building;
- conversion of the attic into the attic;
- organization of the extension;
- roof windows;
- installation of a balcony;
- restoration of the emergency roof.
With a complete reconstruction of the roof, it is necessary to completely dismantle all the elements of the roof and install the new rafter system. The most common option for the reconstruction of the roof of the old house is the organization of the attic floor. This allows you to increase the useful area of the house with minimal cost.
Repositioning Windows
When building an extension to the house, it may be necessary to organize new window openings. In this case, you will have to cut an opening for the window in the wall of the house.
The installation of a new window opening in a wooden house is divided into several stages:
- Remove the panels from the inside of the house and remove the insulation.
- Outline the contours of the opening, saw them with a power tool.
- Install the window box in the opening, fix it with nails or screws.
- Insert the frame, adjust the sashes.
- From the inside, surround the frame with a skirting board to hide the joint between the wall and the frame, as well as create an obstacle to the mounting foam.
- Outside, fill all gaps with foam.
- After the foam has completely dried, smooth the foam surface with a clerical knife.
- Carry out the installation of platbands, process them with facade paint.
Facade Update
To improve the appearance of the old house, it is enough to cover the area with modern material, and the nondescript building will be transformed beyond recognition. If the house is wooden, then it is better to use a crate with suspended facade cladding materials, it can be all kinds of panels that are attached to the elements of the crate. This option not only looks nice, but also performs a protective function.
For buildings built of brick or various types of blocks, you can use facade plaster. The coating mixture must be cement-based, and the plastering process is carried out in compliance with all standards. A rough coat of plaster is applied to level the surface and fill cracks and depressions. The solution of the rough plaster may be coarse.
The final layer of plaster is applied only when the rough is completely dry and the surface is treated with a building primer. To plaster a brick wall, it is necessary to apply a reinforcing mesh. The mixture for the topcoat must be finely dispersed, only in this case you will get a smooth and even coating. For painting walls, it is necessary to choose paints with a high level of wear resistance and protection against temperature extremes and atmospheric influences.
The construction of the veranda
Veranda is a lightweight building designed for summer use. The project of reconstruction of a wooden house in the form of an easy extension will not cause problems in the construction. As a foundation, you can use any shallow-looking species, the foundation blocks will be most convenient. They are mounted on a pillow consisting of crushed stone and compacted sand.
To erect the frame of the veranda, use a beam of 15 x 15 cm and a board of 5 x 15 cm. The main load-bearing racks and the basement will be made of the beam. The board will be needed for laying the rafters of the sloping roof of the veranda
Before laying the strapping beam, the surface of the foundation blocks is covered with a waterproofing material, roofing material can be used for this purpose. A frame rack is installed around the perimeter, they must rest on the foundation blocks. Racks are covered with a beam of the upper harness. Check the correctness and evenness of the installation using the level. We install the beam "run", we attach the rafters to it. The frame is ready for cladding.
As the sheathing material, OSB sheets, lining, block house can be used. The price for the reconstruction of a wooden house with the construction of a veranda will cost 4000-5000 rubles per square meter on the floor. With self-construction, costs will be reduced several times.
If you want to insulate the veranda, then a heater will need to be placed in the space between the inner and outer cladding. If desired, you can divide the veranda into two parts, one of which will play the role of a terrace.
Second floor add-on
One of the projects for the reconstruction of old wooden houses is the transformation of a one-story building into a two- and three-story building. Before planning to increase the area due to the floor superstructure, a thorough load analysis is necessary. The existing foundation will need to be strengthened or a new one organized, if possible. If this is not taken care of, then the consequences can be disastrous. If the foundation has a sufficient level of strength, then we begin to dismantle the roof: remove the roof, roof frame and beams.
Decide on the method of building the second floor. There are two options for the second floor: attic, full. A full second floor will not have restrictions on the height of the ceiling, and the attic will save you finances.
The easiest way to do an extension on the technology of frame-panel construction. The construction of the extension can be carried out even by two people, while the construction speed is high, the room will be warm and light.
The surface of the floor of the second floor is covered with sheets of OSB with preliminary insulation, walls from a 5 x 15 cm board are mounted. Inside and outside the walls are sheathed with the same sheets of OSB, the space between them is filled with insulation. Installation of the roof is carried out according to the same principle. The final stage will be a facade finish.
Finally
In the process of reconstruction, a dilapidated building can find a new life and serve for many more years with proper care and timely repair. The main thing is to follow all the rules and recommendations of specialists during construction.