JackTales

Thought I’d post something before the end of the month.

Ram Jack came out and lifted our house. Basically, one corner of our house had sunk about 3 inches. This might have been the result of ground settling over 30 years, or the earthquake back in 2000. In any case, our house was off-kilter and we needed to straighten it up. Ram Jack came out, and dug something like 9 holes around 2 sides of the house. Then they jack-hammered the…uh…”end tabs” extending from the foundation. Then they lowered these screw jack looking things into the holes and under the foundation, and lifted the house. They refilled the holes, and off they went.

The effect was really noticeable where the house was the lowest. On the bad side, by straightening the house, there were a lot of places where things had settled along with the house, and when the house was straightened, they did not straighten. To give you an example, doors that stuck, unstuck, and wouldn’t stay shut. Some hairline fractures showed up at different parts of the house. One doorframe lifted about a 1/2 inch off of the floor.

So now the house is straight. Next project is to finish the landscaping, and then reside one side of the house.

Work’s been lots of fun. Not. Today should go pretty smooth though. I like Saturday’s the best. My boss isn’t here. There are virtually no phone calls. Everyone leaves early, and comes back early if possible. It’s a long day, and I might take the mail to the plant for one of the other stations, and I like the drive. Today, what I’d like is to go home and sleep. I’m really tired. Must…have…nap…

Happy Leap Year Day!

I told you they were coming in to work on the yard. The first part of the landscaping, clearing, is done. Two hillsides and the left side of the house has been stripped pretty clean. Some plants and bushes that we want to keep were transplanted to temporary spots in one cleared area. New trees were planted to act as a windbreak/privacy screen. One tree still has to come out.The rest has to wait until they come jack up the house. That should be around the 11th. That’ll be interesting.