We bought a 1924 house about a year ago, with cement block foundation. During the inspection (during spring rains) we could tell the basement has had flooding before. Next week we are having our basement draintiled and the interior of the block covered with a vapor seal wrapping.
In preparation for this we had to take down a large cabinet that had been nailed in and hanging from two basement ceiling joists. One side came down easily, the cabinet was just nailed to a small board which was then nailed into a joist, so we simply cut the cabinet from the other board and it came down.
The other side was much tougher, it was hanging in the basement corner next to our breaker box and the main power line going outside so I was very gunshy about putting a sawzall blade into a power line. I was also trying to avoid cutting apart the cabinet (wife was very attached to this thing).
Well, my stupid self had to cut apart the cabinet anyways, AND I put a slanted cut almost entirely through the joist that rests on the block.
Joist resting on the block in the corner of the basement, with the remnants of where the cabinet was nailed into it: Image
With markings drawn on (red is the cut, yellow is the outline of where the cabinet used to be nailed into the joist): Image
My big question is, should I be worried here? What do I need to do to correct this so the corner of my house doesn't collapse on me?!? I'm new to the DIY world so this is freaking me out a bit. Please help.
Ralph
In preparation for this we had to take down a large cabinet that had been nailed in and hanging from two basement ceiling joists. One side came down easily, the cabinet was just nailed to a small board which was then nailed into a joist, so we simply cut the cabinet from the other board and it came down.
The other side was much tougher, it was hanging in the basement corner next to our breaker box and the main power line going outside so I was very gunshy about putting a sawzall blade into a power line. I was also trying to avoid cutting apart the cabinet (wife was very attached to this thing).
Well, my stupid self had to cut apart the cabinet anyways, AND I put a slanted cut almost entirely through the joist that rests on the block.
Joist resting on the block in the corner of the basement, with the remnants of where the cabinet was nailed into it: Image
With markings drawn on (red is the cut, yellow is the outline of where the cabinet used to be nailed into the joist): Image
My big question is, should I be worried here? What do I need to do to correct this so the corner of my house doesn't collapse on me?!? I'm new to the DIY world so this is freaking me out a bit. Please help.
Ralph