I am not often stumped by things I find at an inspection. It was particularly distressing to be stumped on a house that was only 432 sq ft! I mean how difficult could it be? This cute little structure started out as a fishing cabin in 1921-----and now the structure leaves everyone fishing for answers----lots of answers----to lots of questions. Aside from needing an all new foundation (because there was none in some areas), new floor structure (due to Anobiid Beetle damage) and a new roof (due to water damage to the roof structures); the home would still qualify as “cute.” Can one actually sell “cute” all by itself? Most of these issues, while problematic, did not really amount to Rocket Science, so what had me stumped? If You Scroll On Down You Will See Why
Charles Buell
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Click on the Rose to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
Are you referring to the tree stomp used as a corner beam, if we dare call it that?
Hey, that is pretty cute! If that tree starts growing the cabin might qualify as a HI-rise loft.
Charles, It makes perfect sense. It was built in 1921.
I inspected a home that was a manufactured home from the 1950's, built by an aircraft manufacturer. Structural panels, all integrated -- can't tear out walls to remodel on this one.
BTW, I tried clicking on the emoticons -- nothing
Suesan---nice tree stump don't you think?
Lizette----that tree has been dead for 78 years:)
Andrew, what is the problem with the emoticons? they aren't "true" emoticons----just little pictures that are either linked to other places or have hidden messages is all.
Let's hope that termites don't decide to take a liking to the tree stump....
Hey Charles! I live in a house like this!!! Well maybe a little better but it has taken work! Since I'm on a slab I don't have a tree in my crawl space but I propbably have vines in the attic (well if you can call it an attic)! My fishing cottage was built in 1945 on the weekends with junk the first owner found I think. But it is an interesting little house and it keeps us from the elements - if you check my blog you will see I live on Timber Lake in Lynchburg, VA surrounded by houses like this that are always an adventure when you are doing work on them!
Thanks for the laugh!
Okay, okay, so you do houseboats and treehouses. Not all of us get the opportunity.
I guess if you buid it they will come and try to sell it. I think it is cute that some one wanted to have it inspected. Can't imagine why looks like a tear down to me
Jim, the house was already so bug infested that whatever was wrong with the stump wouldn't matter too much.
Kathy, I will check out your blog
Jack, I actually have seen bigger tree houses----not inspected them though:)
Charlie, that or one heck of a repair.
Charles, did you consider the root system as footings? LOL.
These old cedar stumps can last a really long time---frankly it is probably better support than the crappy block work you see running up to it on both sides:)
Charlie,
I have inspected several houses where a stump was a post or a log was a beam, resting on bare soil.
you are quite the little wordsmith, aren't you? ;:-)
Steve, yes---even this one had a cedar log along the other side of the crawl space.
Alan, not like Steve Word Smith, and Alan May be too.
That's either a tree stump that stumped you or a Nutsy playroom.
Barbara, not both?:)
Charlie - I bet the listig agent considered the tree stump an amenity!
Carol, maybe so----it looked the same on the outside except a giant fern was covering it so it didn't show very much.
Darn trees are always in the wrong place. If you can't beat them, just build around them...
your building consultant for life in Nashville, TN
Michael, I suspect originally this was sort of a tree house:)
Charles - Just looks like some good old fashioned problem solving. "What? We measured wrong and the corner of the building intersects with that tree? Well, I guess we'll just have to improvise."
Matt, I am quite sure that this was the original foundation for the home.
Photo 20 Log with bark
Photo 21 Stump in framing
Charlie, I did a tree house myself last fall. The pictures I don't show here include a live Douglas Fir (90 feet tall) actually supporting one corner of the house. My favorite part was the water system. The house was built near a year round creek with a good deal of drop. They had a pickup about 200 yards upstream and 70 psi of water pressure (no pumps, just gravity). They could have produced their own electricity if they wanted. Incidently, the sale went through. The buyer was fairly eccentric and just plain loved the place.
I have seen a stump or two inside a house. Around here we have BIG rocks. I have seen foundations built right onto and around huge boulders.
David, it is amazing what will kill a deal for some and what won't for others.
James----sure sounds like New England:)
You can't fool me. That's one of your old coveralls!
Jay---good eye!