Me too, it looks like a house worth saving. Probably closer to 50K+ though. Still a deal. Usually these are houses in the wrong place (urban development on what used to be farmland 100 years ago), sound structure, historic, and sold by the developer for "$1 AND you move it", which a) avoids demolition cost; b)avoids bad publicity; and c)gives somebody a chance to do a restoration. Big issue is move distance and terrain. What people forget is that utilities must be moved, roads may not have the weight capacity, etc. It's not just pick up the house and drive down the street. I saw one of these, years ago, move 3 blocks. Every single power line came down; roads got resurfaced. Move took 3 days, totally disrupted the neighborhood (which everyone was OK with- it was a historic house).
Just enough! This is basically big machinery moving. Houses are hollow boxes (which is a problem- bracing is required), unlike big generator rotors and the like. 50-100 ton moves. The trick is to go slow; handling the weight is really not the big problem.
My mom grew up in a house that was three houses combined, all moved from someplace else. I didn't know that until I was in my forties, despite going there every summer and Christmas vacation until my grandparents died. When Mom told me where the three houses joined together, it made sense, but the work was done so skillfully that you'd never know unless you took it apart. This was done in the early 1900s.
If that was in Iowa, Holland House Moving, he put a glass of water in it, they moved it over 20 miles and never spilled a drop. Sure looks like the house.
My lodge was chartered in 1865 and met in a one room schoolhouse that was built sometime around 1840. In 1898 the building was moved 17 miles, using oxen and mules. The roads were two track wagon trails. For the next 32 years it was a general store, masonic lodge, and community meeting house. In 1930 it was moved 8 miles to its present location, again using oxen and mules. The roads were better this time, being graded dirt roads. Once on location it was raised using railroad jacks to make it a 2 story building.
I moved Fox Cottage, a single story brick structure at UC Berkeley in the early 1990’s. We had to construct an internal rebar cage and then applied shotcrete. Don’t remember the exact cost but it was about $1m. Should have tore off the roof, filled it with dirt and turned it into a giant ash tray.
I'd pay the $20-30 K for that move!
ReplyDeleteMe too, it looks like a house worth saving. Probably closer to 50K+ though. Still a deal. Usually these are houses in the wrong place (urban development on what used to be farmland 100 years ago), sound structure, historic, and sold by the developer for "$1 AND you move it", which a) avoids demolition cost; b)avoids bad publicity; and c)gives somebody a chance to do a restoration. Big issue is move distance and terrain. What people forget is that utilities must be moved, roads may not have the weight capacity, etc. It's not just pick up the house and drive down the street. I saw one of these, years ago, move 3 blocks. Every single power line came down; roads got resurfaced. Move took 3 days, totally disrupted the neighborhood (which everyone was OK with- it was a historic house).
DeleteThis stuff never ceases to amaze me.
ReplyDeleteAND it's been done since at least the 1800's. Seen the pictures. Probably much earlier.
DeleteI wonder just how much equipment they bring to move a building like that?
ReplyDeleteJust enough! This is basically big machinery moving. Houses are hollow boxes (which is a problem- bracing is required), unlike big generator rotors and the like. 50-100 ton moves. The trick is to go slow; handling the weight is really not the big problem.
DeleteI am always amazed that they can do it without even cracking the bricks or drywall.
ReplyDeleteThey crack the brickwork and drywall. It's generally fairly minor.
DeleteOnce owned a brick house that had been moved. Nice place and yes, There was some minor damage.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteDo you think it's coming, or going?
My mom grew up in a house that was three houses combined, all moved from someplace else.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that until I was in my forties, despite going there every summer and Christmas vacation until my grandparents died. When Mom told me where the three houses joined together, it made sense, but the work was done so skillfully that you'd never know unless you took it apart. This was done in the early 1900s.
My dad's comment about one of these was, "I'll bet every nail in that house is loose.'
ReplyDeleteIf that was in Iowa, Holland House Moving, he put a glass of water in it, they moved it over 20 miles and never spilled a drop. Sure looks like the house.
ReplyDeleteSchribner House. Oshkosh WI. Moved by DeVooght House and Building Movers, May 2016.
DeleteI guess we'll see cribbing for lifting your house now on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteMy lodge was chartered in 1865 and met in a one room schoolhouse that was built sometime around 1840. In 1898 the building was moved 17 miles, using oxen and mules. The roads were two track wagon trails. For the next 32 years it was a general store, masonic lodge, and community meeting house. In 1930 it was moved 8 miles to its present location, again using oxen and mules. The roads were better this time, being graded dirt roads. Once on location it was raised using railroad jacks to make it a 2 story building.
ReplyDeleteI moved Fox Cottage, a single story brick structure at UC Berkeley in the early 1990’s. We had to construct an internal rebar cage and then applied shotcrete. Don’t remember the exact cost but it was about $1m. Should have tore off the roof, filled it with dirt and turned it into a giant ash tray.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the old Chancellor's house at UNC-Greensboro when it was moved.
ReplyDeleteDamn! Dean Wormer has really escalated things.
ReplyDelete