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| Look for termite and/or decay damage when gutting your home. |
Two years after hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the South Louisiana coast, some of the flooded houses have been rebuilt or are in the process of being rebuilt. Many homeowners, however, have been able only to gut their houses, while some still have that task ahead of them. Gutting is often done by homeowners or unskilled labor. Some skill is required, though, to make sure the building is adequately supported while certain building materials are removed and to recognize damage that was exposed in the storm or in the gutting process.
Maintaining Wall Strength
Gutting a house is basically stripping it to its wall studs, ceiling joists and sometimes the floor or floor joists. Often, the materials that are removed during the gutting process provide strength to the building. For example, walls may have been covered on the inside with planks or plywood. The structure is vulnerable to wind when that covering is removed. If the wall covering is not replaced immediately, the walls should be braced. This can be done by running 2x4s diagonally between studs, by doing the same thing with metal straps or by putting up temporary plywood that is nailed to the studs, top plate and bottom plate.
When the wall covering is replaced, it should be replaced with material that provides as much strength as the material that was removed. Drywall does not have the strength of wood. Replacing structural wood with drywall is unwise, unless you add structural support for the wall by some other means – such as sheathing the exterior. All structural members damaged must be replaced with structural members with equal or better load capacity, particularly in South Louisiana, where winds reach more than 125 mph.
Termites and Decay
Other problems you might encounter when gutting your house are termite damage and wood decay. Termites are a huge problem in South Louisiana, and most of the time homeowners don’t realize the problem until it becomes severe. Once you have gutted the house and notice the termites, contact a pest control operator to determine the best treatment plan. Termite prevention usually takes more than one approach – it’s a combination of using treated lumber, creating physical barriers to termite intrusion and applying ground treatment. After the treatment, evaluate all structural members with termite damage and if necessary replace them with equal or better quality components.
Wood decay is caused by a fungus. These organisms can live in wood that has a moisture content of 20% or above. The organisms use wood as a source of food. Decayed wood shrinks and darkens and loses most of its strength. If you see wood decay or fungus, take steps to eliminate the source of moisture and then replace the structural members.
Weakness in the Footings and Connections
Footings are crucial part of a structure. They carry and transfer all the weight of your home to the ground. At the beginning of every rebuilding project, the footings need to be checked carefully. It is much easier to repair footings of a stripped home. Hurricane straps and termite shields also should be checked and replaced if necessary.
In addition, nails used in connection of the structural members need to checked. High moisture can cause these nails to rust easily; hence, the nails cannot provide proper connection of the members. Rusted nails should be replaced.
Opportunities for Improvement
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were devastating events, but they have provided a great opportunity to improve the overall strength and quality of our homes. You may be able to fix problems you had in the past, such as redesigning the electrical system to meet your current needs. You can put outlets wherever you need them, as well as increase the capacity of the wires in critical areas so you can watch TV, run the dishwasher and use the microwave all at the same time. You also can upgrade your old, leaking plumbing system for a small cost and save money on your water/sewerage bill.
By paying attention to small details, stopping damage in its tracks and making small improvements at each step of the restoration process, you can spend a little now, save a lot in future repair costs, and have a home that meets your needs. This also is a good time to think about improvements in energy efficiency.
More information on preventing wind damage, preventing flood damage and improving energy efficiency in existing homes is available in the Design/Remodeling and Renovation channel.
Writer: Emre Ergen