The realization hit. The carpenters had done a less than adequate job of supporting the center structure of this house. The off-level floor measurement increased dramatically the higher we went!
This was a BIG house
The floor beams could not span foundation-to-foundation. The ends of the beams rested on a series of girders and post landings – eventually sitting on inadequate footings in the basement. These footings were nothing but a few stacked stones on the dirt floor.
The owners decided to build a garage in this basement
This “change order” came AFTER we had completed the upper floors! To excavate the basement required installation of steel girders and posts on a new, properly proportioned foundation of piers.
Whoa! I had never done anything like this before.
I called the local steel fabrication company for help
The engineer arrived, made calculations, and prescribed the solution. I ordered the steel … but there was a hitch. We needed to temporarily support the entire load of the house on 4×4 posts sitting on top of bottle jacks. At the time, I had talented, but equally inexperienced help. We proceeded with great care to study EXACTLY where the loads fell.
“Overkill” is the word I would use to describe our preparation
Eventually, we installed at least twenty temporary posts and beams on plank bases. We tightened the bottle jacks and braced everything we could think of.
This whole process was nerve-wracking
It challenged my confidence as a young builder. We dug and poured the new footings in preparation. The steel delivery was scheduled for the following week.
Late one sleepless night, my concerns reached a fevered crescendo
I got out of bed, got dressed, told Annie I’d be back. I cranked up the van. With a flashlight in hand – went down to Old Vic to check it out.
Upon arriving, I went down to the basement. Fortunately, I found everything exactly as I’d left it. What a relief! I tapped on the 4x4s – adjusted the tension on a few. I put my blessings on the house. I stood listening to the predawn silence.
This wasn’t the last time the night fears have hit me
All professionals know this mid-night state of mind. In the growth cycle of learning, we expand our knowledge and experience by taking on new challenges. It comes with the territory.
I have learned to use herbal and flower essence remedies to calm my mind and soothe my restless spirit. My confidence, competence, and most importantly – my track record – empower my actions with certainty as I travel down my path.
“I think I understand
Fear is like a wilderland
Stepping stones or sinking sand”– Joni Mitchell
I needed to get up in the middle of the night and go SEE the posts in that basement to begin to learn to trust my instincts. There was no pill to substitute for the real thing: knowledge.
Forewarned is forearmed. I encourage young carpenters to think ahead, keep their minds on the goal, be competent, but not paranoid. I do so, not to stress them, out but rather to teach them.
If I had become paralyzed by fear, that steel girder would never have been successfully installed … at least not by me.
