Time to dry out.

Removing the stone “skirt” from around the perimeter will help start the drying out process. The grade around the house will be corrected to provide positive drainage away from the foundation.

With the front porch and stonework removed from the foundation, the drainage problems can be easily identified. The front garden has acted as a water trap which allowed water to pool and follow the negative sloped grade under the house.

The cinder blocks and perimeter “foundation” seen below are from previous remodel or repair work. It is unknown yet what the poured concrete will offer.

Tenons…

Nailed or doweled mortise and tenon joints make the majority of connections in the timber frame construction. You can see here this tenon looks to be leaving its mortise… the why is to be determined. A front porch beam was probably sitting in the front half of this tenon where the nail remains.

A river runs through it.

As suspected, the “crawlspace” is not dry, nor has it been for a number of years. While it is not quite a river, the water under the house is flowing towards the back. The recent rains have provided the opportunity to better understand the drainage problems under and around the house. At least there is no mold. Yet.

Rats…

Looks like they chewed through this vent pipe to find water.

Logistics…