Incoming negative comments about replacing the house. If floor joists are bad and the house doesn't hold heat in, at what point is it actually worth saving? Best of luck with the new house
@@rigdigwusin a previous video they said they needed to be gone because of where the new location of the new house will be but also they would replant new trees after the build
I think he showed you the trees are hollow and dieing. What's wrong w a young family working hard and improving their lives. If more you people did that we would be living in a lot better country !!
Ha, I thought the same about negative comments when he first said the siding. As soon as he said log walls and then showed the basement I knew it was going to be too cost prohibitive to reno. With all that needs to be replaced, you’d basically have a new structure anyway so it makes the most sense to start from scratch.
It really just depends on the bones. I took an 1850’s Victorian and modernized it. Put in studs to supplement the original, making the litter walls 8” with I-beam effect. We jacked up the whole house and had a great new foundation poured. Was it worth it? Actually, yes, mainly due to taxes. We went from a 2400 sq ft home to 5400. We didn’t necessarily pull permits for everything. 3 years and our taxes have gone up only slightly. What pushed our home over the edge on being worth it is priceless architectural features. Wood, ornate plaster archways, stained and leaded glass that we incorporated in to custom new window builds,floor to ceiling windows and a fireplace in every room. My grandparents old house, despite all the memories, was just an old salt box house. When my aunt wanted to build new, we all but begged her to do it. Grandma and grandpa would have wanted them to.
You probably will not regret starting fresh. We tore down Mom & Dad's house (The Home Farm for Generations) down a few years ago and under all the windows the wood was just rotted out spongey mush.
Eric you ought to take the cupola off the little extension there, refinish it, and use it on your new house as an ode to this one. Maybe could use some of the non-rotted beams out of the floor as a cool ceiling in the new house?
The preservationist in me is sad to see a place this old get torn down, but it's obviously the right choice. The new one will be *so* much better for your family.
Hi Eric, It looks to me like the powder post beetles are having a feast on your house. As a real estate broker it always breaks my heart when these great, old historic homes are torn down. But I also understand how challenging ($$$) it can be to modernize them. And, you may have some value in those old logs to help fund the new home. I agree that you're making the right decision.
One other thing I have been meaning to say is that you have a pretty cool Dad.. I know it's hard to always agree or get along with family but to see a father and son work together pretty much everyday does give me hope
Grab a handful of any sound logs for landscaping. If there is some nice wood flooring gab a few planks to make a family dining table. Any gold bars hidden you had better grab them. To keep your little ones safe think about a fenced of area for them to play. Fenced off area can be removed later. Cut a small section of wall with the nicest wallpaper on and frame it to hang on the wall of your new house. Farmhouse essentials , a decent mudroom with a shower and drying ability for rain coats, boots, jackets and other farm wear. A decent pantry. A good garage/workshop Are you going to reveal the plans for the new house?
I think you are doing the right thing by starting fresh. The only thing I suggest is that you try to save any of the logs and either saw them into lumber to incorporate into your new house or make a log wall out of the whole logs. Kind of an accent wall. That way you can remember what your forefathers built for you 200 years ago.
Looks like you’re making the right choice to rebuild. Would have been a lot of work to save the old farm house! Can’t wait to see what you build for you and your family!
@@Jhhhf4479 I disagree. Yes, it’s a lot of work to remove and rebuild. But have you ever tried to remodel a house that had dry rot in the floor joists? It can be an absolute nightmare. You are basically replacing the entire house at that point in time anyways. I think the mature solution is recognizing that the best way to save money, gain efficiency, and end up with a beautiful home for his family is to rebuild.
@@Jhhhf4479 The "mature" solution is to have a nice house for his family with a reasonably known cost. You start tearing into an old house, never mind 200 years, the costs can skyrocket quickly. Renovate one thing you find you need to fix/repair something else first, or like he said electrical probably needs work and then you find plumbing as well. Many times on those tv shows it costs double to do that much of a renovation than building a new house and you end up with an old house that's been almost totally replaced with a ton of extra cost for labor and still isn't as nice or heat efficient as a new house.
Knowing how much you like your siding, maybe you could save and reuse that! I think Habitat for Humanity has a Restore store on Rt. 30 that might be interested in various pieces of the old place you can't reuse. I wonder for the logs will be like. Years of history will be seeing the light of day as the house is taken apart.
Eric I grew up in an 1850s Ohio farmhouse. These things can be restored to look like the original, but with all the modern conveniences. You could even move it back from the road. It will need jacking up anyway to rebuild the foundation. And it will cost 3 or 4 times the price of a new build and take years longer. That is fine for those with the time and money. For the rest of us, it is tear down and rebuild. Pete Hutzel PS I also hail from a long line of German-American dairymen, but not as long as yours.
Make way for the future. The next 10 generation dairymen & women will appreciate all the upgrades. Everything out lives its usefulness. Good luck with the new house. Stay safe.
Save the old logs and old lumber that’s in decent shape. You can sell them for decent money. Maybe even incorporate parts of it into your new home. Good luck with it all!
I can understand the second guessing about tearing it down or rebuilding, especially when there's so much history involved. All I can say is, if I were in your shoes, I'd rebuild, too. I hope you'll take us all along as the demo and rebuild progress!
After watching your video tour of your old house. I think that you are making the right decision to build a new one. I have always said that a house is only as good as its bones. And to me it sure looks like those old “log bones” have lived out their useful life. So now you will be able to build your new home to be much more energy efficient. And then when you finally do get to come in the house after putting in a long hard working day, and while out in the elements. You will get to come inside to a nice new cozy home to enjoy your beautiful family. Life goes by while we are all busy doing other things. So do this for you & your young family now so you can enjoy it with them. And just like always, I know that you will do a great job on this house project! P.S. Maybe you can sneak in a Man Cave in the basement? Have a blessed weekend!
My kids demolished my old homestead and built a log home on the property. It was sad to see it go but nothing lasts forever and with a house it becomes a safety issue. What the kids did was to contact a salvage company that saved as much as they could to repurpose, like the old hardware, door knobs and cabinet doors, bricks etc. With the new home, they built a really nice basement that they have as a living area. They gained space, safety, efficiency and their own new traditions in their new home. Congratulations on taking such good care of your family!!
I agree with you, tear it down , maybe keep a few of the old logs etc... with you newly married and 2 kids and as hard as you work on the farm, it's time you had a more efficient home...
When my grandparents had a house fire in their old farmhouse the log cabin portion was spared but all the additions were lost. The cabin was built sometime in the 1850s what we ended up doing was having an exposed interior wall with the old logs from the cabin in the living room. It looks really nice and it’s an interior wall so it’s not a big heat loss like an exterior wall. It looks really awesome and it’s a nice way to remember what the home once was.
Some people might buy those older doors and trim and bricks that usuallyget used on modifying or repairing older houses id love to see the whole process of demo and building the houses
Wow. For 200 years old it’s a big house. Also when you stated that your family immigrated from Germany that explained why it is still standing. Great builders. Can’t wait to see your new build Love your channel 🇨🇦🇨🇦
Indeed, here in Germany most houses are built to last a lot longer than in the states (but are also more expensive to build). But we also build more with brick and less with wood. It's very interesting seeing the different approaches of building actually. Both houses I grew up in are over 100 years old now and still standing strong. 😅
@@devito501 Yup. Not yet. But they'll be standing another few hundred years I am sure. One of the houses was placed under protection. So it can't be torn down.
You have made the right decision about house and garage. (My grandfather's wood farm house had a cold floor; we only lived there for two generations.) Also, as one gets older, you don't need to be climbing stairs all the time. Look forward to seeing your new more modest-size house with attached garage.
For a family that is extremely busy with the dairy operation it is nice to see that proper time is spent to save things in a practical manner that can be used at a later date
I applaud you and your wife for living in there as long as you did. There must have been mold and you are not joking when looking at the stability of the floor joists… everything you said was so accurate. I could not imagine heating that house!
I've been in the remodeling business for 30 yrs..sometimes you have to be realistic and 80 percent of the time people aren't..I 100 percent support his decision to demo the whole house..its actually cheaper and way more efficient..I applaud it for the reality
Glad starting new is an option for you. The only thing I would miss from the old house is the LARGE square kitchen. Houses of old had the biggest kitchens. Enjoy making this new place your own. Fill it with laughter, love, and wonderful memories.
Congratulations on the new house build,. You have made the right decision, that existing structure looks way past the point of remodeling. It would be nice to see if the demo guys could salvage some of the old 200 year old beams, if they're worth saving. Sometimes you could be lucky, some of that old lumber is really beautiful.
Our house was built in 1723 outside of Richmond VA, it's on my wife's grandpa's dairy. The termites got into the original hand hewn beams and my father in law put 2x12s beside the beams to hold it up. We have a wood stove and our house typically stays 60-65 degrees in the winter. The coldest I remember it was -3 outside and 36 in my bedroom when I got up to go push snow
As cool as remodeling an old Colonial house would have been, it makes so much sense to demo and start from scratch. That way, you and your family can create a whole new history for your family farm!!!
Eric you sure give me hope for the younger generation. So many don’t have the work ethic you have and I applaud you on thinking of your family first when it came building a new home that will be much safer. Wish you luck in the designing of it. We bought an 80-90 y/o country house and during the remodel, my wife changed her mind 3-4 times on the master bath - each time requiring me to move plumbing lines back and forth. Hang in there my friend, it will all be worth it in the end.
Sometimes it is impossible to restore. I'm sure your grandmother has pictures before it had vinyl siding. Hang them in your new home as a reminder of where you started. Glad to know your new home will be more energy efficient and off the road for the children. Thanks for the house tour.
good decision! so many people don't make these decisions wisely. New materials, new layout, hope you got a good building loan. The biggest reason you can't heat it is the foundation on soil. GLUE AND SCREW THE FLOORS and sprayfoam will make the biggest difference. wish my crew was there to help you.
You are definitely making the right decision. You could easily spend $250K remodeling and you would still have an old house. Looking forward to seeing the new one take shape. You are wise to not get nostalgic or attached...
The fact that you let us all into your life and share your family’s history is amazing. I’m sure that house holds an uncountable about of lasting memories, but the decision is warranted. Right now it’s a detriment to your family’s safety and the investment in renovating doesn’t seem like it’s worth it. Planning for future generations is the recipe of a family, and building a new house will support many generations to come. Your videos make me smile Eric. Good people, taking good care of what they have, while building their family. Thanks for the quality video and knowledge!
Ooh, yeah, seeing that basement, I understand and remodeling looks as if it'll cost as much or nearly as much and be as much work so makes sense. I love old houses and the inside is nice but you're (hopefully) saving the most beautiufl part - those nice cabinets. Also that close to the road would be horrible, especially with small children. I'd be nervous that close to the road with toddlers. Would probably cause me to helicopter parent and suffocate them. Look forward to its build even more than I did the barn! The yard will grow back and its going to be much safer for the whole family. I would get the air conditioning though. Might as well add it now instead of down the road even if you rarely use it.
If it's an old log building I bet Barnwood Builders would be interested. Those beams in the basement are really quite interesting! It's going to be fun to see what is under all that siding.
Hi Eric. You’ve got a level head, & taking a thought out & practical approach. I know the wrestle about trying to preserve history. We had to do a similar thing many years ago? Suggestion. As you demo the home you may come across an artifact(s) that you could display in your new home. You may also find a beam, or other building material that has been hand written on or scribed with the date etc. that you could incorporate & feature in your new home. (maybe feature something with the original bricks) Keep your eyes opened for that type of thing. Time capsule hidden in a wall. The very best on this new & exciting venture. You’re taking your turn & building for your posterity.
Eric. You definitely deserve a warm, secure , comfortable, home to go to after a day of farm work, its great seeing the progression of the farm and your family life since i subscribed, farmers are definitely the back bone of america, congratulations on the new house to come
As a Multi- generational builder from the north east. You are making a discussion that makes more sense than remodeling. Good job. One look at all the hot water base board heat and the basement it’s a money pit.
Eric, I was once in the same position. Living in the family home that had been added to, roof raised, and remodeled many times. No architectural form worth saving, damp dirt basement, monster heating system from the 1950’s and more. The only difference between us was Dad wouldn’t let me tear it down. You are luckier than me. Go for it! Your wife and kids, and you, will live happier. 👍 That house was part of the reason I left the farm and moved away.
Go with ICF if you can. Super airtight. And with proper upkeep, should last more than 20 generations. Heated floors are a nice touch too. Misses definitely enjoys it in the bathroom. Glad you decided to bite the bullet. Just do it once, do it right. A nice home, makes for a happy family.
With the garage, something to be aware of is now that the trees are down the water they once drank is building up in the ground. That ground will swell - it's called 'heave' and will cause more cracking of the garage walls.
I get that for sentimental reasons there is some value in preserving the old house.... but when you start to have to make major repairs and you factor in heating costs for a poorly insulated building in an area that gets pretty cold.... the sentimental part starts to become really expensive to maintain. I also would probably make the choice to build a new house further back from the road and using modern building code and materials... I'm sure it was a hard choice but I personally think you are making the right one for the long term. Looking forward to seeing the progress as it goes along. Hope your family had a nice holiday.
I really hate to see old houses taken down, but, in this instance I agree, it is the best thing to do with rotten floor joists it is just a matter of time before some serious issues materialize on the interior.
Eric if the old logs are any good condition you will have a gold mine. Certain kinds of wood are super expensive and used for reclaimed wood. I know because I have a 1875 Pennsylvania bank barn and have sold some old wood before. Looking forward to seeing the new house being built.
I'm happy for y'all tearing down that house. I say take all of the garage down too. Everything can be built the way y'all want it. Happy for you and your wife and kids. 🙏
I can certainly understand why you are replacing instead of conserving. At the end of the day you have to have a decent house to live in. Good luck and keep us updated!
I think you have made the right decision in tearing the old house down and rebuilding. The cost of renovation would more than likely cost more than a new build.Hope you make videos of the tear down and rebuild. Great video and thanks.
Whatever you do, save the old growth timbers underneath it!! They are worth a small fortune! Salvaging companies will do the work for you, so they can put them back together! Hell, they might even make a show about it....PLEASE HEED THIS MESSAGE!
I think you're making the right decision. I would keep as many of the old hand-hewn floor joists as I could though! I would also want a full finished basement with solar-powered heat and air!
I love that "half a bedroom" and the "it's pretty small, more of a closet" comment... It looks about the size of my bedroom in my 2 bed flat. Haha. Anyways good luck with the new build. It makes perfect sense not only to relocate it a little bit away from the road, but because it looks like it is rotting away. Sure it may have a generation or 2 more before it is technically unsafe but as you say. You're in a position to rebuild to prevent that for future generations and its your part of the legacy.
3 things are important in the new house: - as much insulation as posibile - the best windows (I have triple glass, triple seals on opening and love them) - and full house heat recovery ventilation (to keep the humidity low to prevent mold, mites). With the energy prices they might worth, but in confort you will definitely feel the difference.
Safe choice is a good choice for your young family. Having the house so close to the road, and the floor that will soon cave in is reason enough to tear down and rebuild. Best wishes to you and your family.
I love old homes so to still be standing after 200 years is a testament to the craftmanship! That being said...no one wants to pay a high heating bill so good luck with the new build and can't wait to see the progress!
That's what is nice about paving stones you can always pick them and use them again or if they break you just replace the broken ones. Instead of replacing all of the cement or asphalt. Good luck on the new house!
There are a few original doors and a beautiful corner cabinet worth salvaging, if you are so inclined you could pass those along to your children. Otherwise I think its too far gone to rebuild. Good Luck.
Hey Eric, long-time viewer here. Your videos are great. Love your content and work ethic! Hope all goes well with this project, and we want to see more videos of it.
I've been a residential contractor for 20+ years - been following you for 3 of those lol. You're doing the right thing replacing that structure, make no mistake it's a good call.
we have tried saving and rebuilding old structures before and halfway through pulled the plug and tore it down anyways since it was worse than anticipated. You're making the right call. Baseboard heating in such an old house must cost a fortune. The history of that house is very neat though.
I remodeled my old farmhouse. New windows, doors, roof, Rewired and replumbed the entire house. Had the entire house spray foamed from the basement to attic. Did everything with the help of family except the spray foam.... I have more money invested than I could ever get back out of it and if I could do it all over again I would of started new where things would actually be square! You are making the right decision. Good luck. One day your grandkids will be thankful!
@George baseboard heating is one of the worst and most expensive ways to heat a home. Untreated wood becomes bug food or rots from contact with the ground, concrete or even metal fixtures. The fact that it's stood for 200 years is remarkable. But as he says it isn't weather tight and it's drafty and they don't heat it above 60 degrees. I lived in Pennsylvania when I was little and it's cold from October to March with snow often measured in feet. We lived in an old farm house and I remember we had coal delivered to fuel the furnace to heat the house but it was drafty and cold anyway. A new house will be more energy efficient, safer, probably healthier (a lot of lead based paint used in those old houses) and cheaper than restoring the old house. Looking at the roofline you could see sagging in places and that would mean the entire roof, joists and sheathing would need to be replaced. But don't worry. When they demolish old homes like that one, they salvage as much of the old usable wood as possible. There is a big market for salvaged material that old and they pay premium prices.
@@notapplicable430 did they put the barrier between the foundation wall and will plate? Without it you will get rot regardless if your sills are pressure treated.
I agree that you're making the right choice. It sucks to see an old home go, but they all have to go sooner or later. It'll be cool to see the finished product, hope it goes smooth!
Just bought a 122 year old house. It has the same log floor joist and roof trusses. I have to agree. With young ones, being that close to the road would be absolutely terrifying.
Thanks for sharing the story on the house. With the new Farm we just bought came with four houses and I should have tore down one of them I guess but I'm decided to put a new roof on it and and try to keep it alive. Have a great evening
I understand your challenge. My relatives lived in my maternal great-grandfather's prairie homestead house for years. They tried remodeling it again and again. One night they came home to find the house engulfed in flames. They think mice had been chewing on the wires for some time. Good luck with your new house. Please add videos on the progress. Happy Holidays.
I appreciate tge historical significance of the older buildings too. But sometimes you just have to use good judgement as you are. I found out years ago that it costs twice as much to renovate those older homes than it does to just build new. One lesson I’ve learned is to build your house for your old age. Make sure it will be comfortable for your retirement. Uiu definitely have a lovely site there to build. I’m sure it will be nice. I have to admit that admire you. greatly. Such a hard working young man with his priorities in the right place. You’re an example to many other people. A true ambassador for agriculture too. God bless you your family and your farm.
Nothing wrong with testing it down. 200+ years has proven the worthiness. Not knowing to adapt and continue to learn/modernize is killer for all. Glad you are following your instinct. A more comfortable/more efficient house (like farming has continued to evolve) will only result in a positive outcome that ultimately feeds the world! Thank you for all your efforts
"Why'd you tear the house down?" "We didnt like the color of the siding. House had to go." 😅 Definitely makes sense to replace the entire house in this case. Would def cost far to much to try and salvage whats good and replace the rest.
I currently live in a 1930s house that I completely re modeled my self about 10yrs ago. Complete meaning, all the structural framing, windows, electrical, plumbing, roof, insulation and part of the foundation. At one point I could stand in my basement and see the bottom of the roof. Tear that damn house down. I wish I did.
I just watched this nicely done video ❤ You made the right decision. 👍👍😎😎 We built a new house on the farm in 96. Old house was built in 1820 it was time got lucky and was able to burn it down at no cost.
Eric, when they tear it down, be sure to save some of that good timber to re-use. A new mantle made from wall timber from this house would be special. Save the rest for future projects: chairs, tables, etc.
As sad as it is to loose a piece of your history it comes down to structural safety and energy efficiency. Would love to see it as you uncover the original walls. What are you going to do with the basement and root cellar?
As soon as you walked in I could see why you were taking the house down. I bet a remodel done correctly would cost as much or more as a new house. Looking forward to the house videos.
Common sense at work here. Just the same it's a sad time as well. Farms and families have to move on but at the right time and in this case your correct. This is my wheelhouse and you are wise to make this move now. Hey 11th Gen needs a good sleep after a days work as do you Eric. Jack don't know jack yet but he will in time. Cheers to all. 🇨🇦
"We don't like the color of the siding." Perfect deadpan delivery. Loved it!!
Eric does deadpan well. 😂
@@bigdcarmichael if you know people from PA. That’s exactly how they are. Lol
Incoming negative comments about replacing the house. If floor joists are bad and the house doesn't hold heat in, at what point is it actually worth saving? Best of luck with the new house
but why had the trees to die?
@@rigdigwusin a previous video they said they needed to be gone because of where the new location of the new house will be but also they would replant new trees after the build
I think he showed you the trees are hollow and dieing. What's wrong w a young family working hard and improving their lives. If more you people did that we would be living in a lot better country !!
@@rigdigwus they could fall on the house and I think one of them was almost hollow
Ha, I thought the same about negative comments when he first said the siding. As soon as he said log walls and then showed the basement I knew it was going to be too cost prohibitive to reno. With all that needs to be replaced, you’d basically have a new structure anyway so it makes the most sense to start from scratch.
It really just depends on the bones. I took an 1850’s Victorian and modernized it. Put in studs to supplement the original, making the litter walls 8” with I-beam effect. We jacked up the whole house and had a great new foundation poured.
Was it worth it? Actually, yes, mainly due to taxes. We went from a 2400 sq ft home to 5400. We didn’t necessarily pull permits for everything. 3 years and our taxes have gone up only slightly.
What pushed our home over the edge on being worth it is priceless architectural features. Wood, ornate plaster archways, stained and leaded glass that we incorporated in to custom new window builds,floor to ceiling windows and a fireplace in every room.
My grandparents old house, despite all the memories, was just an old salt box house. When my aunt wanted to build new, we all but begged her to do it. Grandma and grandpa would have wanted them to.
You probably will not regret starting fresh. We tore down Mom & Dad's house (The Home Farm for Generations) down a few years ago and under all the windows the wood was just rotted out spongey mush.
Eric you ought to take the cupola off the little extension there, refinish it, and use it on your new house as an ode to this one. Maybe could use some of the non-rotted beams out of the floor as a cool ceiling in the new house?
The preservationist in me is sad to see a place this old get torn down, but it's obviously the right choice. The new one will be *so* much better for your family.
Hi Eric,
It looks to me like the powder post beetles are having a feast on your house.
As a real estate broker it always breaks my heart when these great, old historic homes are torn down. But I also understand how challenging ($$$) it can be to modernize them. And, you may have some value in those old logs to help fund the new home.
I agree that you're making the right decision.
One other thing I have been meaning to say is that you have a pretty cool Dad.. I know it's hard to always agree or get along with family but to see a father and son work together pretty much everyday does give me hope
Grab a handful of any sound logs for landscaping. If there is some nice wood flooring gab a few planks to make a family dining table. Any gold bars hidden you had better grab them. To keep your little ones safe think about a fenced of area for them to play. Fenced off area can be removed later. Cut a small section of wall with the nicest wallpaper on and frame it to hang on the wall of your new house. Farmhouse essentials , a decent mudroom with a shower and drying ability for rain coats, boots, jackets and other farm wear.
A decent pantry.
A good garage/workshop
Are you going to reveal the plans for the new house?
I think you are doing the right thing by starting fresh. The only thing I suggest is that you try to save any of the logs and either saw them into lumber to incorporate into your new house or make a log wall out of the whole logs. Kind of an accent wall. That way you can remember what your forefathers built for you 200 years ago.
Looks like you’re making the right choice to rebuild. Would have been a lot of work to save the old farm house! Can’t wait to see what you build for you and your family!
Either way it is a lot of work. Saving the house is the more mature solution.
@@Jhhhf4479 I disagree. Yes, it’s a lot of work to remove and rebuild. But have you ever tried to remodel a house that had dry rot in the floor joists? It can be an absolute nightmare. You are basically replacing the entire house at that point in time anyways. I think the mature solution is recognizing that the best way to save money, gain efficiency, and end up with a beautiful home for his family is to rebuild.
@@Jhhhf4479 The "mature" solution is to have a nice house for his family with a reasonably known cost. You start tearing into an old house, never mind 200 years, the costs can skyrocket quickly. Renovate one thing you find you need to fix/repair something else first, or like he said electrical probably needs work and then you find plumbing as well. Many times on those tv shows it costs double to do that much of a renovation than building a new house and you end up with an old house that's been almost totally replaced with a ton of extra cost for labor and still isn't as nice or heat efficient as a new house.
You should have someone come out and metal detect your yard, you probably have some really old coins and artifacts.
Knowing how much you like your siding, maybe you could save and reuse that!
I think Habitat for Humanity has a Restore store on Rt. 30 that might be interested in various pieces of the old place you can't reuse. I wonder for the logs will be like. Years of history will be seeing the light of day as the house is taken apart.
Eric
I grew up in an 1850s Ohio farmhouse. These things can be restored to look like the original, but with all the modern conveniences. You could even move it back from the road. It will need jacking up anyway to rebuild the foundation.
And it will cost 3 or 4 times the price of a new build and take years longer. That is fine for those with the time and money. For the rest of us, it is tear down and rebuild.
Pete Hutzel
PS I also hail from a long line of German-American dairymen, but not as long as yours.
Make way for the future. The next 10 generation dairymen & women will appreciate all the upgrades. Everything out lives its usefulness. Good luck with the new house. Stay safe.
0:19 was eating veggies and dip when he delivered this dry piece of humor and now I have veggies and dip all over my monitor.
Save the old logs and old lumber that’s in decent shape. You can sell them for decent money. Maybe even incorporate parts of it into your new home. Good luck with it all!
I can understand the second guessing about tearing it down or rebuilding, especially when there's so much history involved. All I can say is, if I were in your shoes, I'd rebuild, too. I hope you'll take us all along as the demo and rebuild progress!
Not just history but the absolute RIDICULOUS prices and interest rates currently
@@freedomfan4272 Yep.
After watching your video tour of your old house. I think that you are making the right decision to build a new one. I have always said that a house is only as good as its bones. And to me it sure looks like those old “log bones” have lived out their useful life. So now you will be able to build your new home to be much more energy efficient. And then when you finally do get to come in the house after putting in a long hard working day, and while out in the elements. You will get to come inside to a nice new cozy home to enjoy your beautiful family. Life goes by while we are all busy doing other things. So do this for you & your young family now so you can enjoy it with them.
And just like always, I know that you will do a great job on this house project! P.S. Maybe you can sneak in a Man Cave in the basement?
Have a blessed weekend!
My kids demolished my old homestead and built a log home on the property. It was sad to see it go but nothing lasts forever and with a house it becomes a safety issue. What the kids did was to contact a salvage company that saved as much as they could to repurpose, like the old hardware, door knobs and cabinet doors, bricks etc. With the new home, they built a really nice basement that they have as a living area. They gained space, safety, efficiency and their own new traditions in their new home. Congratulations on taking such good care of your family!!
I agree with you, tear it down , maybe keep a few of the old logs etc... with you newly married and 2 kids and as hard as you work on the farm, it's time you had a more efficient home...
I grew up in my grandparents farmhouse in MN who were also of German decent. Many similarities to your home. Good luck on the new home project.
When my grandparents had a house fire in their old farmhouse the log cabin portion was spared but all the additions were lost. The cabin was built sometime in the 1850s what we ended up doing was having an exposed interior wall with the old logs from the cabin in the living room. It looks really nice and it’s an interior wall so it’s not a big heat loss like an exterior wall. It looks really awesome and it’s a nice way to remember what the home once was.
Some people might buy those older doors and trim and bricks that usuallyget used on modifying or repairing older houses id love to see the whole process of demo and building the houses
Wow. For 200 years old it’s a big house. Also when you stated that your family immigrated from Germany that explained why it is still standing. Great builders. Can’t wait to see your new build Love your channel 🇨🇦🇨🇦
Indeed, here in Germany most houses are built to last a lot longer than in the states (but are also more expensive to build). But we also build more with brick and less with wood. It's very interesting seeing the different approaches of building actually.
Both houses I grew up in are over 100 years old now and still standing strong. 😅
Not that old then
@@devito501 Yup. Not yet. But they'll be standing another few hundred years I am sure. One of the houses was placed under protection. So it can't be torn down.
You have made the right decision about house and garage.
(My grandfather's wood farm house had a cold floor; we only lived there for two generations.)
Also, as one gets older, you don't need to be climbing stairs all the time.
Look forward to seeing your new more modest-size house with attached garage.
For a family that is extremely busy with the dairy operation it is nice to see that proper time is spent to save things in a practical manner that can be used at a later date
I applaud you and your wife for living in there as long as you did. There must have been mold and you are not joking when looking at the stability of the floor joists… everything you said was so accurate. I could not imagine heating that house!
I've been in the remodeling business for 30 yrs..sometimes you have to be realistic and 80 percent of the time people aren't..I 100 percent support his decision to demo the whole house..its actually cheaper and way more efficient..I applaud it for the reality
You're making the right call. The costs of renovations at some point can't be justified. Best of luck and can't wait to see what you build.
Glad starting new is an option for you. The only thing I would miss from the old house is the LARGE square kitchen. Houses of old had the biggest kitchens. Enjoy making this new place your own. Fill it with laughter, love, and wonderful memories.
Congratulations on the new house build,. You have made the right decision, that existing structure looks way past the point of remodeling. It would be nice to see if the demo guys could salvage some of the old 200 year old beams, if they're worth saving. Sometimes you could be lucky, some of that old lumber is really beautiful.
Our house was built in 1723 outside of Richmond VA, it's on my wife's grandpa's dairy. The termites got into the original hand hewn beams and my father in law put 2x12s beside the beams to hold it up. We have a wood stove and our house typically stays 60-65 degrees in the winter. The coldest I remember it was -3 outside and 36 in my bedroom when I got up to go push snow
As cool as remodeling an old Colonial house would have been, it makes so much sense to demo and start from scratch. That way, you and your family can create a whole new history for your family farm!!!
Eric you sure give me hope for the younger generation. So many don’t have the work ethic you have and I applaud you on thinking of your family first when it came building a new home that will be much safer. Wish you luck in the designing of it. We bought an 80-90 y/o country house and during the remodel, my wife changed her mind 3-4 times on the master bath - each time requiring me to move plumbing lines back and forth. Hang in there my friend, it will all be worth it in the end.
Sometimes it is impossible to restore. I'm sure your grandmother has pictures before it had vinyl siding. Hang them in your new home as a reminder of where you started. Glad to know your new home will be more energy efficient and off the road for the children. Thanks for the house tour.
good decision! so many people don't make these decisions wisely. New materials, new layout, hope you got a good building loan. The biggest reason you can't heat it is the foundation on soil. GLUE AND SCREW THE FLOORS and sprayfoam will make the biggest difference. wish my crew was there to help you.
Hi can't wait to see the all commotion...tearing things down rebuild...sounds fun!!
This is going to interesting to watch. I love construction (and demolition!).
You are definitely making the right decision. You could easily spend $250K remodeling and you would still have an old house. Looking forward to seeing the new one take shape. You are wise to not get nostalgic or attached...
The fact that you let us all into your life and share your family’s history is amazing. I’m sure that house holds an uncountable about of lasting memories, but the decision is warranted. Right now it’s a detriment to your family’s safety and the investment in renovating doesn’t seem like it’s worth it. Planning for future generations is the recipe of a family, and building a new house will support many generations to come.
Your videos make me smile Eric. Good people, taking good care of what they have, while building their family. Thanks for the quality video and knowledge!
Ooh, yeah, seeing that basement, I understand and remodeling looks as if it'll cost as much or nearly as much and be as much work so makes sense. I love old houses and the inside is nice but you're (hopefully) saving the most beautiufl part - those nice cabinets. Also that close to the road would be horrible, especially with small children. I'd be nervous that close to the road with toddlers. Would probably cause me to helicopter parent and suffocate them. Look forward to its build even more than I did the barn! The yard will grow back and its going to be much safer for the whole family. I would get the air conditioning though. Might as well add it now instead of down the road even if you rarely use it.
when i saw the house i thought it was probably from the 1800s. but dang, late 1700s?!
If it's an old log building I bet Barnwood Builders would be interested. Those beams in the basement are really quite interesting! It's going to be fun to see what is under all that siding.
Hi Eric. You’ve got a level head, & taking a thought out & practical approach. I know the wrestle about trying to preserve history. We had to do a similar thing many years ago? Suggestion. As you demo the home you may come across an artifact(s) that you could display in your new home. You may also find a beam, or other building material that has been hand written on or scribed with the date etc. that you could incorporate & feature in your new home. (maybe feature something with the original bricks) Keep your eyes opened for that type of thing. Time capsule hidden in a wall. The very best on this new & exciting venture. You’re taking your turn & building for your posterity.
Eric. You definitely deserve a warm, secure , comfortable, home to go to after a day of farm work, its great seeing the progression of the farm and your family life since i subscribed, farmers are definitely the back bone of america, congratulations on the new house to come
As a Multi- generational builder from the north east. You are making a discussion that makes more sense than remodeling. Good job. One look at all the hot water base board heat and the basement it’s a money pit.
Eric, I was once in the same position. Living in the family home that had been added to, roof raised, and remodeled many times. No architectural form worth saving, damp dirt basement, monster heating system from the 1950’s and more. The only difference between us was Dad wouldn’t let me tear it down. You are luckier than me. Go for it! Your wife and kids, and you, will live happier. 👍 That house was part of the reason I left the farm and moved away.
Go with ICF if you can. Super airtight. And with proper upkeep, should last more than 20 generations.
Heated floors are a nice touch too. Misses definitely enjoys it in the bathroom.
Glad you decided to bite the bullet. Just do it once, do it right. A nice home, makes for a happy family.
With the garage, something to be aware of is now that the trees are down the water they once drank is building up in the ground. That ground will swell - it's called 'heave' and will cause more cracking of the garage walls.
the best for you Eric, the best..Lord bless you and your wife..
How exciting! It’s time for a warm home that’s economical to keep comfortable without breaking the bank Good For You ! You deserve it ! 🎉
I get that for sentimental reasons there is some value in preserving the old house.... but when you start to have to make major repairs and you factor in heating costs for a poorly insulated building in an area that gets pretty cold.... the sentimental part starts to become really expensive to maintain. I also would probably make the choice to build a new house further back from the road and using modern building code and materials... I'm sure it was a hard choice but I personally think you are making the right one for the long term. Looking forward to seeing the progress as it goes along. Hope your family had a nice holiday.
I really hate to see old houses taken down, but, in this instance I agree, it is the best thing to do with rotten floor joists it is just a matter of time before some serious issues materialize on the interior.
Eric if the old logs are any good condition you will have a gold mine. Certain kinds of wood are super expensive and used for reclaimed wood. I know because I have a 1875 Pennsylvania bank barn and have sold some old wood before. Looking forward to seeing the new house being built.
I'm happy for y'all tearing down that house. I say take all of the garage down too. Everything can be built the way y'all want it. Happy for you and your wife and kids. 🙏
I can certainly understand why you are replacing instead of conserving. At the end of the day you have to have a decent house to live in. Good luck and keep us updated!
I think you have made the right decision in tearing the old house down and rebuilding. The cost of renovation would more than likely cost more than a new build.Hope you make videos of the tear down and rebuild. Great video and thanks.
Whatever you do, save the old growth timbers underneath it!! They are worth a small fortune! Salvaging companies will do the work for you, so they can put them back together! Hell, they might even make a show about it....PLEASE HEED THIS MESSAGE!
Good luck with everything.
I think you're making the right decision. I would keep as many of the old hand-hewn floor joists as I could though! I would also want a full finished basement with solar-powered heat and air!
Check out a geothermal heating and cooling system ;)
I thought the same about the doors & hinges.
It is perfectly possible to install solar and all the best heating and air systems in an old house
I love that "half a bedroom" and the "it's pretty small, more of a closet" comment...
It looks about the size of my bedroom in my 2 bed flat. Haha.
Anyways good luck with the new build. It makes perfect sense not only to relocate it a little bit away from the road, but because it looks like it is rotting away. Sure it may have a generation or 2 more before it is technically unsafe but as you say. You're in a position to rebuild to prevent that for future generations and its your part of the legacy.
3 things are important in the new house:
- as much insulation as posibile
- the best windows (I have triple glass, triple seals on opening and love them)
- and full house heat recovery ventilation (to keep the humidity low to prevent mold, mites).
With the energy prices they might worth, but in confort you will definitely feel the difference.
Safe choice is a good choice for your young family. Having the house so close to the road, and the floor that will soon cave in is reason enough to tear down and rebuild. Best wishes to you and your family.
I love old homes so to still be standing after 200 years is a testament to the craftmanship! That being said...no one wants to pay a high heating bill so good luck with the new build and can't wait to see the progress!
Great decision to start over. Can’t wait to see the end of the build!!!!
That's what is nice about paving stones you can always pick them and use them again or if they break you just replace the broken ones. Instead of replacing all of the cement or asphalt. Good luck on the new house!
There are a few original doors and a beautiful corner cabinet worth salvaging, if you are so inclined you could pass those along to your children. Otherwise I think its too far gone to rebuild. Good Luck.
Old houses are cool, but I feel you on the heat costs! And newer is nicer, I'd love to get to build a new house someday. Looking forward to the build
Hey Eric, long-time viewer here. Your videos are great. Love your content and work ethic! Hope all goes well with this project, and we want to see more videos of it.
One of my new favorite TH-cam channels to watch. Love that TH-cam suggested your video a few weeks back.
I've been a residential contractor for 20+ years - been following you for 3 of those lol. You're doing the right thing replacing that structure, make no mistake it's a good call.
Nope. He isnt
we have tried saving and rebuilding old structures before and halfway through pulled the plug and tore it down anyways since it was worse than anticipated. You're making the right call. Baseboard heating in such an old house must cost a fortune. The history of that house is very neat though.
I remodeled my old farmhouse. New windows, doors, roof, Rewired and replumbed the entire house. Had the entire house spray foamed from the basement to attic. Did everything with the help of family except the spray foam.... I have more money invested than I could ever get back out of it and if I could do it all over again I would of started new where things would actually be square! You are making the right decision. Good luck. One day your grandkids will be thankful!
Absolutely correct! I did the exact same thing
@george9417 they didn't have pressure treated wood back then for contact with concrete. The rot is real.
@George baseboard heating is one of the worst and most expensive ways to heat a home. Untreated wood becomes bug food or rots from contact with the ground, concrete or even metal fixtures. The fact that it's stood for 200 years is remarkable. But as he says it isn't weather tight and it's drafty and they don't heat it above 60 degrees. I lived in Pennsylvania when I was little and it's cold from October to March with snow often measured in feet. We lived in an old farm house and I remember we had coal delivered to fuel the furnace to heat the house but it was drafty and cold anyway. A new house will be more energy efficient, safer, probably healthier (a lot of lead based paint used in those old houses) and cheaper than restoring the old house. Looking at the roofline you could see sagging in places and that would mean the entire roof, joists and sheathing would need to be replaced. But don't worry. When they demolish old homes like that one, they salvage as much of the old usable wood as possible. There is a big market for salvaged material that old and they pay premium prices.
@@nick4506 My pressure treated sills sitting on concrete from 2009 are rotten already.
@@notapplicable430 did they put the barrier between the foundation wall and will plate? Without it you will get rot regardless if your sills are pressure treated.
Always a bit sad seeing something so old being torn down. I hope you can preserve as much as you can.
I would love to follow ya'lls journey through building your new home. Please share if you have the time!
Thank you for the tour. Please do weekly updates as you go along. Sometimes just need to start over.
I agree that you're making the right choice. It sucks to see an old home go, but they all have to go sooner or later. It'll be cool to see the finished product, hope it goes smooth!
Very excited for your family and thankful you haven't had a fire in that place totally understand why you're tearing it down.
Just bought a 122 year old house. It has the same log floor joist and roof trusses. I have to agree. With young ones, being that close to the road would be absolutely terrifying.
Thanks for sharing the story on the house. With the new Farm we just bought came with four houses and I should have tore down one of them I guess but I'm decided to put a new roof on it and and try to keep it alive. Have a great evening
Tear it all down and make something nice. You deserve it.
"Main reason, we just don 't like the color of the siding."🤣
I understand your challenge. My relatives lived in my maternal great-grandfather's prairie homestead house for years. They tried remodeling it again and again. One night they came home to find the house engulfed in flames. They think mice had been chewing on the wires for some time. Good luck with your new house. Please add videos on the progress. Happy Holidays.
I appreciate tge historical significance of the older buildings too. But sometimes you just have to use good judgement as you are. I found out years ago that it costs twice as much to renovate those older homes than it does to just build new. One lesson I’ve learned is to build your house for your old age. Make sure it will be comfortable for your retirement. Uiu definitely have a lovely site there to build. I’m sure it will be nice. I have to admit that admire you. greatly. Such a hard working young man with his priorities in the right place. You’re an example to many other people. A true ambassador for agriculture too. God bless you your family and your farm.
Nothing wrong with testing it down. 200+ years has proven the worthiness. Not knowing to adapt and continue to learn/modernize is killer for all. Glad you are following your instinct. A more comfortable/more efficient house (like farming has continued to evolve) will only result in a positive outcome that ultimately feeds the world! Thank you for all your efforts
"Why'd you tear the house down?"
"We didnt like the color of the siding. House had to go." 😅
Definitely makes sense to replace the entire house in this case. Would def cost far to much to try and salvage whats good and replace the rest.
I currently live in a 1930s house that I completely re modeled my self about 10yrs ago. Complete meaning, all the structural framing, windows, electrical, plumbing, roof, insulation and part of the foundation. At one point I could stand in my basement and see the bottom of the roof. Tear that damn house down. I wish I did.
I just watched this nicely done video ❤
You made the right decision. 👍👍😎😎 We built a new house on the farm in 96. Old house was built in 1820 it was time got lucky and was able to burn it down at no cost.
Just because it's old, doesn't mean it's good. I agree, start fresh.
Eric, when they tear it down, be sure to save some of that good timber to re-use. A new mantle made from wall timber from this house would be special. Save the rest for future projects: chairs, tables, etc.
As sad as it is to loose a piece of your history it comes down to structural safety and energy efficiency. Would love to see it as you uncover the original walls. What are you going to do with the basement and root cellar?
Right choice, don't waste time and money, it's not worth it.
Good luck, we look forward to seeing your new build.
Best of luck to you! May your new home construction go without difficulties. Keep us posted.
Hahaha, "The main reason we are taking is down is because we don't like the color of the siding" Got me good!
Looking forward to following your journey as take the old house down and build your new home.
As soon as you walked in I could see why you were taking the house down. I bet a remodel done correctly would cost as much or more as a new house. Looking forward to the house videos.
A new home will bring new memories
Good luck with your new plans, How exciting, can't wait for updates.
Common sense at work here. Just the same it's a sad time as well. Farms and families have to move on but at the right time and in this case your correct. This is my wheelhouse and you are wise to make this move now. Hey 11th Gen needs a good sleep after a days work as do you Eric. Jack don't know jack yet but he will in time.
Cheers to all. 🇨🇦