woodworking homemade shopmade craft
HOUSE REFORM BY MYSELF
My house is very old, built some decades ago. It is now much damaged as built in very cold area, also many times, has been reformed. Once many family people lived here, but now too large for present life resulting troublesome cleaning, maintenance etc. Generally Japanese house is smaller than overseas house. My house is not so large, but for me, too large. It is Japanese standard concept to live in adequate space, thus Japanese furnitures, household electric appliance are small. Japanese cars are small in general. Anyway;
It occurs flood in this area 20-30 years ago. The foundations are much damage in the spring seasons because of snow thaws. Now our town office improved drainage by repeated extensive construction for which we townspeople, tax payers, appreciate much. But it was too late in case of my house. Recently the floor of some rooms are slanted, and it need repairs.
Then I started repair and reform the house in several years. I began this work from the butsuma (Buddha's room - family Buddhist alter is placed).
The floor of this butsuma is completely damaged. Therefore when somebody walk in this room, the alter rattles. From time to time, the buddhism priest comes here to chant the sutra but seemingly he is scared.
I removed floor all over, put some new foundation blocks, thick beams and floored newly threon. First boarded by chip board, next the hard stylofoam board and finally 12mm plywood. After that I covered the whole floor by rug. Damaged tatami (Japanese typical floor mat made of straw) are completely removed. Now the floor of butsuma is quite steady. Buddha feels comfortable now, I wish.
Also I painted newly all the walls and ceiling. Additionally the closet fusuma is made newly.
Floor is fell down.
Removed floor
Beam is rotten.
Replaced beam 3 layers of 2x4 coated by aseptic
New floor chip board + styrofoam + plywood
Covered by rug. Buddha feels good, I hope.
The floor of my room was slightly slanted, but not so severe. I checked it removing a part of floor and confirmed no damage is found under the floor but only some foundation blocks sank because repeated flood took soil away a little. I replaced them all, and put new (tatami)
Walls are painted. Original walls are natural Japanese cedar which I wanted to polish overall, but it caused poor result. I wish renew with fresh Japanese cedar if possible some day.
I also painted all the walls outside of the house, and will make a deck and the wisteria trellis etc. in the nest spring. Also I am planning to paint the roof within this year.
As you would know, Japan is the country of natural disaster, therefore you have to keep the house to sustain heavy snow, typhoon, big earthquake volcanic activity(!) etc. After that big earthquake and tsunami in 2011, I got nervous.
In next several years, I will repair the necessary parts as much as I can. It is the advantage that I can do it by myself, I believe.
Original floor of my room Wooden floor and rugs thereon
I have no photo of construction. This is the result covered by plywood
Tatami mats are set. It is quite comfortable!
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