Friday, July 15, 2011

"What's Happening? Is it Breaking?" "Um...yeah."

Those are two sentences you never want to hear said near a construction site. Especially when the construction site is next to your house!

When we got to vacation, there was a house on the dunes (which I totally ranted about here.) Rumors had it the house was being moved Thursday, but no one was sure. Especially because the morning was windy with a capital W!

1pm, Thursday afternoon, we've just gotten back from the beach to have lunch, throw in some laundry and reapply sunscreen before heading back down to the water and the house is still sitting there, on the dunes. The following conversation takes place:

Dad: So Lin, I guess they aren't moving the house today.
Mom: Good, I don't want to be here when they do.
*beep beep beep*
Me: Does anyone else hear that noise?
I go outside to see what could be beeping. A crane has pulled up in front of the "house" next door! I go back inside.
Me: Um Dad, remembered how you just said they aren't moving the house today? A crane just pulled up next door!

I guess the wind had died down enough that they felt confident in moving the house!

My dad wanted to watch from the deck (which at one point was inches away from the house while it was being moved) but he and my brother had to go out for a bit.

Which left my mom and I alone in the house. I was baking cookies, and she was doing laundry. Except when the crane started moving, cookies were yanked from the oven and left sitting on the counter half baked, clothes were left in the washer and dryer, but fortunately, we did turn off the oven! We just felt the corner, far away from the moving house, was a safer place to be than the second floor of the house next door to the moving home.

I made a video, because I don't think what happens with this house is entirely believable unless you see it!
Some of the highlights include:

  • "Dave" (at least, that was the name I think everyone was yelling at this guy!) scaling the foundation, mid lift, to knock free some debris - while the house hangs inches from his head
  • My mom's understatement of the year: "I don't think they did this well." (2 minutes, 57 seconds)
  • The house twisting like an ice cube tray

 The voices you hear in the background are my mom and I discussing the insanity.

You can watch the video here. I will admit that it starts a bit slow because everything is going well, but wait for it, craziness will ensue.


But, if youtube isn't working, you're short on time, or you just don't feel like watching a video, you can check out these pictures:


 The crane starting to lift the frame.

 Everything is going well.

 The house isn't placed on the foundation correctly, and almost topples off. 

This is what they finally settle on.
Still looks crooked to me!

2 comments:

Mary Pat Siehl said...

how fun! my uncle moved his house--it was really fun to watch!

Becky said...

Wow, unbelievable! Makes you wonder if the guys working the crane knew what they were doing! Ha!

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