Imagine hiring a contractor to add a second story to your home, only to discover halfway through that the entire project has no permits, is structurally unsafe, and could collapse at any moment. This scenario was the reality for one of our clients, whose lives (and nearly their home) were turned upside-down after hiring a contractor whose shoddy work put their home in jeopardy.
The bad news is this wasn’t the first time our team at Lamont Bros has seen a situation like this. The good news is that we’ve had plenty of experience rescuing and restoring projects that have gone wrong. When we encounter home improvement projects with shoddy workmanship, we focus on identifying the issues quickly and creating a plan to make the home safe. For this homeowner, that meant stabilizing the structure, securing the necessary permits, and repairing much of the previous work. By taking these steps, we managed to protect the homeowner’s investment and peace of mind.
In this article, we’ll explore this remodel rescue in detail, discussing the steps our team took to solve the issues created by the previous contractor. Additionally, we’ll share valuable tips on how to identify potential problems before they start, whether you’re considering purchasing a new home or planning a remodeling project. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge you need to protect your home and hire a trustworthy contractor.
Hiring a Contractor for a 2nd Story Addition
Every great home improvement story starts with a vision. For our client, that vision was to expand their living space by adding a second story. To bring this vision to life, they did what many homeowners do—they turned to a friend’s recommendation.
The contractor came with a glowing review, a friendly demeanor, and a confident pitch to build their second story. He led the homeowner to believe that he had everything covered: permits, engineering, and all the little details that turn a home improvement project from a dream into reality. With these assurances, the homeowner felt confident they had made the right choice.
Early Red Flags
As the second-story addition moved forward, things seemed to be on track—until they weren’t. The first signs of trouble were subtle. The permits that were supposed to be handled? Nowhere to be seen. The engineering plans? Upon further inspection, they seemed more like rough sketches than actual blueprints.
As they began investigating the project plans and permitting, the homeowner’s initial excitement began to fade as these small doubts started to grow. It was becoming clear that what had been promised wasn’t quite in line with what was being delivered.
The Extent of the Contractor’s Shoddy Work
The situation reached a tipping point when the homeowner decided to take a closer look at the work being done. What they found was extremely unsettling: the structure wasn’t just unfinished, it was unsafe.
The addition, meant to improve the home, was instead putting it at serious risk. It turned out the contractor was in over his head, and the project showed telltale signs of shoddy work. The homeowner made the difficult decision to fire their contractor and search for someone who could salvage the situation. Unfortunately, by then, the damage was done, and the path to fixing it would be long and expensive.
The Rescue Begins: Finding the Right Contractor
Finally realizing the gravity of their situation, the homeowner knew they needed help—and fast. That’s where the team at Lamont Bros. came into the picture. Stepping into a project that’s already gone off the rails is never easy, but it’s something we’ve done our fair share of.
Initial Inspection of the Project
Our first step was to conduct a thorough assessment of the previous contractor’s shoddy work. We needed to figure out exactly what we were dealing with and, more importantly, how to fix it.
Upon inspection, it was clear that the situation was truly as bad as the homeowner feared. The structural issues were extensive. Their previous contractor had failed to evenly distribute the weight of the new second story. Worse yet, most of the new structure was attached to the old roof rafters, which were not built to hold the additional weight of a second story. In fact, the rafters dated back to the home’s original construction in 1905.
In short, the whole thing was a ticking time bomb. The most pressing concern was to stabilize the structure before any further damage occurred.
Creating a Rescue Plan
With the extent of the contractor’s shoddy workmanship laid bare, we got to work on a detailed rescue plan. The goal was clear: make the home safe, legal, and livable again.
The first order of business was securing the necessary permits, something the original contractor had failed to do. By properly permitting the work, we ensured that all of the changes to the home were documented and approved for habitation.
Next, we brought in structural engineers to put together a plan to reinforce the addition. This involved adding beams, supports, and hardware that should have been there from the start. Every detail had to be meticulously planned out to ensure that the new structure could safely support the added weight while also remaining economical for the homeowner’s budget.
As we planned the engineering changes, it became more and more clear how urgent the changes were. Burdened by the weight of the story above, the ceiling joists of the home began to bow. By the time our teams were ready to begin working on the home, the ceiling had bowed 3 inches and was on the verge of collapse.
The Work Begins: Rebuilding With Care
With a solid plan in hand, our team began systematically addressing each issue. The focus now was on reinforcing the existing structure, ensuring the foundation could bear the load, and correcting all the flaws left behind by the previous contractor. Here’s how the rebuilding process unfolded step by step:
Foundation Work
To reverse the effects of the first contractor’s shoddy work, we had to first address the foundation. The original foundation lacked the structural stability to support the new load from the addition. The main issue was that it did not adequately distribute the weight from above down into the ground below.
Adding New Footings: In the crawl space beneath the house, we installed new foundation footings. By installing these supports, we ensured that the structure could distribute the weight evenly across a greater surface area. As a result, the home’s foundation could bear the load above it.
Full Post Installation: To ensure the weight from the home properly transferred to the new footings, we added full posts that ran from the foundation up to the roof. We secured these posts to the new structural beams (see below). This approach both stabilized the current addition and also helped to safeguarded against future sagging or collapse.
Structural Reinforcements
Once we had addressed the foundation, we turned our attention to reinforcing the structure of the home. The addition’s structure had been poorly constructed, and the home itself had been built in the early 20th century, leaving the home very vulnerable to structural failure.
Adding Beams: One of the first actions we took was installing new beams to provide much-needed support to the outer walls of the addition. The existing lack of support beams was a major contributor to the dangerous sagging of the floor.
Installing Hardware: With the beams in place, we then went about reinforcing the entire framework with additional hardware. This included metal connectors and braces to secure joints, ensuring that all parts of the structure were connected to one another. Without these components, the risk of the roof or walls pulling the structural members apart under stress was dangerously high. By adding this hardware, we managed to tie the structural elements together, creating a more secure frame for the home.
Reinforcing Joists: The existing joists had borne the brunt of the previous contractor’s mistakes. As a result, our team had to reinforce or replace many of the joists to make the structure safer. This step was necessary to further reverse the severe sagging and ensure that the structure could handle the load without further issues. By reinforcing these joists, we eliminated the bowing and restored the structural integrity of the ceiling.
Ventilation and Mold Remediation
With the structural issues addressed, we found ourselves faced with another critical problem—ventilation. The original contractor had completely failed to properly ventilate the structure, leading to trapped moisture within the walls. This moisture in turn caused mold growth.
Adding Vented Bird Blocks: To correct the ventilation issues, we installed vented bird blocks (wood blocks with ventilation holes) in the roof cavity. By adding these vented blocks, we opened the necessary airflow paths to keep the roof cavity dry and mold-free.
Mold Removal: Unfortunately, due to the lack of ventilation, mold had already started to grow within the structure. This required us to remove any existing drywall and insulation affected by the mold and implement measures to prevent it from returning.
Miscellaneous Upgrades & Solutions
The final phase of the project involved correcting various unsafe elements that were either poorly constructed or completely overlooked by the original contractor. These components were important for ensuring the overall safety and functionality of the home.
Rebuilding the Stairs: The staircase was another issue that posed several challenges. The original stairs installed by the original contractor were not up to code, making them a serious safety hazard. We completely removed the old stairs and rebuilt them to meet safety standards, ensuring safe and secure access between the floors.
Constructing Shear Walls: To further reinforce the structural integrity of the home, we added shear walls. Adding shear walls typically involves attaching wood panels to the studs to provide support against lateral (side-to-side) forces, such as wind and earthquakes.
Returning to a Safe Home
In the end, our team was able to transform a dangerously unstable addition into a safe, structurally sound part of the home. By reinforcing the foundation, securing the structure, and addressing critical ventilation issues, the team ensured the home met all safety standards.
What began as a nightmare scenario for the homeowners eventually turned into a safe and secure primary suite that the homeowners could live in and enjoy. The first contractor’s shoddy work put them in a position that seriously jeopardized their home. However, the important part is that in the end, the owners were able to rescue their home and ended up with a spacious, safe, and legal primary suite on the second floor.
Want to Make Sure You Remodel Right The First Time?
After reading about this homeowner’s remodeling horror story, do you have a better idea of how to avoid shoddy contractor work for your next home improvement project? To help you prepare for your next remodel, download our free 3-Step Guide to Choosing a Contractor. With information and advice from experts in the remodeling industry, you can use this free educational resource to help you find and hire the perfect contractor for your next remodel.
At Lamont Bros., we love to help homeowners remodel the right way the first time. However, we also understand that sometimes, people need help getting themselves out of a mess a previous contractor has put them in. Whether you’re just getting started on your remodel, or need a team to help rescue your home from a remodel gone wrong, we want to talk to you. Fill out the form below to schedule a free meeting with a member of our design team. We’ll help you explore how we can help you transform your home.