wanderingsibyl
102077
1447
22
Mental illness, hoarding, and alcoholism are all at play here. This picture is after about 8 hours of grueling yard work.
The worst area is the east side.
After hours of cleanup to prepare for demolition.
Bedroom my father was staying in, took about three hours to clear out. I’m currently clearing out all of the big items like appliances and salvageable tools and scrap to sell and make demolition easier. We can’t afford a company so we are doing it ourselves.
Progress! Hoping and praying for a collapse lol
Big windows out. They were in surprisingly good shape and will be donated.
I wasn’t planning on tearing this wall down but it kinda just fell apart after taking the door off to get the fridge and other big items out.
It was easier to tear down the wall to get the big appliances out than to clean up the rest of the house to make a safe path. This wall came down with zero resistance.
I hadn’t stepped foot inside in five years and in that short time it went from a few roof leaks and tools everywhere to astonishingly dilapidated and trashed. I’m tired, but I cannot wait to see it as a pile of rubble.
I’m considering arson /s.
depressedscientist
Wow. Looks like my dad’s house. What’s with them?
Twinklepot
Very upsetting for you OP. Hope you are alright ?
mrsdowneyjr
Thank you for recycling what you can
plaidzombie1
I think you might have a leak…
nailpounder
Sorry for your struggles, I'm a General Contractor and have dealt with (and helped) hoarders. Imagine an absentee landlord's surprise!
Wowcablesucks
Arson is the only way
IIikethecutofyourjib
Peace to you my friend...that had to be hard. Please let us know if you need anything ❤❤❤
delab
Entropy
itgoeshere
Creating a YouTube channel of the demo might actually gain some traction - and sponsorship.
EroticZombiePants
A relative become a hardcore hoarder after his wife died. When my uncle went to his house after he died, the stench was so bad ... 1
EroticZombiePants
He literally had to call a Hazmat team to go inside first.
theinternetkeepsmealive
Can't wait to see more progress.
TevishSzat
"Only the silent, sleepy, staring houses in the backwoods can tell all that has lain hidden since the early days; and they are not >
TevishSzat
communicative, being loath to shake off the drowsiness which helps them forget. Sometimes one feels that it would be merciful >
TevishSzat
to tear down these houses, for they must often dream." - HP Lovecraft, 'The Picture in the House', and all I could think of seeing this.
The3rdwheel
8 hours with a crew of my ex coworkers .. this place would be 4 dumps in the landfill
wanderingsibyl
Want to come over?
myotherusernameisalreadytaken
There was a story about a house so infested with cockroaches that they had to burn it. Just a random thought, not an err incitement.
Euchre
It's pretty terrifying that someone was actually living in that house.
Munchman347
Some of us develop a fear of 'Not Having' or 'Doing Without', a pile of 'useful' things can be very calming. But, hoarding is an illness...
cre8majic
and it builds so slowly that people become trapped in their homes
GlobalIntrovertsClub
Sending hugs! My mom was in the same position until we forcibly removed her.
nolanurse
gregthewalrus
CaptMinion
You could contact the fire department and ask if they want a practice house. I have heard some places will do it and after they practice 1/2
CaptMinion
Some they will control burn it down.2/2
CaptMinion
And I just saw someone else mention this. Disregard my comment
NKato
And what happened to Dad? Also I'm hoping you plan on building a new house on the foundation after you're done tearing it down.
wanderingsibyl
He’s staying with my brother out of state. Yes. The land is gorgeous and a great location so we’re planning on putting a prefab home there.
NKato
A prefab? Why not just build something that the family would like to work together on?
wanderingsibyl
Money and time.
Rookie8286
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”is still true.One that first roof leak, broken window isn’t fixed,deterioration accelerates
wanderingsibyl
Yes and he’s a former construction worker and architect with all the tools at his disposal. It baffles me why he never took that ounce.
Rookie8286
Depression? Anxiety? Those types of psych issues can make people behave oddly and do irrational things.
SirSandwich
Depression can make doing anything, even the things you know you have to do, impossible…
Phoenix0rion
My best friends dad was an architect and designed and built their home.Became an alcoholic,never finished the house, it grew like that too
wanderingsibyl
My dad is also a retired architect! Crazy how common this is.
Phoenix0rion
What did he like to work on?
wanderingsibyl
He was mostly a residential architect, worked with Fay Jones (prominent architect here). Helped design a few chapels with Jones too. Then 1/
wanderingsibyl
he worked with a firm that did some residential projects but also corporate stores like Walmart. 2/2
WisconsinHome
I’m really sorry you’ve had to deal with this! It would certainly take time to process. You’re a good child he’s lucky to have. I like
WisconsinHome
It a lot that he’s a loving grandfather. Has he been assessed for depression and cognitive changes?
wanderingsibyl
Yes for the cognitive changes and he’s fine on that front. He refuses to get mental health help though.
WisconsinHome
Glad it’s checked and ok. Not even meds? What state are you in- I was trying to tell by the foliage but couldn’t
BeauDuke01
You honestly might try and contact the nearest fire dept, and offer it up to them to train with.
BrovoFoxtrot
From my understanding sensitivity reuse a concrete building they set a fire inside - don’t quote me tho
mycatwontletmeclosemybedroomdoor
I've been through fire towers training and every single variable is tightly controlled; you can't do that in decrepit structures. Not safe.
candyland83
Yep. And training guidelines that dictate every detail. And each guideline was paid for by someone who died in a training fire.
HobbiesAndOtherItems
Back in 1982, our fire department did that with a house right in our busy suburb (Columbus, Ohio). The whole neighborhood watched.
dfhowes
2016 Tea, SD had a controlled burn on an unused grain elevator. https://youtu.be/fWHrAWT-X1I
wanderingsibyl
I have and my city fire department does not do that. They said environmental and safety concerns plus they have their own training facility.
bottledham
candyland83
A home that’s waiting to collapse would be fought from the exterior anyway. It’s a death trap in a fire.
Deekermanns
Sooo, useful training then?
candyland83
Not when compared with the risk of lighting the trees and the neighborhood on fire.
TwoRamenTwo
If money is more a concern than time, I'd just use a Sledgehammer, Pry Bar, and if you have one a Sawzall with a Demolition blade. (1)
bottledham
Friend of mine is paralyzed from the waist down because he tried to demolish an old farmhouse that way. Do it right or don't do it.
TwoRamenTwo
(2) The most annoying part will actually be finding and cleaning up the nails so they don't go through someone's foot...
wanderingsibyl
Yes money is the main concern. We have everything you mentioned and that’s what I’ve been using so far to get the salvage and stuff out.
TwoRamenTwo
Be careful about that roof, don't want that coming down unexpected. I'd also look into perhaps clearing a large portion spot in the yard (1)
TwoRamenTwo
(2) for the possibility of maybe controlled burning some of the wooden debris in piles, it could save on the dumpster perhaps.
wanderingsibyl
The city won’t issue a burn permit for housing debris. But we’re renting a backhoe soon for the major demolition bc the roof scares me.
nolanurse
@OP, what’s the story about your last visit 5yrs ago ?
wanderingsibyl
He refused help or to do anything about it. I still saw him occasionally but for my own health and safety (physical and mental) I refused 1/
wanderingsibyl
to go inside anymore. I still met him places to get him groceries and have dinner. I had a daughter about two years ago and he’s a very 2/
wanderingsibyl
loving grandparent, we just don’t go anywhere near his house. He’s currently staying with my twin brother while I and my boyfriend and 3/
wanderingsibyl
friends try to clear the land. 4/4
Rookie8286
Kudos to you, daughter.
IIikethecutofyourjib
You are an amazing daughter, which I'm sure translates to you being a fantastic mother too.
TehMightyEngineer
As a structural engineer that place is fucked; don't try to demolish this by hand. Rent a small excavator, it's much cheaper than an injury.
wanderingsibyl
Yeah that’s the plan. Had to get sellable scrap and tools out first, along with some sentimental belongings like old pictures and furniture.
TehMightyEngineer
Glad to hear it. When taking it down; rip the sheathing off of the walls and then push or pull the roof over. The whole structure will 1/2
TehMightyEngineer
fold over letting you use the bucket to rip up the roof on the ground. If you nibble at it you'll end up with risking it falling on you. 2/2
TehMightyEngineer
Unless of course you rent a really big excavator that can reach the whole roof. Then fuck it; go nuts however you want. 3/2
cre8majic
That sounds like it might be therapeutic, in a way!
TehMightyEngineer
Oh, and wear PPE and hose it down while you're demolishing. Probably full of lead, asbestos, mold, shit, and other bad things 4/2
twoamartist
I volunteered at a hoarding situation today. Praying I don’t get sick. Absolutely tragic. We are failing our country.
HotSauceEnema
You’d be amazed at how common hoarding is
ConradPerson
A social worker told me it took 20+ hours of 1 on 1 counseling to really help a hoarder and that people die in fires from this routinely
twoamartist
Yes. Their anxiety today was palpable. We did the best we could.
casbott
Can't find counselling for my mother, this is the kitchen floor and it's better than most of the house.
cre8majic
Is she open to counseling? You have to get at the root, just cleaning it up won't work long term, causes stress
serephemeral
I do professional residential cleaning. These people are worth so much more than the way they're living. I wish they could see that.
wanderingsibyl
He’s worth a lot to the community too. He was a brilliant architect and a top notch construction worker. Mental illness is a cunt.
serephemeral
Recovery is worth it. Sounds like he's got a good support system, especially you and the other people helping clean up. All the very best.
ZebraCockSandwich
This. I did housekeeping for a while and we got a 'special' call. Manager said volunteers only, b/c it was gonna be bad, so she wasn't 1/
ZebraCockSandwich
just gonna pick people and send them. I volunteered along with 4 other girls. All day job. Woman had been severely depressed. She loved 2/
ZebraCockSandwich
cooking but never cleaned up. It got so bad she felt like she couldn't possibly tackle it on her own, but was too embarrassed to ask for 3
ZebraCockSandwich
help. She finally called us, about 2 years after the initial 'it got so bad' - Our job became not just clean up the house, but to help her 4
wanderingsibyl
Walking in there was absolutely heartbreaking. I don’t think I’ve fully processed it yet.
ilsalta
twoamartist
Many blessings. This will be with me for a while, for sure. The lack of resources is maddening. So, I volunteer. Least I can do.
WisconsinHome
I’m Where you live and what kind of organization has volunteers for this. You’re a good person
twoamartist
New Jersey, Habitat for Humanity. Thanks, and I’m very grateful and honored to work with such amazing people.
WisconsinHome
I like and agree with your perspective. Retired social worker here- felt honored people talked with me and let me in their house. Love HFH!!
Newfehotep
I'd strongly suspect you haven't, but doing this is probably soul cleansing as well. Be kind to yourself, go find a big hug when you're done
Newfehotep
Walking into my fathers place was shocking, took months for me to reflect on it. I'd known (though dad) older men living like this as a kid.
wanderingsibyl
It is cathartic in a way for sure. I go back and forth between it being crushing and cleansing.
KPuff
Grief is a funny thing, ain't it?
Newfehotep
It's rough, I'm sorry. You'll be ok eventually, remember to give yourself some grace in the meantime. *hug*
MisterBrahanovich
Rent an excavator and just smash it with the bucket
nailpounder
faster with a chain saw/skil saws (if you know how) and use the front loader to fill the truck or trailer.
nailpounder
I dropped a detached garage into bite sized pieces in under an hour (2-3 feet/under a meter for easy handling). very important to not bind
nailpounder
guy in the bobcat after his 1st dump run: holy shit
wanderingsibyl
Yeah that’s the plan. It just costs a lot for the dumpsters and heavy equipment so we’re trying to raise and save money right now.
Newfehotep
A come along and some chains will pull it down (especially in that condition) so you don't worry about a safety concern anymore?
MisterBrahanovich
Or just cut some trees to fall on the house?
wanderingsibyl
Not a bad idea, there aren’t any big ones that would reach but the small ones on the side need to be cut down anyway and might help a bit.
TwoRamenTwo
I'd hesitate on any of those chain solutions below. Chain+Tension+sudden lack of tension = chain to the face.
Newfehotep
That's a problem of tension, they knocked walls down taking a door off here - you're not going to be subjecting it to tonnes of force here.
SpaghyetiWagon
Defintely gotta do it wrong the right way. We used 4 loops of 3/8 lifting chain backed by OSB and tons of heavy fiberglsss blankets on ?
SirSandwich
= no face
nailpounder
find a framer (someone who builds stick framed houses) if he's (or she) has a few years of knowledge and training as skil saw is awesome
SpaghyetiWagon
Once we used a Dodge cummins 3500 named Truck Norris with a chain wrapped around a delapidated shed and pulled it down in 4lo...slooooww
SpaghyetiWagon
Pretty much the only option since the plateau it was on was so silty and the manzanita leaves so deep we could not get anything heavy up.
Jhi85
We did something similar. Knocked out the sheetrock and left wood frame. Then used the dump truck hoist chain 2 tear it down. It wasawesome.
tiderfish
Dude… truck Norris is an awesome name
SpaghyetiWagon
Haha yeah, I agree. My friend is a pretty wild guy too. Born and bred in the mountains.
StepOnTheSun
Right! I laughed my a$$ off when I read Truck Norris!
skipweasel
Yup - looks like a good cleansing fire is the solution.
NoUserNamesLeftToChooseFrom
gregthewalrus
xenjamin
No!!!!! Lead paint, pvc, treated lumber. All very bad to burn.
BurningVeryImportantThings
this look like a job for... SOMEONE ELSE... *ahem* electrical fire *ahem*
BurningVeryImportantThings
if there are wires you can get someone on the phone to turn that shit on
stupidbastardinutah
Should ask if they want to burn it down as a training day.
wanderingsibyl
Our city does not provide that service, unfortunately.
ILiekToCookAndBake
Hey you're the one offering free tuition!
skipweasel
There's probably all sorts of pollution requirements they'd have to meet first - which would likely make it impractical.
BishlamekGurpgork
Not to mention it probably needs to be safe to enter on a good day to be safe to train in on an on-fire day.
wanderingsibyl
Unfortunately I asked the fire department if I could burn it down or they could and they said no
hippietown
too close to trees?
BurningVeryImportantThings
if you need someone to officiate I am available after the 8th
BurningVeryImportantThings
psh the fire department what do they know? not much about electricity in old building I can promise you that!
minipancho94
They didn't want to use it for training either though? Someone here did so and it made the FP IIRC.
wanderingsibyl
They have a training facility.
minipancho94
The one in the post I was mentioning did too IIRC. All depends on the department.
BishlamekGurpgork
It looks way too dangerous to go into by choice for training.
Subtilico
You can always hold a gender reveal party there.
WaterUnderTheRocketAppliances
I'm sure someone from imgur would gladly stop by and reveal their gender there.
anaberration
skipweasel
Not an entirely unexpected response.
MeatPopsicleMultiPass
"Can I burn this massive building down that is surrounded by a forest? " fire department:
MaineMariners
My buddy’s family had their old camp burned down by the FD as a training exercise. They stood in front of it as it burned and 1/2
MaineMariners
Had a big smiling family photo taken as it blazed behind them. Made for a hell of a Christmas card that year. 2/2
wanderingsibyl
It was to me because every other city in our area does it lol
WristDeepInaBook
they probably donated handsomely to the fire departments
Strangedays2024
I was going to say the only time I've heard them not do it was during burn bans.