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Picking Up and Moving (the House)
Patricia VandeMeulebroecke shows her father the foundation being raised for her Arlington house, an alternative to building an addition.
(By Ann Cameron Siegal For The Washington Post)
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Bill Patram, who moved 2,160 structures in 38 years running his own business, illustrates the care involved in moving a house with stories of how his crew would occasionally leave open soda cans on the floor. Once the house was relocated, they would find their drinks intact.
Patram, retired since 1990 but still sharing his experience with others, learned to move houses at age 11 by hand-cranking capstan winches while sitting on an inverted bucket in the back of a truck. Technology has changed the process considerably since then.
When done right, moving a house is a well-orchestrated process involving multiple mobilizations. For Gingher's move, done in the middle of the night to limit traffic disruption, teams of workers from telephone, power and electric companies labored in coordination with those from the highway and police departments -- clearing the way as the house, perched on dollies and airplane tires, was pulled slowly along by a Mack truck.
Workers removed stoplights, lifted mailboxes and shut down the 13,000-volt power lines that paralleled the route. They traded occasional calls of "Okay?" and "Got it!"
Moving crews worked alongside the house as it was underway, adjusting the hydraulic dollies to keep everything level.
As the house passed, other crews put everything back in order.
Although it's preferable to have the new foundation ready before moving a house, Gingher's house was backed onto its new site and jacked up to allow for digging the foundation later -- a far more costly process, but it worked better for her.
No Detail Too Small
Before you call a house mover, have a clear understanding of what you want to do. It's impossible for a mover to estimate costs without knowing a lot about the house, route and site. "Do your homework" is the unanimous advice from the experts.
Steve Dziuba of Dziuba Building Movers in Millerton, Pa., said that by getting as much information upfront as possible, he can determine whether the move will be cost-effective.
First, think about the house itself. Gather blueprints and photos. Before touching the building, contractors will need to know where main posts and beams are and what additions have been built.
Some questions you should be prepared to answer:
