Jenna Phipps house renovations: Preparing abandoned home for new foundation
Home Improved is news and information center for home renovation and DIY enthusiasts. The hub offers a mix of articles and videos from across Gannett with tips and advice for how to upgrade and main your home and yard.
No matter how overwhelming your home improvement project may feel, chances are Jenna Phipps has fought through worse. Jenna and her partner Nick are in the process of renovating an abandoned home in the Pacific Northwest, and chronicling it all on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Each week, we'll bring you some selections from Jenna's YouTube page, with a portion of the summary created through the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists are involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.
How they did it
Early in their project, Jenna and Nick began tearing up a concrete pad to prepare for a new foundation. Their steps included:
- Removing the existing concrete slab to a depth of 30 inches.
- Deciding to bury the concrete instead of paying for disposal.
- Ordering 80 lb rebar for structural support after consulting with experts.
- Digging a trench and discovering artifacts from previous construction.
- Drilling into bedrock to ensure a stable foundation.
- Building a rebar framework, which they referred to as a bridge, to support the new concrete beam.
- Completing the rebar installation in five days, exceeding their initial timeline expectations.
- Receiving approval from an engineer for their work.
- Preparing for concrete delivery by ensuring the site was ready and preventing flooding.
As the concrete arrived, they used a concrete vibrator to remove air bubbles. They faced challenges, including a broken drill bit and timing issues with their lunch break. Despite these setbacks, they managed to pour the concrete and level it, learning the complexities of concrete work. Jenna and Nick expressed their newfound respect for professional concrete workers, acknowledging the effort required to achieve a quality finish. They plan to continue with their renovations in the coming weeks.