Part 3: Rebuilding from the Ground Up

Posted on by Ilze

The real work began when we started rebuilding from the ground up—literally. The original flooring, like much of the wood in the house, was beyond repair. But the issues didn’t stop there. Beneath the floors, we found clay, which is not good. So, we had to remove that and fill it with the sand.

Since the main structure needed additional support, we began by installing a concrete foundation. We followed a traditional foundation method commonly used in areas where the ground freezes. A footing was placed below the frost line, with the wood framing added on top. The footing, which is wider than the wall, provides extra stability at the base of the foundation. We also had to add a concrete foundation to the end wall of the living area to divide the old house into two parts: the living space and the garage/storage area.

The black in the ceiling construction – isn’t good 🙂
First footing
Another one
The foundation for the end wall

We made a few adjustments to the soil and waste pipes, and once again, we had to water the sand to stabilize and compact it. After much consideration, we decided to replace the wooden sections of the house with aerated concrete blocks. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the only way to ensure the house would be warm and stable, especially during our harsh winters when temperatures can drop as low as -27°C. I also got creative with the window sizes, opting for larger windows to bring in more natural light.

Tearing down the wooden walls
Leaving house unattended without WALLS
Blocks for the walls
Some places had no foundation – we build that too
Starting the new walls
First Wall with the opening for window is ready!
Piece by piece, the walls are coming together… slowly but surely
Last wall in progress

Next, it was time to begin work on the new support structure. We built an entirely new system underneath the old one, as the upper floor will house our bedrooms, and extra support was essential. This turned out to be a massive job—time-consuming and physically demanding, especially on our legs and arms! We couldn’t have done it without Jānis’ dad, who showed up every day and kept working, even when we were struggling to keep up.

The First beam is in!

With that complete, we started by laying the first layer of concrete, followed by multiple layers of insulation. Next, we installed the underfloor heating pipes. Once everything was in position, we poured a final layer of concrete on top to finish the process.

The first conreat layer

Then came the fun part—we had to tuck the concrete under protective covers and water it constantly. The girls loved it! It was a hot week in Latvia, so cold water from the well, combined with the slippery protective film and brooms, turned the whole process into a fun game of hockey (or floorball).

The process was long and meticulous, but with every new layer, we felt like we were closer to making this house a home. This wasn’t just about preserving an old building; it was about building a new future, one step at a time.

Next… windows 🙂

Ilze

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23 thoughts on “Part 3: Rebuilding from the Ground Up”

    1. Thank you, Peggy! We’re now two summers in 🙂 I have one more progress post to write, and then everything will be up to date. This one turned out a bit long, but I’m glad to have it all documented 🙂

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  2. Wow, Illze! I love all of the wonderful construction photos, I am excited for you and your family! I want to see the home when it is complete and your family has moved into the home, such a major project! ❤️😊❤️

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    1. This major project is really wearing us out! Helmī’s birthday party was a great ‘test run’ for the ventilation system. With over 20 people in the house, we realized the air quality still needs work. I’m glad we tested the space and set up the table there, though we enjoyed a lovely evening until we noticed the air in that area was lacking oxygen. I hope we can finish all this in a few years. Livingroom in a few months!

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        1. Yes, it will take years! We’re doing everything ourselves on a tight budget, so what you see is the result of our hard work. It takes time, knowledge, and of course—money! The banks offered us loans, but we don’t want to be tied down. We’re determined to build our home without taking on debt.

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            1. In the USA, it’s like magic! You can sell your house for a great price and easily downsize. But here, it’s a lifelong commitment. The market is good only in Riga—no one in the countryside wants to buy an expensive, well-built house. So, this house is for us; no one will ever pay what we’ve invested. Funny enough, 100 years ago, big houses used to take 30 years to build. We’re not in any rush—just need a little more time to get there!

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    1. Thank you so much! It’s been a long journey, but we’re really proud of the progress we’ve made. We’re doing all of this for ourselves, with no intention to sell, so we’re 100% committed to getting every little detail just right. It’s a lot of hard work, but seeing it all come together makes it so worth it!

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