The Demolition Of Our Childhood Seashore Home With Many Fond Memories
An Exciting but Sad Day
Today, June 3, 2013 was an exciting, but yet a sad day because of the demolition of our childhood seashore home with many fond memories.
When Hurricane Sandy hit the Eastern Coast line, thousands of homes and businesses were lost or severely damaged from the storm surge that flooded Long Beach Island and all the barrier Islands up and down the Eastern coastline.
Our family summer home was one of those that was beyond repair. My sister and her husband own this home and had plans of making it their place for retirement.
This home was bought by our parents on 1971 and has been in our family till today. My sister and I have so many fond memories there growing up as young children and having a time of our lives living the good life right on the water.
The home was a cute little bungalow with a few additions added on the front and the back of the house over the years. There is a beautiful dock footsteps from the back door were my sister and I had tons of fun, crabbing, fishing and boating as well.
House Is Gone but Memories Will Last a Lifetime
There Is Nothing Left but Fond Memories
Here is what's left of our home that was in my family since 1971. The home maybe gone, but the memories will last a lifetime.
I will post before and after photos her in this hub just to show you how fast a home can get demoed with the right equipment and the guy behind the controls.
It took four 30 yard dumpsters to get rid of all the debris from the house that was build in the 1920's. I'll tell you what, that house was constructed very well and to withstand many of Hurricanes, Nor Easter, and many floods over the years and has stood through everyone of them, BUT today our little home by the sea was no competition for the huge equipment that took her down within a 1 1/2 hours.
It was so sad to see the first piece of house be crushed and put in the dumpster and much sadder to see the final back wall come down and be placed in the dumpster. I stood on the dock watching that final moment and the huge jaws of life take down what was our life and our fond memories.
It truly brought tears to my eyes to watch that final moment, as if my life and memories flashed before my eyes, and the last of the house was gone.
Demolition of a Family Home
HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO DEMO A HOME OR WERE INVOLVED IN A DEMO?
Steps in the Demolition Process
There were so many things that needed to be done before anything could begin.
- First off, the entire content had to be thrown to the curb due to all the water damage from Hurricane Sandy.
- Sheet rock and and flooring had to be torn down and pulled up as the mold started to form so fast.
- Appliances all out to the curb.
- Furniture, beds, bed linens, clothing all to be thrown out.
- Basically everything in the house except maybe pictures that were hanging above 5 foot off the floor, for that was were the water line came to in this horrible super storm we had.
- Permits had to be pulled.
- We needed to hire a contractor that was well known on the Island and had high phrase on his past workmanship.
- An Architect had to be hired to design the new home that needs to be 11 feet above sea level.
- Putting your mind to action to make the layout of your new home just perfect.
- We needed to hire a contractor to demo the home and get rid of entire structure.
- Fresh dirt brought in to fill in all low spots were house originally sat. (crawl space)
- Picking out all appliances, cabinets, flooring, siding, windows, fixtures, etc.
- Electric, phone, cable wires needed to be taken down by utility crews.
- Sewer and water needed to be disconnected and caped off.
Some Photos of the Demo in Progress
If You Have Suffered Damage from Hurricane Sandy
If you have suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy then you should take your time and think out what your plans will be by rebuilding, your home and your life.
- Get your insurance adjuster in as fast as possible.
- Seek all options from the Government.
- Apply for all funds that are ready available for the public.
- Call FEMA to arrange a appointment to look at your property and it's damage.
- Do your research on Local Contractors that have done work for those you may know.
- Get references from the Contractor you may use.
- Decide whether to rebuild existing home or demo and start from scratch building a new home.
Standing on the Beach in Ship Bottom, Long Beach Island
House Demo in Just over 2 Minutes (fast Forwarding)
The video here is done in fast motion to give you an idea just how our home was demoed. This was not our home, but just an example of the process and the work involved in order to clear the home and get the land ready for pilings to be driven into the ground to hold up the new structure.
I will post more hubs on the progress as it unfolds regarding our Seashore family home on Long Beach Island.
Like I said, it is sad, but a new beginning of good things to come. Starting fresh with a new home up high enough now to withstand the high tides that may and will come in the future if Long Beach Islands gets hit with another Hurricane such as Super Storm Sandy.
