Old Farmhouse Demolition
We got a brand-new project: a demo of the old farmhouse in Middleton, Idaho. We are working on a 1952 farmhouse. It’s going to be a whole house remodel project. I showed you some irrigation pipe videos on this site before, but we’re starting the house demolition today.
Vinyl Siding Removal
The crew started by stripping off the vinyl siding from the front and back of the house. Underneath, sections of the original cedar siding were found—some in great condition, others replaced over time. Some of this wood may be repurposed later in the remodel.
Once the siding removal is complete, the interior drywall will come down as well. The home originally had wood windows, which were later replaced with aluminum versions. A few of the original wood frames still remain in the basement.
Demolition and Rebuild Plan
Most of the existing structure will be torn down, though the floor above the basement may be reused depending on its condition. The remodel will include a 24-foot extension off the side and 50 feet to the back, creating a much larger footprint.
New scissor trusses will go over the main structure, with attic trusses forming a loft above. The finished home will include about 2,200 square feet on the main floor, 500 square feet in the loft, and roughly 792 square feet of finished basement space.
Roof and Interior Details
The existing metal roof, installed over composition shingles, will be dismantled and saved for possible reuse. Underneath, the old comp and skip sheathing will be removed to prepare for new roofing materials.
Inside, the home still features original elements like a solid fir door, wood floors, and 1950s-style built-in cabinets made of natural wood—all in surprisingly good condition. The living room contains an older wood stove that only needs minor maintenance.
The design team plans to maintain the home’s large window openings to keep the bright, open feel and preserve its scenic views.
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Basement Condition and Utility Work
The basement walkout will be removed because the concrete was never waterproofed and allows moisture to seep through. The basement itself has a seven-foot ceiling and strong poured-in-place concrete walls that remain in excellent condition, showing no cracks or settling despite their age.
The existing plumbing will be replaced entirely, removing all cast iron pipes and pre-plumbing for a future bathroom. The basement’s pressure tank for the well will remain and stay in a conditioned space to prevent freezing.
Radon Mitigation System
What’s important is to ensure you have an excellent radon mitigation system in your basement and crawlspaces. What we use to check for the averages of radon is Airthings Corentium Home.
It says the long-term average is 1.18, and the short-term average for seven days is 1.51. The one-day short-term average is 0.56. It’s only been 0.56 yesterday. This increases in wintertime, which is what we’re in now. I’ve seen it as high as 3, but the long-term average continues to come down.
If you look at the back of the device, you can see anywhere between 0 and 2; continue to monitor. If you go 2 to 4, ventilate and monitor. If it’s 4+, you must contact a professional and keep monitoring.
It’s a great practice to put a radon system in a home, even if it’s passive. Then, you can set a vent on it to pull the air out. We will drill into the slab and put a system in that’ll vent out the roof of this house. We’ll do the same in the crawlspace and tie those together for best practices to ensure a healthy home.
Need Help?
If you need help building a custom home, ADU, or whole-house remodeling, request a project consultation with us. We have offices in Ramona, California, serving the San Diego County area, and Middleton, Idaho, serving the Boise Metro area. You can also explore our comprehensive collection of similar videos on our YouTube channel, The Real Property Show.
