Gonna try this again & hopefully my comment will not disappear because this is very important. As a professional project manager in home restoration, my advice was to completely demolish that addition. Left as is, it needs total mold remediation which is $$$. ALL of that wood needs to go, ceiling too. Please, whether you take this advice or not be extremely careful, & I suggest not to use the kitchen door so that airborne mold spores don't get inside your home. Best of luck to you. ❤

That area needs to be an open side porch. What a mess! You may want to have a work party and get friends to help. You're not alone.❤

*Isaac,* WARNING! *The SECOND you see black mold STOP RECORDING!* It could CANCEL your home owner's insurance, or INCREASE your premiums SUBSTANTIALLY! In other words, deal with it (using lots of clorox bleach and an anti-mold additive added to your paint) but KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!

Ground water is making the wall wet, need to pull all the dirt away and put waterproofing on the outside of the wall to the bottom, add several inches of gravel then waterproof the inside of the block.

Isaac, we have gutted and redone two houses and you know what the best part of it is? When you're finished, you'll know it was done right and can take comfort in that. We found some unbelievably dangerous things in the last home we redid and were fortunate that no one was hurt by those situations. After we were done we knew what we had and how it was done and that it was SAFE. Another thing...you might want to get some breathable hazmat overalls, especially when dealing with fiberglass insulation and mouse poop and who knows what else. And a shopvac with disposable bags---mouse poop, especially, can carry some pretty nasty stuff. And get a cat that is a good mouser!! Wishing you patience and peace...

I vote reroof and open patio. Get rid of the the damaged stuff. Thanks for sharing. ❤️❤️💛

Awesome job isaac. Go enjoy the day. Just one thought, take the walls out but leave the roof up and fix it with the house roof. Even with an open patio, you all have so much rain, you'll get much more use from a covered patio ❤

Glad to see you working on the home stead..It’s important it’s the only asset you have that will never Depreciate

😢😢😢 Re-roof the house, make the addition an outdoor patio/play space (covered, of course)

Get rid of that wet wood and remove the brush and get gutters and put new wood on . New roof roof it seems too . Everything that guy did is sketchy . I'm guessing most of it needs to be replaced because he had no clue what he was doing . WOW anything that guy did needs to be removed . Gonna take a while but the more you remove the better ! Yup open patio for now .

Every step you take is improving your property. It’s tough. Everything you said is spot on, Issac. For now, if you feel like demo? Do it. Get that hauled off /burned and opened up. Then the worse tree: trim it down to half? Reroof house yourself. You tube has plenty of videos. People do these type things into their 60s! Yes, it’s a pain to clean up others screw- up but you’ll do it right and your property will be gaining value. I’ve always be told “don’t over improve or add an addition on to a property UNLESS it is your FOREVER home”. Demo is cheaper than spending over $5K to even get close to improving: roof, new drainage, rewiring, new installation, windows, framing new walls…… Open it up, leave a fireplace. You got it, Issac. Make $$ off UKposts as you film it!❤ May need another big dumpster. Drive up the mountains and take breaks! Come back and hit it again.

Isaac, The one thing I know about you you are a man of honor, character and resource you’ll find a way to fix your home and make it livable for you and your family. I’m proud of you man.

The concrete blocks are a retaining wall for the huge hill behind you. All the moisture will transfer through the block because it’s porous. You need to remove all from blocks and seal the concrete. Also you need a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air, when you use the wood stove it will dry the air out. Good luck and wish you well!

I’m sorry to add on but those look like carpenter ants. That’s important. If they are, consider getting the home and shops inspected. But it’s not just his shoddy work. Everyone there gets them multiple times in the long life of a house. They are a reality of owning a home in Oregon. Great job on the clean out!

I think after you move all the branches. You need to put a French drain in (I believe that’s what it’s called). You dig a trench about a foot before the concrete. You then put river rocks, then you can put a pcv pipe with holes, then more rocks. This allows the water to drain away from the building

Check all your down spouts and gutters, maybe check for some way to divert rain water or such away from house. Might help. Just a small thought. Hope it works to dry it out. Also make sure they are impacted with leave and etc. You can take a garden hose to some of the down spouts. ❤

If there was no disclosure on the issues with the house, you may have legal grounds to file a legal claim against previous owner, they would be liable to help rectify. Contact your realtor to ask questions or call a lawyer!

I love watching your brain go to work. You are a hard worker and great at solving problems. I know this is a huge undertaking, but I’ve seen you conquer the beasts before! New territory but you’ve got what it takes to stick with it and get it done!!

Yup, you got this. 👍 It looks overwhelming now but you're getting feedback, you're smart, patient and weighing up the options. It gets better and you'll be amazed how much a little bit of love and care goes. Bit by bit wins the race.

Issac, you can buy pretty cheap the tube for a french drain at home depot, lowes etc. It is about 6 to 9 inches around. Black corrugated tube, flexible kind of like and dryer vent hose. It comes predrilled with holes to catch water. It also has a 'sock" that stretches over the tube before you put it in the ground. You just dig a narrow trench about 12 inches deep. Put layer of gravel with some sand , pipe, then small gravel on top. Route it away from house down hill. French drains are real easy if you're willing to throw some elbow grease. We have done several on our property. Been in the ground for 25 yrs or so, still working like a charm. Use the dirt removed to fill in other areas on property.

Looks like that pressed board is not sealed properly and no seal between wall and concrete blocks. I would get rid of anything wet/moldy. And yes get all of the debris away from the bottom. The shingles are cupping. Not a good sign. Definitely should have had underlayment. We had a tin roof installed because of a mess like that. It was our best option at the time. Just like building buses. One step at a time. Spray for bugs. Get rid of debris that draws them in. Airflow to dry things out. Coat everything with paint for mold. Good luck! You may need to phone a friend on this one. Call in your troops!❤😊

Need to start on outside of that little room. Bare wood exterior walls no vapor seal no siding. No fascia no soffit. All means of water entrance.. Great video ❤

An open covered porch would be a nice hangout spot! It would cost less to turn it into a porch/patio space. I feel that it would be a money pit rebuilding it back to a room addition. Plus will take so much more time! Always enjoy your videos and keep up the good work 👍

That's a great idea....open patio. That back space is a hot mess. Get rid of it. Hugs

Your right You need to work from top to bottom and outside in. You also need a french drain and gutters and a drainage ditch outside your trailer, so the rain doesn't wash your property away. I wish you much success.😊

I'm not a professional, but if it were me I would leave that room as an open patio. Anything the previous owner did I would consider sketchy. I've said before, take down some of those trees around the house to let more light in and help dry up the overall condition of the house.

Get er done, isaac... Lots of work ahead. Stick to it. Do it on your time frame and grinder out. We are still here watching Proud of you......

Beautiful outdoor fireplace on covered patio!!! Wood stove move in to main house. Yay!!

I think that area needs to be taken out fix up the main house when u can some out door ideas if u wanted to put something in the area later on a out door coruch and table for the summer months if u wanted to spend time outdoors but not go anywhere and move it in side during the winter just a couple ideas

Isaac, pls, google protective clothing for mold removal. You are not prepared properly. Mold spores are floating all around you, no safety goggles, spores can enter through your eyes. Then blowing them around with a leaf blower. You should be bagging anything with mold on it. Your life though.

Doing great getting rid of all the mold, mice etc.

Maybe you could put metal roofs on all the shop buildings. I like metal roofs, my grandparent's farmhouse had one that they took good care of and I know it was almost like new in the mid 70s after having been installed in the mid 1930s. I know how it was in the 70s because my mom and I helped give it a coat of metalic paint and it was still really nice. Anyway a tin roof might be quicker, more water resistant, less expensive than shingles and have a longer lifespan.

I’m sorry! Things will get better. You have a beautiful home.

Home ownership is tough sometimes, but it's all worth it in the end. Love all your videos Buddy . Mucho Love n Prayers To All ❤❤❤..

You’re doing a great job around the back porch area Wondered one day if you were able to consider an easy project soon with the Ember tiny home atop of your recording studio -would be a practical use of time, space and a fun build project for your upcoming video projects on your channel-great job so far 🎉❤😊

I've read through a ton of the messages and agree with most. New roof on home, covered patio/play area (can be screened in later), address drainage around retaining wall/patio, and be ultra careful working around mold. - - I'm curious, what is the reason for the wooden areas of flooring when most appears to be concrete? - - The wheel....LOL - - I bet those shells were sunflower seed shells left by your little mice friends. - - Hang in there, home ownership is a job in itself. - - Hugs to you, Jaylena and Ember

Source of shells found, Mickey and Minnie were living there. Exposed wood on the outside of a home is never good. Pull back the dirt, and waterproof those bricks. Once you get it finished you will feel better knowing you did it yourself. Open it back up, will save money be less of a headache.

I just love watching you & Jaylena no matter what you all are doing !! ❤️ Great suggestions here & I know much more help will come. Your so close to 100k. 🎉🎉

Tear it out to the studs. Identify and fix the water infiltration issues (outer walls and roof). Build back better after you decide what direction to take. Open porch is a great option to start. It's a LOT but you've got this. Also, roofing is hard work but it's not hard. I helped my Dad put a roof on an addition to his house when I was in my teens.

Please be very careful,that is very dangerous work

It's probably seeming pretty overwhelming right now, but you can do it. I would go open air porch, maybe plastic porch roofing to get some natural light in there. Look at the bright side, once you get all the walls opened up and disposed of, the rest can be worked on at a slower pace as you have the airflow. Don't panic about the other roofs, even the home at this point. Definitely check their condition/quality too though.

You need to call in the bus calvary for this. How many busses can you fit in your driveway. Have a demo day/ . Bus reunion at the end have a bbq. Many hands make quick work. Come on guys how many of you would show up. Show him some love. Let him know you would be there to support him.

Outdoor patio sounds like the way to go….you get a great covered outdoor space and it sounds like the least amount of hassle.

I myself would tear it all down, concentrate on the rooves and leave that as a patio area, because Ember doesn't have much outdoor area at the back anyway so that would be good for her.👍❤️

Open patio is a great idea. Great video!

A French drain is a trench filled with gravel or rock, or both, with or without a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and groundwater away from an area. The perforated pipe is called a weeping tile to facilitate drainage more effectively. Issac, this explains the meaning of a "French drain". Around our home we have this as our home is on a concrete slab. We also put down heavy landscape material then added 6 inches of pea stone on all sides. We no longer have any water problems. It was well worth the time and money to divert water away. Good luck and keep those videos coming. Being a first-time homeowner can be stressful to say the least but doing your research will help immensely.

My vote is for an open patio. A nice outdoor area away from the road, that’s private…sounds delightful! I’d recommend a French drain along the retaining wall, some bigger gutters, and more down pipes to capture all that rain and take it away. You definitely could learn to shingle your own roof. There is a channel called DIYfferent that you may like to watch.

in all honesty even with what a lot of others are saying. I would get on the roof take back shingles until there is underlay. put under lay on there and reshingle. make sure all the mold is gone on the roof. knock out the wall but leave the concrete brick wall to hold. but make a nice outdoor porch. knock the closet down but use the light for outside light. knock the closet out. leave the fireplaces. and make a nice outdoor area.

You've got this, Isaac. Just think of it as a HUGE bus....with no wheels. 😊 The debris is definitely causing draining issues... there's probably French drains somewhere around that block wall. Find them. Clean them out. Clean gutters. 100% remove the moss from the shingles. This is causing water to dam up and backflow up under the shingles. This will buy you some time until you can resheathe, underlay and shingle the roof. Don't panic. One step and day at a time. Together, you absolutely can do this. 💛

Wow!! You got this bro. I am not a roofer, but when my roof was replaced, the roofers made sure the first layer which is plywood was in excellent condition. Then they replaced the tar paper, and next they replaced all of the shingles. Also the cement block retainer wall needs to be sealed else water can seep through the wall. If there is any wood touching the dirt part of the retainer wall, it needs to be replaced with cement blocks. You also need to add more drainage in addition to good gutter drainage (This is key to alleviate water seeping in through walls). There are holes in the roof and roof encaps. Water can come in there as well. I would also install permanent vents into the end caps which is the tip end of your roof to ensure you always have airflow in that area. Hope this helps. Good Luck!!

Definitely open it up, it would be a nice play area

Drainage and organic material up next to the siding is the biggest issue. I'm guessing those downspouts that are run into the ground DO NOT go into any sort of drainage pipe. If it were me, I'd put a French drain in the back so water coming down the hill cannot get into the structure. I'd tie my roof drains into that as well. I'd have rock up next to the structure to keep critters away.

Did you contact your home insurance when the limbs came through Embers' room? You may have been able to get a new roof for the price of your deductible. That's what happened to us once. If not, you might still be eligible. If not, check to see if the rest of the roof is without tar paper. That back room could have been added on later, and he cut corners then...fingers crossed. If the whole roof is without tar paper, best to re-roof. I agree with you, open up that entire back area, so you can see what happens during a storm.Those ants looked like carpenter ants. Also, hopefully, the water issue is only the roof and debris behind the house. I would check that retaining wall too because water could be seeping through the back. So glad, you wore a mask, you dont want to take any chances with mold and mouse droppings! Good luck Issac!

that brick is for outdoor retaining wall that is an outside area closed in that was never water tight nor can be without removing everything and starting over...so make it a screened porch area outdoor kitchen chill spot

I am so sorry. You have many great ideas God bless you give you knowledge and strength

I agree with your idea and it seems according to the comments that is your best route.

You are spot on..Drying in is the most important

It would help if you had a 10-year warranty talk to your homeowner's insurance company. Also, didn't you need a certificate of occupancy from the town or county? I'd call your closing lawyer for advice on how to proceed then the realtor. This is not right somebody needs to stand by you!!!

Open patio! Multi purpose space and less costly. You can utilize it that way and decide in a couple years if you want to enclose it or see if you’re going to sell it eventually and next owners can do that if they want.

Add tear down redo the roof just have a nice mental roof over the whole trailer and then have a nice back covered porch

Omg, my stomach turned when the bugs were found. Do you think your whole house will need to be fumigated? 😮

I would not spend any money fixing anything below the roof until you can replace the roof or you’re just going to be chasing your tail! No roof or a foundation you don’t have a house. I hope those are not termites that you sprayed as ants. They look a lot alike! Did you have to have an inspection before you bought the house? I would read the paperwork and sue. Hope it did not say “as is”. You might need two channels. Truck camping and home rehab. Good luck!

Sorry you have so much damage to that area , keeping you in my prayers God keep you and bless you Isaac.🙏💕

Issac if your gutters overflow, the point of the down spout is the lowest point and if the drain connected to that downspout get plugged or blocked then it's dumping a ton of water there. If the sheeting under the shingles isn't wet or rotted than that is not your problem, it's not great practice but the shingles should seal it and make it water proof. Odds are when your gutter was clogged then water overflowing into all of that wall everything it rained just fed the mold, mildew, and funk!!!!

definitely agree to remove all that damaged walls and build back to a covered patio

I love your approach here. This is a really hard thing to face. Thanks for taking us along on this journey and sharing it with full transparency

Jist one more thought on outdoors, maybe rent a woodchipper instead of burn? Ypu can cover up poopyard and maybe makes some paths a la a state park. Check what wood is best to chip, i live in Ma. So i am not sure about PNW. It would clean it up, AND it would be fun!!!

Prayers for you and your family ❤

Those carts are great Isaac but you need to keep a supply of those cotter pins in your stash because they can come out when you don’t realize it and then you can’t find it. I lost mine for my handle in my yard and it held on for a bit then pull off and I could not find the dang pin anywhere. I bought a dozen of those suckers to keep in my shed just in case. You were lucky to find the pin.

Thx for sharing Issac. I know you will have to make decisions regarding that area. Going to be a lot of work. There was no weather safe guards done when whoever did that addition. Praying for you and your family. Blessings ❤❤❤

Gravel for drainage also. That guy was something else, wow

Great job !

You missed a prime opportunity to use the caption "THE WHEELS ARE COMING OFF" 😂😂😂😂 Good luck on this demo!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Well, like yesterday's comments, it seems like gutters and french drain would definitely help!!!😊🎉❤

Try a metal roof. Price it out and see how much it cost.

You got this, you're very clever and gifted at what you do.

Really proud of you buddy for sticking with it.. that house is going to be a lot of work but you guys will turn it into a beautiful home to raise your daughter in she'll be so proud of you guys.. best friends stick together..💜💜🌹

Do read the comments! Great advice! God bless you! Get you some help! Maybe, the gutters are not installed correctly! Bad drainage….Bad roof! New roof needed!One day at a time! Do an open porch! take a break go do something fun yourself some rest, your mind will be fresh then, and then you can come up with a solution! As for me, if that place was mine, I would do what you’re talking about to the best that I can and I would sell it!

You should rip out that back enclosure and make a open deck,you are to close to the retainer wall . I think you are onto the right path. 😊

Wow what a job . Good luck

Hi Isaac. Still much love and hugs to you all. Just a suggestion that to tear all of the wood structure walls and roof down. You would still have concrete foundation. Maybe consider looking into Adobe tube bag walls. You have fireplace for heat and you could reuse windows. Easy and fairly inexpensive. As well as eco friendly. Good luck

Issac you’ve got it. It’s a mess but you can make it to perfection like you do when remodeling buses. I see the potential

I'd make it an outdoor patio. Keep the big bricks. Get rid of the drywall, insulation, wood, and fireplace, fix the roof.

Little by little you will get it done, just try to get the roof done by next winter , call on some mates when u have to

I believe if when you had your home inspection and they didn't catch this, then you can sue the company, and reroofing will be their responsibility . Check it out before you take this on.😢 Don't do to much until you get in touch with your finance company.

I'm really wondering how the previous owner was legally allowed to build these things? Like where were the permits /codes at?

Hey Issac, It looks like you have your hands full on your house. Lucky for yourself you're handy and willing to learn how to do new things to add to your skill set. First off, I'm a general contractor and a landscaping contractor in CA. It appears you have figured out what to do. If there is no underlayment the tiles needs to be removed. Then replace all the rotten timber if any. Access if you need new gutters, if so install at this time. Also at this time, access is you need new or add more or relocate the downspouts. After all this add the underlayment and roof shingles on top. If budget is a great concern, you seem to have a large following and community here. Perhaps, gather a group of volunteers and knock of the roof in 1 or 2 days. Pay if forward after that somehow. I might be headed your way in a few months so I can help if the timing lines up. In regards to the exterior back wall, you need to remove some f the earth back and add some waterproofing material to the wall and add some drainage to the area like a french drain system. All the water from your hill is coming down on your house and you have to divert it away from the house. All this is not rocket science but I get the sense that you know what you need to do, but the task on how to move forward on projects you're unfamiliar and daunting. If you can build vans and buses you can do a roof.

The guy just patch built stuff with no knowledge. Good luck I think you have a lot of work ahead of you!

Its all great content Isaac! We love you guys and love watching your videos 🎉. Keep plugging away one day at a time … UKposts is a whole different way of life. Progress means content, content means growth.. ❤🎉

I love the open patio!

You probably need a new roof. You also need to dig a 2 foot trench and put a French drain all around the back of the house to carry the water away from the house.

The back area needs to drain correctly away from the building so not to wick into wall area as well.

You are right about the dirt outside.

And homie built on top of a retaining wall. smh You are either going to have to move and built a retaining wall away from that part of the house or make it an open porch. Screened in porch. Get your 6x6 post to hold up your roof and open that up. Ants love wood that is wet. That is how you know the wood is not good. It would be easier and more cost effective if you make that a patio and not a built-in room. Get them cats out there to catch those mice. You can see right above the door where he added on that part of the roof. I would put metal roofing. It lasts forever. When I replaced the roof here with shingles it only had a 5 yr. warranty. Have a great day.

Open the ends (remove the end walls) dig out down to the brick foundation. Replace the rotten wood and paint with water repellent tar and put corrugated metal on the walls and the roof. I'm sure there is more but it's a start.

I can tell you what my dad did since our back yard was under water; buy drainage tile it has rows of holes across in it going from one end to the other. The rows are all the way around it You will have to dig a trench across from one end of the room to the other end near the wall make sure you keep it level use a line level. You want the till to exit out of the soil to drain the ground. You will have to dig the trench starting at the sidewalk area to allow the water to express out. After digging the trench next to the outside wall using waterproof paint, paint the wall below the ground to up . Now putting a load of gravel above the ground in the trench you have dug make sure it is level all tho way across use your line level. ( you should b able to google or ask the tech at Home Depot how to use a line level) Put a level amount of gravel all the way across. Lay your tile end to end butted to each other Then fill in the trench with a level even amount of gravel covering the tile all the way across from one end to the other. Make sure you have at least 6 to 8 inches of gravel over the tile and fill in the rest with your soil over the gravel. You should be able to google these steps or ask the tech at home depot or wherever you buy your drainage tile. It is a job I know my dad, mom, brother & I did this when I was 12 years old. We never had a pool of water in our backyard ever again. Every spring & fall we had a small pond in our backyard in Ohio about 1/8 of a mile from Lake Erie in Mentor on the Lake, Ohio the northeastern Ohio we never had a small pond ever again! Also the dampness is drawing the ants they are carpenter ants wet wood will also draw termites!

The side of the house should not be right onto the dirt especially because it is made of wood. There is no waterproof water barrier and the wood is acting like a sponge. You should create a side porch like @sharon7181 said or dig it out, build a wall with bricks with proper insulation and then restore the dirt. However that is probably too much work and the side porch with a retaining wall is the way to go. Also, anywhere on your property where water just sits and gathers is a no no, so you should create a water drainage filtration with rocks and pebbles on a decline to pull the water away. Good luck, you got this.

Can you sue the person who sold this house to you? They didn't disclose the full extent of what was behind the walls. You really got a bad deal. Your realtor should be accountable also.

on outside if wood bad at bottom cut it off 2 ft up and replace ! for the wall put house wrap on and side it ! as for the roof if it going to have new roof repair plywood if it needs it!! go on line you can get good bug stuff to put around walls at the ground you just have pull a little ground back 4" ! have a good day

Work never ends 😊