Yes! We actually experienced hurricane-force winds when Ike came through last year, and numerous homes on our block were damaged by tree falls - we watched it happen from our garage during the storm. Katrina and Wilma also affected us. This is an older neighborhood with lots and lots of very large trees. Ike happened about a month after the large oak fell, so I was a basket case throughout the storm. I now have a not-so-irrational fear of one of the remaining trees falling on the house, and do intend to find someone to assess the health of them before the spring monsoon season arrives. Yes, the trees around this house are either original growth or planted at the time of house build (1955), and are quite huge and very close to the house. I have an 18 month old son and worry constantly about the possibility of a fall. That huge pine Ken mentioned is two trees whose base grew together... they were tethered together up high at one point, but the tether has broken. That tree sits right outside our front door. The fact that the corner oak fell during a still early morning (i.e. no wind or rain at the time) underlines the fact that it could happen any time. Amazingly, so far we have no significant foundation damage per the home inspector 2 years ago. Again, thank you all for all your help. I'll work on clearing the base of the "sandbox pine" and will seek certified help on the remaining giants. You guys may be hearing from me again as I continue my work.

My spading fork - best thing for digging big plants with soil intact, and large clumps of any kind of plant or flower you want to thin. It spades, it cultivates (by turning it in the soil) and it turns compost. I can use it for forking manure hay and tilling in around the flowers and veggies, and without chopping up the worms and frogs when I do. I really digs out Bermuda grass and runners. Great for prying up rocks and bricks when I want to move them. Birds use it for a perch when I am not using it. (tee hee). If I was just starting out, that would be the tool I would get first. With a good sharp, sturdy shovel and my Dutch Hoe, they are the backbone of my most used tools. Then my hand tools - An old garden hoe (80+ yrs old that has long since lost it's handle that I found buried when getting pinestraw at an old house). They don't make hoes like that anymore. Awesome old hoe. The other hand tool that I don't know what to call it- it has a narrow hoe on one side and a three-tined fork on the other. ~Annie

There's always a way to do something but in this situation I wouldn't imagine it would be easy or inexpensive. There isn't a saw per se. You'd have to make some kind of jig and probably use a router. Even then, there would be a fair amount of handwork. It would probably be easier to remove the old baseboard. Baseboard usually doesn't have that many nails in the bottom 3/4" or so taken up by the flooring. Since you plan on replacing it with smaller moulding you should plan on some drywall patching and painting. Mike

@bry911 thanks for responding. Found myself here while searching for ways to remove subfloor all the way to joists and build back up with new decking. I don’t plan to remove subfloor under exterior walls or the one interior wall in this space. Just inspect and replace everything necessary. I realized after moving in that the house was vacant for 15 years, bought and flipped. Roof has probably had several leaks for a long time, leading to a few surprises. I’m handy, but Im not a contractor, having to figure this out as I go. Whatever I do I want to make sure I don’t cut corners, or compromise the home in any way. Problem, 66’ home with cold floors, soft and sinking in a few locations. Vinyl flooring over subfloor and 10” joists, 24” on center, 4 foot tall crawl space, 3-5mil plastic vapor barrier (not taped or sealed to foundation wall) on ground. I’d like to strengthen up the floor, apply closed cell spray foam under the entire floor and put back up the bat insulation. If it’s going to cost $10,000 I simply can’t do it, I’ll have to patch fix and deal with it. If I can find a way to do it for cost of materials and a day laborer for a day or two, might be possible. Just one of multiple projects, backyard grading isn’t ideal either, have to tackle that too. :/. Wish there was a homeowners anonymous group I could come to, help others with their problems, potentially get help with mine.