hello, i have a add on den to our modular home which was added on about 20 years ago. the ceiling of the den is your typical frame roof and the back side and back walls are cylinder blocks set on a concrete foundation. we also have a fireplace that was placed in front of the concrete wall. recently, i discovered that the cylinder wall or the fireplace itself is separating from each other. a cursory exam of the fireplace indicates that the bricks are firm and shows no signs of stress. the block wall behind the fireplace appears to have stress as if it shifting backwards on the foundation. i have about a two to three inch gap between the fireplace and the wall. i need to know if it is possible to to restrain the wall from further separation and probably eventual collaspe by some means or is this a problem that will require the removal of the wall and placement of a woodframe wall? also, by what means, if possible, could the wall be restrained from further separation? additionally, if the wall can be restrained, can the gap between the fireplace and wall be cement filled?

I am looking at buying an old fix-it-up house, and the foundation is in dire need of repair. The foundation is made of stones, some of which are loose and parts of which have settled. I need information on how to fix it. I am not sure exactly what type of foundation support is under the stones. My thought is this: Jack up the walls, reapir/replace the foundation support with concrete, eihter replace the stones or extend the concrete footings up to the sill. But can I do this is small sections or do I need to do major portions at once? The framing is all large timber, about 8x8 or larger, and the majority of the walls are covered with 1x8's. The house has no insullation and has not been lived in for years. The house sits on top of a hill, so I don't think that water seepage is the culprit, just old age and settling. Ideas? Thanks. Clay