Historic Preservation

Beginning in 2026, we started the enormous task of assessing the building for an exterior stabilization of the Western facade, to be continued with all sides of the building over time.   This requires identifying all areas of failure of wood siding/trim/window/sills/soffits/etc. to source proper materials (antique heartwood availability vs durable wood species for example) and prepare for restoration of these areas and components (window restoration).  We plan to conduct a paint analysis to understand what the original colors were and plan from there.  We will be repainting with a historically appropriate linseed oil paint system, as adopted by the National Park Service, due to the tendancy for acrylic paint systems to fail and peel with any water intrusion and those paints lack moisture wicking properties.  The pro's and cons of the acrylic system vs the traditional linseed oil system have been weighed.  For context, we tested  the linseed oil paint in the stars of the gingerbread of the 2nd floor front balcony above the porch.  That area was painted in 2022 and is now 4 years old and looks spectacular with zero issue or failure as compared to the acrylic paint performance on the enclosed porch siding replacement project, which is also 4 years old and showing wear.  

Beginning in 2024, our entire front porch was dismantled, stabilized, and put back together.  Upon removal of the flooring (all intact floorboards (less than ~50% of the floor was original) have been saved) we assessed the support joists, girters, outer support band and all masonry foundation piers.   Piers were rebuilt with original bricks and historically appropriate lime mortar.  Flooring was replaced with boards matching the exact original dimensions.  All fretwork/gingerbread was disassembled, repairs made where needed, all old paint scraped and removed, then woodwork was prepared, primed, painted and reinstalled.  Ongoing is the restoration of the lower handrail sections which have significant deterioration prompting replacement in kind of the stars and balusters (both in original design and scale), and some trim/moldings. All porch posts are in excellent shape, only 2 of the 11 were compromised and replaced with new posts turned by experts, which are indistinguishable from the originals.

The post reconstruction of the front yard landscape and hardscaping is underway.  Currently, original bricks from the original walkway connecting the sidewalk to the front porch are being salvaged from a former life encased in cement.  Landscape plans have been created to plan for the future plant/garden bed installations and the irrigation lines for turf and gardens.  The pass through in the granite wall from the front yard to the courtyard garden will be refined, stabilized and framed in granite with a garden gate.

The front yard was raised in the mid twentieth century from its original height with countless loads of dirt and contained with a brick retaining wall that spanned from corner to corner of the property.   This created a very destabilizing situation for the front porch (moisture issues, rot) and the front parlor (always damp under the house, under front rooms).  We were able to alleviate some of this water with a drainage system across the entire front of the building but unfortunately, it was just an 18 year bandaid that ultimately required restoring the yard to its original height.  As we conducted masonry restoration it was untenable to keep the yard the same, so lowering it was the most sensible solution.

Our dogs needed a secure fenced in space and we needed this space to enjoy time with them, safe and secure as we are surrounded by busy roads.  Our research into Victorian picket fences led us to a lovely picket design which we cut ourselves from cedar with 4x4 PT posts and custom gates.  Woodcraft of the various components took months and painting the finished elements was quite time consuming also, conducted mostly in the workshop through the winter of '24/'25.  The fenced in space is used multiple times per day, 

This multi lite queen anne style window with lovely colored glass panes of various shades was more than 70% spongy and rotten, necessitating a complete rebuild out of antique heart pine.  The panes were carefully extracted from the original and reinstalled in the new frame, back bedded with glazing, anchored with points, glazed, primed (frame) and painted then reinstalled in its opening in the attic.

An enclosed porch that served as a kitchen for an apartment on the first floor, believed to have been enclosed in the 1930's, had major rot and deterioration in the siding (and upon removing the rotten siding we discovered significant deterioration structurally in the wall cavity, studs, and sill plate) that prompted a tear out and rebuild of the wall.  I believe only 2 studs were actually supporting this outside wall when we removed all of the rot! The siding, windows (original and restored) and trim placement remained the same.  No changes were made to the style of this facade in any way, only repairs.

This multi lite queen anne style window with lovely colored glass panes of various shades was more than 70% spongy and rotten, necessitating a complete rebuild out of antique heart pine.  The panes were carefully extracted from the original and reinstalled in the new frame, back bedded with glazing, anchored with points, glazed, primed (frame) and painted then reinstalled in its opening in the attic.

We attempted to bypass the need for gutters after the new roof installation and this proved a failure.  In 2022 we embarked upon woodwork repairs along the bottom of the 1st story, along the cedar shingles where the front porch meets the house, and other places and we began gutter installation.  Our installer gently removed original crown molding along the fascia with the roof (saving every piece), had wooden extensions installed followed by K style gutters across the entire front and driveway side of the building.

We attempted to bypass the need for gutters after the new roof installation and this proved a failure.  In winter of '21 into 2022 we embarked upon woodwork repairs along the bottom of the 1st story, along the cedar shingles where the front porch meets the house, and other places prior to gutter installation later in the spring.  Multiple bundles of cedar shingles were purchased and our carpenter hand cut each shingle into the triangle, creating the diamond pattern when installed.  The many rotten and missing shingles were removed, an ice and water shield was installed behind and the new shingles were primed and painted then installed precisely.