Back in 2006 I posted a series on the reconstruction and enlargement of an Italianate porch.
I never got a proper “after” shot, so I drove to the site last week. The homeowners had planned on finishing the project, but apparently have been sidetracked. If I had had the time when I stopped, I would have cleaned up some of the junk and ongoing construction debris. But I’ll share a couple current views, nonetheless.
First, a reminder of what I started with in the spring of 2006. This is about all that was left of what was originally a fairly small side porch … no floor, missing posts, rotted roof and ceiling:
Here’s how it looked last week. The homeowners plan on restoring that center window to its original height, and replace the small window on the right with one to match. It still needs a proper paint job, too:
Another view:
The construction thread is at 78333.1
Allen
Replies
Doood!
Looks super - let me be the first to congratulate you on a job really well done.
Gorgeous gingerbread.
Forrest
Thanks. I really wish I could have seen the project through to completion. The homeowners had to direct their finances toward other projects and figured they could finish this one on their own. Unfortunately much of wood still has only the one coat of primer that I put on.
Allen
Allen,That looks really good! You got the proportions just right.They may have to clean and re-prime. Some primers say on the can to top coat within a certain period of time.Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood
let me be the first to congratulate you on a job really well done
OK, you can be the first...but put me in that line too!View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
This is a detail of some of the decorative millwork. This was all new from my workshop last year, replicating what I had from the original structure:
View Image
Allen
Beautiful job. Mike
Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.
Very, very nice.
That must have been satisfying. Nice work.. and nice that they bothered to go through the extra expense of restoring something like that at all.
arthur
Allen,
The highest compliment I think is that it could easily fool 99.9% of the people in believing that it was original to the home.
Exceptional work- something to be most proud of.
Walter
Walter,
For those of us in the preservation/restoration field, that is, indeed, the highest compliment.
A friend of mine is a restoration stone mason who is expert at matching existing stonework and historic lime mortars ... lime putty color, sand color and coarseness, sometimes added clay ... even matching the effect of 170 years of weathering.
After brutal work of rebuilding stone walls, repairing lintels, mixing tons of mortar ... his work absolutely disappears. It is impossible to tell his work from the original, which, of course, is the goal, but kinda sad in a way ...
Allen
Edited 11/9/2007 8:01 am ET by WNYguy
Aurthur,
It was definitely a learning experience, as it was one of my first professional projects after switching careers.
One of the things I learned was to never casually guestimate a project cost, as I was way low, and felt pressured to keep the cost close to that guess. Which led to cutting corners with small things like flashing details, which still bothers me. I used sound construction procedures, but a little short of some of the FHB articles I was referencing during the process.
Total charge to the client was only about $6K, including all materials and labor. In the end, it has been a good marketing tool, though, as previously the only major projects I had to show were on my own home.
Allen
Wonderful work.
My favorite compliment is "Now this was here before, right?" when they have lived with out it for years, but can't remember two weeks later because it looks so natural. Yours definitely falls under that category.
Looks like it's been there for ever. Great job!
said it before & will again - beautiful & inspirationalI think you are in my niche - take what you think it will "cost", multiply by three and then add for architectural gestures and you might be whole
Thanks, John. My estimating skills have improved during the past year, but I still tend to be a little optimistic as far as "time required," even after doubling what seems adequate.
Your suggested factor of three is about what I've been using lately, and that seems to be about right. One would think by now I could just figure "20 hours" and take "20 hours!"
Allen
Wow!!! THAT is top notch. Thanks for sharing.
I'm curious as to some history however. Why the orginal two sets of steps and doors? Was this at one time some kind of multi family unit?
And why, since the orginal porch roof just went over the first door and steps, was the second set of steps retained?
As an aside, any code problems with having no rails? Or where they removed after the final?....wink.
Again, great job. A sure candidate for a FHB article IMO!!
Runnerguy
Runnerguy, the earliest photos we had showed the orginal smaller porch with steps, which I recreated fairly accurately. The second door had its own set of steps, treated similarly with large newel posts, but no covered porch.
The second door opened to a small room that led to a staircase up to the servants quarters.
The current owners wanted both doors to open onto a single covered porch, and they liked the look of the twin stairs that were evident in the old photo, so I designed it to accommodate that wish. I actually suggested using only a single set of steps, but the owners had their heart set.
When enlarging the porch to cover both doors, it was impossible to center both doors within the corresponding "bays" of the porch. But they are close enough to not be too awkward. There's a lot of asymmetry already, so I think it works OK.
As with many Italianate porches, there was no railing originally. This is a rural area, and sometimes it's possible to bend the rules a little. Supposedly railings were required for the "day of the inspection," but I don't think the homeowners even temporarily tacked up anything .
With your moniker, I'm tempted to add something about LT training pace or VO2-max intervals. 12 x 800m @ 2:30 w/2 min rest? Hill repeats, maybe?
Allen
"12 x 800m @ 2:30 w/2 min rest?"
Give me the "Client from hell" anyday over that workout. I've done them only just 10 and more like 3:45.
I like just running at GA pace. Give me 15 miles at GA and I'll take it everytime over a 6 mile LT workout. Did finally qualify for Boston so I run that last April. Now it's 10k stuff and maybe a half marathon now and again.
You do know your stuff, both on the pavement and in construction.
Again, nice job!!
Runnerguy
Edited 11/9/2007 6:34 pm ET by runnerguy
Edited 11/9/2007 6:41 pm ET by runnerguy