Week 30 of the Restoration (01/21/2008 – 01/25/2008)

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

It’s like buying a (Salvaged) Stairway to Heaven…

Eric finished framing out the family room ceiling to accommodate our back staircase. One of the most challenging aspects of the home has been solved this week– purchasing and installing a salvaged second (back) staircase to the second floor. After we found out we could not use the servant’s staircase because it did not meet code – Melanie used&

Week 29 of the Restoration (01/14/2008 – 01/18/2008)

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Lots of snow did not make us slow…we had at least 15 guys working full time this week – even with about 10” of snow falling in the beginning of the week.

Eric’s team got the family room LVL posts in place and finished most of the rafter sistering. Next week we’ll cut the hole for the back stairs so Fernando can put our beautiful salvaged stairs in place. Fernando also demoed the first floor bathroom (first time we needed a Porto Potty! ) and layed down the sub floor.

Jim Piersiak got most of his rough plumbing done for the bathrooms and laundry room. Once we have the family room roughed out – both Jim and Dimitris, the electrician will be able to finish most of their rough work. I expect we’ll try to get our rough framing, plumbing, electrical and HVAC inspections by end of next week or early the following week.

Renato started to repair the underside of the circular stairs. We had to remove the underneath “ceiling” of the stairs so we could access and repair the stairs support framing. When we opened up the stair’s ceiling, we saw the original wallpaper from 1877 when the stairs were installed. Also, the builders actually numbered each stair underneath to make sure everything was kept in the proper order when assembled.

Fernando, Marcelo and their crews also worked laying some additional wood floor in the carriage house and third floor areas. We also continued to repair windows and prime paint window and door trim.

The basement parging continues – next week we’ll pour in cement to level out and create flat areas where there is now just dirt and rocks.

Every week brings additional good news. Our Sharon home was just chosen to appear on the TV show, New England DreamHouse on the New England Cable Network. With all the exposure in national, regional and local magazines, newspapers and regional TV shows – we’ll hopefully find the family that our North Attleboro house is meant for. We are approximately 6 weeks away from our first historic home tour…let’s keep it going!

Week 28 of the Restoration (01/07/2008 – 01/11/2008)

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Our final structural beam is in place!

The family room’s 20 foot structural steel beam (and the home’s last structural beam) is now in place, but we hit a snag on the posts. John was not comfortable with using regular wood posts on such a long and heavy steel beam (our engineer did not spec out a more sturdy laminated post), so to be safe, Eric ordered 2 laminated rigid posts which will arrive on Monday next week. It put us a couple days behind schedule – but it was the right thing to do. In any case, Eric’s guys are keeping busy – we were able to build the soffits in the master sitting room to enclose the gas insert piping. Also – we are about now halfway through with the watertight parging in the basement. Eric also layed some additional salvaged bluestone on our side walkway and then cleaned up some of the rubble in front of the house.

Also – the big news this week is that the plumber, Jim Piersiak, started his rough plumbing! Some new PVC piping was installed in the basement and run up the side wall to the second floor bathroom and laundry areas. Fernando had his guys build a “plumber’s box” within the kitchen ceiling so the plumber can pitch his lines properly up into the floor of the 2nd floor carriage house bathroom. Fernando’s guys also demoed the 1st floor bathroom tub so next week, we’ll be able to start to cut out our area for our back staircase and run for our rough plumbing.

We had some great (and weird) weather this week with temperatures getting into the 60s. It gave us the opportunity to finish some painting on the front column bases and reclapboarding the area around the electrical box on the side of the home. The exterior is now nearly complete with just some touch ups in the back.

Dimitris, the electrician, is 90% done and is ahead of schedule. We got our first inspection approval of the electrical box on the outside of the home. Dimitris been a great team member to keep things moving and making sure everything is being done right the first time.

Chuck has completed the HVAC on the third floor and now will move to finish the A/C in the second floor carriage house.

It was a particularly challenging week for Fernando and his crew. Marcelo was out this week on vacation and Fernando was trying to manage a difficult big hotel job he’s doing in Dedham while keeping focused on our home. I’m hoping that with Marcelo coming back next week and a renewed focus on 390 Mount Hope Street – Fernando and crew will easily get to our new self-imposed finish timeline – early March. Keep the faith!

Week 27 of the Restoration (12/31/2007 – 01/04/2008)

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Thanks this week to the Men of Steel!

About a dozen of our strongest guys (in fact, all our guys are strong) moved the family room 20 foot support steel beam from outside to the family room space. After lots of 1...2…3 MOVE, grunts and groans – they pulled together to put the beam into place for placement into the ceiling. Eric and John had to cut holes into the 2nd and 3rd floors to install a temporary “come along” chain and pulley system to help winch up the beam into place. They also constructed temp walls to prepare to remove the original warped wooden beam that we’re replacing with the steel beam. We’ll have the new steel beam in early next week.

Good news on the 2nd floor carriage house – all the rough framing has been completed. Jim Piersiak, the plumber is coming out next week to start on the rough plumbing. Also Dimitris, the electrician, will finish his rough electrical next week in the carriage house portion of the home. We’re planning to install the Icynene insulation after we get our rough framing, plumbing and electrical inspections – maybe within 2 weeks.

Eric also installed a watertight rubber roof on the back flat roof portion of the home. We are now roof complete – being watertight with all new roofs on the main portions of the home.

The third floor is now all complete except for rough plumbing which we should have finished by next week.

We did more strapping of ceilings and building out of all walls where needed. We’re still working on getting the windows repaired by replacing ropes with window chains for easier up and down movement. Some of the original window weights (11 lbs each) had to be cut because of the difference in resistance of using chains vs ropes with the window’s internal pulley systems.

I’m proud of the guys and our story. At every point where we had to make tough decisions – we did not cut corners and did the right thing. I’m just hoping that we can all keep the faith and make it to the finish line with the same energy and integrity of our original restoration vision. We’re almost there… this is where the rubber meets the roof! Staying focused in the next 8 weeks will be crucial to completing our vision – stay tuned to see how we perform.

Week 26 of the Restoration (12/24/2007 – 12/28/2007)

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 10:00:00 GMT

We almost completed framing the 2nd Floor Carriage House this week. The framing plans changed once we had a better look at how the space actually looked with the most everything in place. More room was given to the bathroom, less to the laundry area. We also are not planning to put any shelving or table areas on the left hand side of the space because we loved the open feeling of the hallway and rooms. There is plenty of ceiling height – close to 7’ 4” – it feels nice and airy.

Week 25 of the Restoration (12/17/2007 – 12/21/2007)

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT

We’ve been framed!

Short and sweet for week 25. It was mostly about framing up the 3rd floor main space and bathroom. Eric also got up the ridge beam and posts for the 2nd floor carriage house portion of the home. It will take the remainder of next week to get the carriage house all framed up and ready to go for the plumber and electrician to do their work.

Chuck finished most of the HVAC work on the 3rd floor and he’ll be able to now work on the dining room gas fireplace insert once Fernando is able to rebuild the fireplace marble mantel.

We’re keeping Renato busy with refinishing the Victorian Wet bar built in . Also he is starting to work on the Houdini Bench refinish which we’ll display at the Home Tour in March.

We purchased aluminum gutters and downspouts and Claudio painted them black to go with the other black decorative detail (crests, spires, storm windows, drip edges) on the exterior.

The good news keeps on coming for our Victorian Home Restoration company, ModVic. A regional magazine – Boston Magazine’s Boston Home & Garden www.bostonmagazine.com/home_garden/index.html is doing an April 2008 “before and after” photo spread and story of our restored period kitchen in Sharon MA! The momentum continues to build for our North Attleboro Home Tour in the Spring.

Week 24 of the Restoration (12/10/2007 – 12/14/2007)

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT

24 is my lucky number (born Feb 4th) and we’re lucky on week 24.

The roof made it up just in time before a major snowstorm hit the area and covered the house (and roof) with at least 12 inches of snow. We are now watertight and can now start to work comfortably on the interior finishing for the next 2-3 months for the home tour planned in March/April 2008.

The big news on the inside was that Eric and John finished the framing for the third floor bathroom and closet. We just need to now create a soffitt run on the back side of the room for Chuck’s A/C piping and vents.

Fernando finished putting in the third kitchen beam and new supports rafters along with the ceiling strapping. The plumber will be coming out next week to discuss next steps on where best to start the rough plumbing runs. Marcelo and Fernando’s guys also stripped the circular staircase walls and foyers of all plaster and just left the lathe. We are planning to have the plasterer come out and sheetrock and wet plaster all the areas for smooth (rounded) walls.

We also started to put in new rafters in the master bathroom area to make room for the bathroom venting equipment.

Chuck installed the first fireplace insert in the master sitting room. We were able to get the piping to the back outside wall with minimal turns within a soffitt area that was already built for the A/C pipes!

The weeks go on and we are checking off major accomplishments every week. I’m proud of the guys that are working for me and know that it’s through their hard work, skills and persistence that we’re going to have an amazing beautifully restored home.

Week 23 of the Restoration (12/03/2007 – 12/07/2007)

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT

We now have the exact year when the major Italianate renovation was done! Our architectural historian had dated the renovation in the late 1870s. When we opened up a dormer on the third floor this week – we found the date that one of the original workers drew – 1877.

Week 22 of the Restoration (11/26/2007 – 11/30/2007)

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:00:00 GMT

You know what… I can’t put my finger on anything major to talk about this week. Here’s some “minor” stuff: posting down into the basement from the 3rd floor ridge beam; 3rd floor rafter sistering, wall and ceiling demolition in more rooms; chimney removal; electrical work, basement door framing, landscaping and hardscaping.

Week 21 of the Restoration (11/19/2007 – 11/23/2007)

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT

We were ‘beaming’ this week.

Most of our efforts this week were spent on demolition of ceilings and walls to prepare for installation of the structural beams and posts. Eric and John moved a super heavy LVL beam into place on the third floor and jacked it up into the ridge for a tight fit. The real tough part was posting down through the circular staircase and circular closets into the foundation of the basement. It takes expert skill and creative problem solving to make it happen properly with minimum aesthetic impact.

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