Rake, Fascia and Wood Gutters

Posted on | November 21, 2010 | 7 Comments

Over the past week we’ve had carpenters here replacing rotten rake boards, fascia and wood gutters. The gutters were so badly rotten the rain literally washed right through them and made the whole back of my house moldy, so charming. Wood gutters are required in our historic district and all our trim has to be wood. The trim made from cedar is naturally bug repellent and lasts longer then less expensive pine. Composite trims are really common in modern construction but not allowed in my historic district.

Above and below photos of the renovation work in progress. All of the old trim has to be replaced; nothing has been salvageable. Scaffolding has been set up on the side of my house to help hang the new rake boards.

I’m using carpenters to do all of the woodwork and roofers for the roof. I received a lot of great e-mails from readers suggesting I use separate tradesmen for each job based on their own renovation experience. The amount of trim work I’ve needed is not typical of a normal roofing job so using a team of carpenters has been essential. I found Regatta Construction through my roofer and they’ve been great. Everyone has been nice, easy to work with and has taken the time to work with me to cut costs. I would totally recommend.

Next week we’ll hopefully get a gutter added to the front of our house. Yay! No more ice puddles on my front step for me to slip on! Stay tuned…

Regatta Construction
50 Jersey Street
Marblehead, Ma
Christian Tosi
(617) 894-5661

Category: house renovation

Beverly Jog

Posted on | November 17, 2010 | 13 Comments

Found exclusively on the north shore of Boston a “Beverly Jog” is an addition added to Georgian style homes in the late 1700s. The jog originated in the Essex county town of Beverly, Massachusetts, hence the name. Typically, the jog is added to one side of the back of the house. The narrow addition jets out from the side of the house allowing for a door, staircase and or a window on the second floor and third floors. The door often leads straight into the kitchen. (Old House Journal)

Above the Josiah Woodbury House in Salem, Massachusetts c.1774, showcasing a typical Beverly Jog with a separate entrance. (Architecture in Salem: An Illustrated Guide)

On the backside of our house we have a jog. I’m not really sure if our addition was built in the 1700′s but added later mimicking the style. The foundation in the addition is extremely poor but the materials used don’t match up to the structure found in the main part of the house. I have to do some more research to confirm the actual dates.

Our addition is in really bad shape—rotten walls, beams and floors. We started by adding in a new sill, rebuilding parts of the foundation and restoring the corners. When Greg was demoing the area he found an old wood door behind a wall. From the outside the door was clapboarded over so we had no idea it was there.

We’ve been talking about adding the door back in. I would have to have it approved by my Historic Society but I assume it won’t be an issue since the door is typical of the jog and we found an old door. Eventually the door will lead right into our kitchen. How cool right? Below photos of the addition restoration in process as well as the door we found.

Category: architecture, house renovation

Newspaper Insulation

Posted on | November 15, 2010 | 19 Comments

Over the weekend Greg and I gutted one of the rotten corners of the house. The rotten part is an addition that extends out the backside of the original house. In the walls we found old newspapers from October 28th, 1942 used as insulation.

On the cover of The Boston Post headlines read, Beat Back New JAP Drive In Solomons, Rationing Of Butter Is Certain, 40,000 Register For Oil Rations. In 1942, The United States was in the middle of World War II (1939-1945) and times were extremely tough.

In January 1942, tires were one of the first products to be rationed because supplies of national rubber were unavailable. “Soon afterward, passenger automobiles, typewriters, sugar, gasoline, bicycles, footwear, silk, nylon, fuel oil, coffee, stoves, meat, lard, shortening and oils, cheese, butter, margarine, processed foods, dried fruits, canned milk, firewood and coal, jams, jellies, and fruit butter were rationed by November 1943″ (wikipedia).

It’s crazy to think what life would have been like 68 years ago. No butter? I would have freaked. I can’t even imagine how frightened they were of the upcoming winter with the threat of necessities being rationed. I guess why not try insulating the walls with newspapers?

Category: found objects, house renovation

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