Restoring a 1920s Gem: The Structural Phase
There is something both exhilarating and terrifying about buying a 1920s fixer-upper. You aren't just buying a house; you’re buying a century of history, character, and—as we’ve quickly learned—a massive "to-do" list.
Before
Prior to the gable and roof
I knew this project required a full-scale renovation, and while I’ve spent a lot of time in the "messy middle" of demolition, I’ve finally crossed some major structural milestones that move this house closer to ‘good’.
Before we could worry about paint colors or floor plans, we had to address the most critical part of any old home: the foundation. Years of settling had left us with extremely uneven floors and structural concerns. It isn't the most glamorous part of a budget, but one of the most crucial.
Foundation of dining room once floors were removed
One of the most exciting changes so far has been to the exterior. I decided to add a new gable to the front of the house. This wasn't a structural necessity; it was a design choice to enhance the home's curb appeal and bring back some of that classic 1920s charm. The exterior was very flat and lacked any visual interest - It’s amazing how much one architectural change can transform the entire personality of a building.
The gable being constructed
With the gable in place, it was time for a total roof replacement. In any restoration, "making the envelope water-tight" is the first rule of survival. A new roof doesn't just protect our hard work inside from the elements; it also allowed us to integrate the new gable seamlessly into the existing structure. I am extremely happy with how all of it turned out.
New roof tied into the gable
Ariel shot of the roof. The flat part (one pitch) has a rolled roof to ensure no water penetration - that is why it’s darker than the rest of the roof.
My focus will shift to the interior for now, but I still have big plans for the remainder of the exterior. Those plans include: Add and replace bad siding, finish painting, Remove wheelchair ramp, replace landscaping, add sidewalk from street to front porch and replace the fence.