Restoration usually involves the use of traditional materials and techniques to repair damage done by time.   The goal of any restoration project is to return the structure, whether it is a house, barn, foundation or any historic structure, to its original condition.

Here are some examples and descriptions of restoration work:

Leveling the floors of an old Victorian house:

A Stone Arch Bridge:

Bluestone Wall:


Leveling the floors of an old Victorian house:   Victorian houses were built using 'Balloon' type construction; the shell of the house supported all the floors. (Houses built today utilize 'Platform' type construction, wherein each floor supports the floor above.)   Over the years water had over-flowed the rear foundation causing the shell and floor joists to rot and sink approximately 8" from their original positions.  Previous owners tried to stop this process by piling concrete upon the outside top of the foundation.  The structure was supported with timber cribbing and slowly repositioned using small hydraulic bottle jacks.   All the rotten timbers and joists were replaced with pressure treated lumber, all sound original joists were treated with an environmentally safe boron compound to prevent any potential insect damage, latent rot or mold, and two metal 'I'-beams were inserted along the centerline of the building to reinforce the entire building.   (click to enlarge any image.)

Cleared Old Foundation

Timber and Jacks

Rotten Floor Joist

A Restored Victorian

Letter from Owner


A Stone Arch Bridge:   The original stone bridge across this mill stream had been washed away after many decades of seasonal floods.  Ruble from the original structure can be seen in the photo of the concrete replacement bridge.   The owners, descendants of the original 18th  century mill owners, wanted to restore the bridge.   The photo of this work in progress shows the stonework of Bloomington limestone used to recreate a graceful stone sculpture.  (click to enlarge any image.)

Concrete Slab Bridge

Stone Arch Bridge


A Bluestone Wall:   A long retaining wall (originally poorly constructed by other contractors!) was detracting from the value of the property and house on this site.  Re-using all of the original stone, we were able to create a 'tight' graceful stone wall in the backyard of this upscale house.  The resale value of this house increased well above the cost of this restoration.  The photos are presented as 'before' and 'after' to give you some idea of the transformation.  (click to enlarge any image.)

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After


 BARNS ARE NOBLE
 Building Renovation and Restoration
Historic Oak Timber and Stone Wall
Barn Raising and Razing
Box 588, Westbrookville, NY 12785     Call: (845)-707-2818

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