Great Room / Solarium Addition

The great room/solarium of this historic home was built to the rear of the existing mansion, just off a newly remodeled kitchen, as Phase Three of the Victorian Italianate project.  The main level features a Rumford fireplace, a tile floor, and glass that can be shaded during periods of high sun.  The basement houses the utilities, including a geothermal system.

While digging for the foundation, bricks from the old cistern were found.  Old bricks from various structures around the property were saved, as possible, for reuse.  This home was built in 1874, and the brick composition is different from what you might find today.  Because historic brick is softer, using incompatible bricks and mortar for repairs will damage a structure.

For more information on historic brick structures, visit U.S. Heritage.

The storm shelter in the basement is constructed of reinforced concrete.  Shown here are the forms for the concrete.

The basement walls have PVC sleeves running through them for the geothermal and other systems.

A rubber membrane is sprayed on as a water barrier for the basement.  As it sets up and gets sticky, the foam insulation is applied to it.

On the right is the solarium/great room portion; on the left is a hallway leading to the back and front doors and the basement.

All framing cavities will be insulated.

While our crew is working on the inside of the house, the bricklayers are busy on the outside.

Concrete board is installed as a base for the tiles.

The stone mantel was so heavy it took five strong guys and a specially built table to get it installed.

This is a Rumford fireplace, a type of fireplace popular in the 1800s and now regaining popularity for its style and efficiency.

As work continues on the exterior of the Solarium addtion, work on a second addition begins to the left.