The Historic District

Working my way around the front. I expect this will take the rest of the year...

http://theoldvictorian.com/2015/07/27/can-of-worms-open

Step one of the front railing project…
1) Rebuild columns.
Step one of the column project…
1) Rebuild the porch.
Step one of the porch project…
1) Rebuild porch header.

Good luck! I cheated, and hired my neighbor. (who rebuilt a number of porches throughout the neighborhood)

Like you, I also had box-beams, originally. This surprised my neighbor, meaning he didn't have much experience dealing with them. So, I'm a little worried about the longevity of his repair. But, I know how I'll fix it, if it becomes a problem. But, I guess the moral of the story is that you don't need a big chunk of wood to make an adequate beam.

That old header actually lasted as long as it did?!? Well, who would have thunk!

Good thing you started there!

jrc wrote:. But, I guess the moral of the story is that you don't need a big chunk of wood to make an adequate beam.

Indeedy, as modern engineered wooden I beams attest to. A lot of things get a little over-engineered these days because its easier than the math and lumber is relatively cheap. That box beam is one heck of a lot lighter than a solid one, and I'd wager, plenty strong enoughwhen new.

mick_vt wrote:

jrc wrote:. But, I guess the moral of the story is that you don't need a big chunk of wood to make an adequate beam.

Indeedy, as modern engineered wooden I beams attest to. A lot of things get a little over-engineered these days because its easier than the math and lumber is relatively cheap. That box beam is one heck of a lot lighter than a solid one, and I'd wager, plenty strong enoughwhen new.

I DID want something a little beefier in there so it would be easy to get everything straight...but didn't want to get carried away as the beam that was there made it 100 years or so...

So...

Built my first 10 section of replacement beam...I hope to install it tomorrow....

http://theoldvictorian.com/2015/08/01/b ... ompy-jaws/

-dm

Beam installed.

http://theoldvictorian.com/2015/08/03/f ... installed/

Spoiler: Nobody died.



On to the next segment! (Next weekend)

Daniel, just read your roofing blog, you did not mention the shingle you put up. Gothichome still needs to done. Three tab is not going to cut it. And your roof looks so grand.

Gothichome wrote:Daniel, just read your roofing blog, you did not mention the shingle you put up. Gothichome still needs to done. Three tab is not going to cut it. And your roof looks so grand.

Thanks! We think it came out great!

The shingle is listed on the "stats" page, complete with a link.
http://theoldvictorian.com/2015/02/05/the-stats/

In this episode of "What's holding that up?"

It was 104 degrees and I got the shakes so I didn't get as far as I'd liked to this weekend.

http://theoldvictorian.com/2015/08/10/p ... gment-two/

It's amazing the difference the new box beam already makes. It's great that your house got such a good caretaker.