The More the Merrier...

We have the zoning changed to single family from commercial, we have the gas and water changed as well and now it is time to have our friends at Davis and Green http://www.dgelectrical.com/ help us "downsize" the electrical service.  (We have worked with Davis and Green for over 20 years.  They are woman owned and so are we at Dovetail.  There are some more enlightened women who will be featured here- in addition to a lot of enlightened men- but I digress...)  These are some of the things we will be getting rid of...

We have applied for a demolition/repair permit which will enable us to make these changes and demolish all that is rotten with the front porch- which is most everything not made of stone or tile. 

Actually the stone and tile need a lot of work too but everything is relative...

 

We are anticipating getting Virginia state tax credits (we can't get federal tax credits because the use will be single family) so we need to invite another "friend" to the party, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.  If you are interested in what they do and how you qualify for potential tax credits, their website is: http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/  They are very helpful and they have opportunities for people to talk to them even before an "official" submission.

We now have permission (from the City of Richmond, CAR and (V)(DHR) to do the work on the porch as long as we do it well in terms of lead abatement etc. abide by all City codes and repair work according to National "Preservation Briefs".  In the event something can not be repaired, it is to be replaced with materials of the same caliber and with the same profile.  "Whew!"- it's getting crowded on the balcony but all this preparation and communication makes for a much better project all around. 

Speaking of getting crowded on the balcony, a few movies were filmed at the house including "Iron Jawed Angels" with Hilary Swank and Angelica Houston.  Here are two pictures with our balcony featured front and center:

                                   I'm glad they had insurance...

Please Say " Yes"!

Once you have established that a house in a historic district is for you- well, it's like knowing you want to get married and having to ask a lot of related parties for their consent.  How is the house currently zoned?  If it isn't single family and you need it to be then you need to ask the zoning department to change the status. If the gas and electricity are installed on a commercial basis then you are looking for each utility's assistance to change it back once you have received the "thumbs up" from zoning.  Once you are sure that it is zoned correctly with all the correct size utility installations based on the new use of the building, you are ready to get a building permit.  But before you get a building permit, here in Richmond, Virginia, we have a group that you need to see called the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR).  This is their website if you want more information: http://www.richmondgov.com/CommissionArchitecturalReview/index.aspx  They are interested in preserving the architectural fabric of neighborhoods and pretty much any detail on your house that someone would see walking by is something that CAR wants to make sure is restored or changed as sensitively as possible.

Due Diligence

In dealing with any project that was built before 1978 you need to contend with the four lettered word l-e-a-d.  The original plans (at the Library of Virginia) for this house called for the contractors in 1914 to "paint with white lead".  Paint is the verb and lead is the noun.  It was everywhere.  Times have changed and before you can paint with the latest no volatile organic compound latex paint, it is important to be serious about lead abatement.  Anyone dealing with anything having lead in it needs to be trained and protected.  It is of the utmost importance to hire a firm that is certified to do the work.  Everyone's health depends on it and it is the law.  Here is one of our painters, Neal, with his Tyvek suit, respirator and gloves painstakingly removing the lead from the beautifully hand carved heart pine at the front of the house. To learn more about the topic, here is a link to the government's website :http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm

Getting Started

The first order of business when undertaking a project like this is to try and get  your arms around the scope of work.  Analyze what to keep and what you want the home to become. The bigger the job, the more vital it is to have a sounding board of a designer and contractor that you implicitly trust.  Finding this person (or team) early is important because the confidence built makes the project a lot less stressful simply because you have faith in that relationship.  They are your advocate.  Hiring insured professionals who have proven that they know what they are doing is imperative-just like in any other industry.  When was the last time you took three bids on an impending surgery and you found solace in going with the low bid? This is “surgery” on what could be your biggest asset…Do it well!  This "patient" should live  for another 100 years...

As we have ultimate faith in our contractor-we are poised and ready to get a building permit for the glaring repairs that are necessary on the house. 

There are literally holes in the balcony and the roof has been compromised.  So essentially everything that is wood or supported by wood above the front porch needs to come off and be replaced with the same profile.