Do
you enjoy watching those home building shows?
A photographic
diary of a construction project is catalogued.
Greenvale circa 1860. This was a small Tannery for an interstate
route in the pre civil war years. There was also a Blacksmith shop
and various other buildings which served as pit stops in those days.
Greenvale was created as a tree farm by a colonial conservationist.
Hardwood trees surrounded the property - black walnuts, oaks, poplar,
even an old Virginian standby - the red buds.
Siting a house is a critical part of the architecture. Responsibility
for the history of this property came into play when we decided to build
a home here. A small cottage in the woods appeared.
The old Tannery had been renovated in the 1970's and old and new wood
planks were used. There was an old stone wall foundation below the structure.
We wanted to incorporate this into the design and used it.
We hired a one man barn demolition crew and helped him take apart the
structure and saved the lumber. The back wall of the new cottage
sits on the old stone foundation - next was excavation.
The footings were dug & poured then foundation walls were built.
Above is the photograph of the Level One deck coming together. Next
are the exterior walls with the windows and doors cut out.
The interior framing is braced while the second level is being framed.
This interior photo is of the Great Room looking towards the fireplace.
There is a bay window on the other side.
The Level Two deck is completed and the framing continues on the second
level. They brace the walls at each step forward. The roof
rafters are completed in the next sequence of photos.
After the framing, the building skin is applied. We put 30 lb
felt on the roof and house wrap to protect the naked house from the coming
winter months. We have not added the back fill & a ladder is
shown going to the Mud Room.
The above photo is of open rafters with a tray ceiling for the Guest
Bedroom upstairs. I had a professor who liked to say that a building
under framing was one of the most beautiful sights. It is even better
when it is your home.
Next were tongue and groove painted pine boards were used for the soffits
which were installed to receive the metal roof properly. Windows
were finally delivered and installed as snow lightly fell on the site.
The fireplace, my favorite part of this house, is under construction.
The interior firebox is made out of oversized handmade brick from Virginia.
Block is used to continue creating the fireplace structure.
The mason added stone facing on the interior wall from a quarry in
West Virginia. This gives the fireplace a finer look inside. Next
scaffolding goes up into the air
(roughly 36 feet above ground).
The mason collects the exterior fireplace stone from the various stone
walls found around the property and builds a chimney which looks like it
dates back to the original owner's days.
All the components come together in these final photographs.
A metal roof is installed and siding is nailed in place. Of course
inside the house, the plumbing, heating and cooling, and electrical rough
in work is completed. We install a small multimedia system to meet
any future wiring needs. The photograph shows the great room under
framing and later on with drywall. More photographs will come as
we complete the final stages of construction.
Next are the ceramic tile, the hardwood floors, the bathroom plumbing
fixtures, the electrical fixtures, and various elements which makes this
small cottage our home.
