Construction after the first day ends with a tarp.
Here's a side view of the bomb shelter without a lid!
Here's a view into the cellar.
Not much is visible from the house-side of the porch with the tarp in place.
the tarp covers the opening in case it rains. This room won't be open for long.
Some front bricks were lost when the porch was removed. It had to be propped up.
The house was not built with a proper brick-ledge.
Wide view of the target area.
Rusted ductwork will be removed and replaced after the beam is replaced.
Front corner
That dang ol' beam...
This is the main reason for all this work, a rusted support beam.
Here is the last of the front porch on top of the beam.
That big hole is for one of the decorative rocks. It will be reinserted and remortared.
Corner view showing the bracing.
This is the front of the foundation where the brick meets the wall.
Moisture and termites chewed on the end of this board.
They ripped it out and started replacing blocks on the first day.
A delivery of bricks to do the facing of the porch arrived on the second day.
Chuck works on removing the old beam.
It is evident why it needs to be replaced.
this is the last view of the rusted beam before it was removed.
The new beam is in place. The house did not fall into the cellar!
It will support the sub-structure for years to come.
Here is how it sits at the corner of the house and porch.
Here it fits into the outer foundation wall.
Ironically, the old beam was not what supported the house.
This straight-up view shows the concrete and bricks directly under the threshold of the door.
Side view of the new beam. The board to the right was rotted by leaking water.
The new brick ledge was put in on October 22. The house originally wasn't built with one.
Here's another view of the brick ledge beam.
More tear out work on the corner.
I hope they plan on replacing the entire block.
More spot replacement of blocks...
... and a new layer of blocks and bricks on the top make it look like a porch again.
And here is the view from the outside.
The tar paper will help keep out the water.
Front view of brick facing.
Wednesday, Oct. 23. More blocks replaced.
The inner foundation blocks are now getting replaced...
The front corner of the house is getting rebuilt...
Behind the brickws is a new vented glass-block window.
They tarped over the porch opening to keep out the rain (which we've had none).
Yet another view from the front.
Thursday, October 24: More work...
this is a clear shot of the new glass block window with vent.
The porch is ready for the inspector to check out.
It's starting to look like a porch again.
Motor has been removed for tuckpointing the facing wall bricks..
This large rock needs to be remortored.
The boards are in place to cover the opening.
The rebar will support the new slab once poured.
Here is an inside view showing the support boards and bracing ready for pouring.
Some interior blocks still need to be replaced.
Porch cover is a board...
Friday, November 1, the porch is poured.
The bricklayer smooths the edges of the form.
It will take a few days to cure before it can be walked on.
And now the steps...
Another view of the steps.
The rock on the wall is back.
Look, ma! We have porch!
On Friday, Nov. 8, the gutter went up.
They were blocked out a little from the house to increase their span for catching water.
A shield was installed in the corner to catch the flow from the valley.
There are 6" wide gutters (oversized).
Except for a few details, the job is almost complete.
After a steady rain, here is the seepage evident.
The fresh mortar still lets water through. We are trying to see what can be done.
November 21: new ductwork is installed.
Here is where it joins the other return-air duct.
Here is where it leaves the bomb shelter.
And here it joins the old ductwork.
November 25, 2002: The porch rails go up.
Code Requires at least one arm-rail.