A carefully planned and executed addition is the solution for a growing family that needs help fitting into this beautiful, 100-year-old home. Since it’s located in an historic district, there are many restrictions on how the structure can be altered, making the design a challenge for architect Pete J. Vallas.
Planning
After much deliberation, it was decided that the new addition would occupy the space above and to one side of the existing back porch. The 1,000 square foot addition has 11’ ceilings, to match those in the original house. The addition has an entryway and laundry room on the first floor and two bedrooms, a bath, and closets upstairs.
Once the foundation had been dug, concrete footings were poured, topped by cinder block piers faced with old brick on the outside.
Framing
Next, the bottom floor of the addition was framed, and the ceiling and roof on the existing porch removed. A laminated beam was positioned on top of the porch columns to support the framing for the second story.
Detail Work
The eaves and hip roof of the addition were carefully matched to the existing house. After the exterior framing and roofing had been completed, drywall was hung and finished, followed by installation of the interior doors and trim.
When adding to an historic house, it’s important to match the design and architectural details as closely as possible. If molding and millwork is no longer available to match the original, it can be custom made or constructed from several pieces of stock molding joined together.
Flooring
The wood flooring in the addition was made from yellow pine and stained to match the antique heart pine floors in the original house.
In addition to the laundry room, the downstairs addition has a computer center with beadboard cabinets along with adjustable cubicles for added storage.
The flooring selected for the downstairs addition was made of a durable, woven vinyl material manufactured by Design Materials, Inc. The series and color used were Seasons, 127 Little Summer.
Finished Addition
The finished addition added plenty of room for the growing family without altering the front facade of the house.
Other Tips from This Episode
Simple Solutions with Joe Truini:
Attaching Holiday Decorations
When mounting holiday lights, attach self-adhesive mounting brackets to your house (available in the electrical department at home centers), then use removable plastic cable ties to attach the decorations to the slots in the brackets. Leave the brackets in place when the decorations are removed so they can be used again next year.
Best New Products with Jodi Marks:
Mohawk SmartStrand Carpet
Mohawk SmartStrand carpet is not only stain-resistant, it is made from 37% renewable sourced polymers derived from corn sugar. This natural resource is also eco-friendly, since it requires 30% less energy to produce than nylon carpeting. SmartStrand carpeting is available at The Home Depot.
Thinking Green with Danny Lipford:
Home Energy Audit
An energy audit of your home is a worthwhile investment, because it pinpoints the sources of energy loss so you can correct the problem. Tools like infrared digital thermometers and thermal imaging cameras allow you to conduct your own energy audit, or you can hire a service to do it for you.
