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OUR
Mission
There is no substitute for old materials, original craftsmanship, the shape and symmetry of period architecture, and the intricate way these elements all interact and age together. Indeed, much like an individual, a building's unique patina, and personality is sculpted by age. It is the preservationist's greatest challenge to maintain this personality while bringing the building back to life.
RESTORATION
Challenges
As one of few individually designated Landmark buildings in Brooklyn, the Elkins House was subject to the strictest conservation standards. All original detail that could be salvaged was restored, and any element of the facade no longer existing was recreated as true as possible to the house's original historic look.
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Elements of the facade that could be saved included:
Porch columns, porch roof and arched boxes, siding clapboards, attic windows with delicate cusped surrounds, ornamented front cornice and crown molding, molded entrance surround with transom, window casings, molding, and interior pocket shutters.
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Other elements of the original facade had been removed by previous owners or destroyed over the years.
These include stoop newel posts, steps, handrails, spindles, cellar lattice, exterior shutters, and the front iron fence. Recreating these beautiful features was only possible through research of NYC Archive tax photos from 1940, the detailed Landmarks Designation Report, and images and architectural documentation of similar historic buildings.
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Careful removal of pine subfloor for reuse
Original front porch column discovered behind wood enclosure
Original wood clapboard siding found behind layers of sheathing. Salvaged boards were stripped and reinstalled.
Bead-and-reel moldings detail, stripped and reinstalled
Hand-made clay brick removed and reinstalled as 'brick nogging', the way it was originally used
Old pine framing studs salvaged and repurposed to stair treads
Salvaged blue stone
Hand-made clay brick removed and reinstalled as 'brick nogging', the way it was originally used
In terms of the interior space, the great tragedy is that the vast majority had been gutted down to the framing by the previous owners. This includes all plaster walls, trim, doors and windows, fireplace mantels, stairs, and floors. We managed to preserve roughly 80% of the original floor joists and reuse most of the original 170-year-old wood studs, repurposing them as stair treads, ceiling decorations, and handrails. The original 10-foot-long subfloors were also reused.
The beautiful handmade, red clay brick found in some exterior walls was a non-structural element known as "brick nogging." This was common in certain pre-1900 wood frame buildings, serving primarily to provide air infiltration, a wind barrier, or possibly a form of insulation and soundproofing. This brick nogging was kept as a historic architectural element in some interior areas of the house.
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The enormous original bluestone pavers within the yard were reset as walkways and patio surfaces. Stones from the old foundation walls were used to build the wall at the rear of the property.
Rocks dug up as part of the excavation are incorporated into the landscape design.
Our close collaboration with LPC (Landmark Preservation Commission) and North Crown Heights Historic Association ensured that this once magnificent and rare house again received its glory.
Deteriorated condition of roof rafters and front porch.
CONSTRUCTION
Challenges
The Elkins House suffered decades of neglect and decay due to age, water damage, termite damage, fire and vandalism. When the property came into our hands, the original wood-frame structure had been so severely compromised that it was on the verge of collapse.
A significant restructuring endeavor was needed. In short, the entire structural skeleton of the building had to be rebuilt with modern materials while keeping the original wood-frame house still standing. It is among the most complicated and intricate engineering missions in construction.
The first stage was excavation. The entire rear yard, side alleys, and cellar floor were excavated to expose and replace the crumbling stone-mortared foundation walls. This long, tedious, and meticulous process included a shoring system to hold the entire house on stilts. The temporary stilts allowed for the removal of the foundation, section by section, from the back of the house and, eventually, the construction of a new underground concrete foundation and new steel beams to support the building.
Removal of the crumbling porch while temporary shoring the porch roof
Temporary shoring of the building structure and pouring new foundations
Removal of the crumbling porch while temporary shoring the porch roof
Cellar and rear yard excavation
Cellar and rear yard excavation
Cellar and rear yard excavation
To make matters even more complicated, the only means to remove the enormous amount of earth and underground stones from the rear of the building was through the narrow 5 ft alley along the side.
Only the smallest mini-excavator could pass through. Under these limited conditions, carting away the earth took over two months.
Upon completion of the excavation and pouring of a new foundation, the original wood framing of each floor had to be reinforced with steel joists and columns. It often seemed like a miracle that the house, supported by temporary shoring, managed to evade strong gusts of wind and stay standing. At the same time, each original wood joist was slowly reconnected to other new structural members.
Perhaps the most fascinating part of this process was reinforcing the roof. Many of the rafters were burnt, cut, and/or dramatically sagging. The roof had to be lifted in its entirety off the building while keeping its original structure and shape intact. Old roof rafters were 'sistered' with steel and reset on new beams engineered to reconstruct the original shape of the roof and incorporate the new side extensions.
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