Green Build – Gut Rehab of a 4 Family Masonry Building

But first I’ll give you a little background on the Building

Building History

There were many clues for determining the age of the building.

First Clue was the type of Bricks used.  When St Louis hosted the Worlds Fair.  The city planners realized that housing was going to be needed for everyone and started building all the brick homes that are still being utilized all over the city today.  It has to do with either the type of clay used to make the bricks or the way they ‘fired’ the bricks.  Either way when you have the type of brick as the ones in this building you have a building using bricks that were made in the Late 1800s or early 1900s.

Lumber: We have found that Douglas Fir was used 80% of the time.  True Dimensional Rough Sawn Lumber.

Nails: Hand Made Square various sizes

Plaster and Lathe

Tube and Knob Wiring

Water Cistern / Hand Pump

Gas Lighting

Rock Foundation

and more

Complete Rehab of a 4 Family Building with Garage and Warehouse

home was built in the late 1800s or early 1900s

1. Basement Foundation Rock Foundation Repair
   1. Hint: If you can see daylight  coming thru the mortar  cracks as the building did in these pictures (you have problems and need to tuckpoint your rock foundation).
   2. See other rock foundation repair at Green Blog
2. Removing the water damaged deck and back room addition
3. Roofing
4. Extensive Tuckpointing
5. Rebuilding the back room
   1. Supporting the 2nd Floor and Roof (we used a total of 5 Support Posts in a 6 Foot Area)
   2. While Digging in the Pier Footings we found an old water tank/cistern that was used to supply water to a kitchen sink in the hand pump days.
      1. Water Collection for re-use is/was a normal part of everyday living in the days gone past.  The water was collected by the buildings eve troughs, gutters, and patio area (in the days gone past-they didn’t call it green building.  It was called survival.)
6. Refinishing the Flooring
7. Remodel of Kitchen/Bath
8. Adding a Laundry Room
9. Weather Proofing and more

Stay Tuned for Photos and Details on the Green Build Four Family Flat– perfect example on why Building Green is not only affordable but can be profitable as well.

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