Before and after of column restoratio

Rebuilding columns and bases for two different porches

We are building bases from reclaimed antique pine for the solid columns that we repaired last week. While I've been getting these bases and capitals ready for installation, we've has been putting the final touches on the ipe deck. [The beautiful wood you see underneath the capitals and bases is heart pine tongue and groove deck board, fabricated by Van Jester Woodworks and to be soon installed in Eppington Plantation.]

The following salvaged columns are being restored for a mansion on Monument Avenue. We are rebuilding the front porch which was unfortunately removed years ago. The techniques used to work on these columns are partly inspired by the writings of John Leeke, though Mr. Leeke has nothing on RBVa's very own. 

Church Hill's Newest Pink Lady

Restoration Builders of Virginia has recently had the privilege of working on the house at 2100 East Broad Street, right at the bustling corner of 21st and East Broad Streets.

We've worked on this historic house before, and were coming back to do siding repair and to rebuild the front porch.

We took down old rotten siding boards, replaced them with new boards, properly backprimed, and installed with the correct fasteners. By replacing the siding with wood we preserved the historic look, feel, and value of this balloon framed house.

 Painters came behind us, scraping and then priming and painting the house a lovely pink. When headed East on Broad Street from City Hall, you can spot this Pink Lady from the opposite hill around 12th Street.

RBVA had done work on the front porch at 2100 several years ago, when the rails, columns, gutters, ceiling, and roof were all revamped. This year we came back for the deck. The concrete slab that had been there was no longer desireable, so we replaced it with brick piers, pressure treated framing, and tongue and groove flooring. The little touches like the grooved shoes for the columns (for water drainage), slope of the deck, and skirt and ogee trim around the outside edge of the framing, show our attention to detail and long term thinking involved in our construction.
 More pictures after the break...

Salvaging parts of an old house

This house in church hill is going to be demolished next week, so we got permission from the demo crew to get in there first and salvage what we could. All the columns, korbels, two rooms of pine flooring, a sink, some window sashes, a mantel and a few doors. We saved an entire truck worth from the landfill, and most of it will be used immediately at 405 N 23rd st.