1723 Phillip Walker House

Preserve RI acquired the Philip Walker House in the late 1980s. The house remained vacant for close to thirty years until 2008 when a new directive from Preserve Rhode Island sought to make the house habitable again. Heritage was contracted to gut the 1960s kitchen and bathroom and make a few service upgrades. Yet after the kitchen and bathroom frame was exposed, we discovered a few significant issues.

Around 100 years ago, workers covered severe structural damage in the gable end timber frame adjacent to the 1890s Kitchen. The deteriorated sill had caused the building to drop about two to four inches, causing the weight to transfer towards the central chimney. The pressure caused the chimney to crack and fail. There we faced a challenge, as we needed to relieve weight from the chimney to repair the frame while simultaneously stabilizing the chimney. Unfortunately, the 1st-floor original chimney surround and related flue (modified around 1870 and 1950) had to be removed to a stable point. They were ultimately saved as a study to showcase the evolved chimney mass.

Heritage stitched back the frame and installed steel to help transfer the load and prevent the building from racking. Then we rebuilt part of the foundation, replaced the heating system, insulated open walls, installed a new bathroom and Kitchen, repaired all of the house’s plaster, and completed some of the first coats of paint.

1790 Cooke House - 2009 Rhody Award and 2010 PPS Award

The owners of the Cooke House were the proud recipients of the 2009 Rhody Award, presented by the Rhode Island State Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission and Preserve Rhode Island. In addition, they received the 2010 Providence Preservation Society's Project of the Year Award for outstanding preservation and restoration.

This National Register private home has undoubtedly evolved over its lifetime. The house was moved to its current location in 1870, with the foundation and chimneys replaced and a new 25′ x 35′ two-story kitchen installed. The exterior received stucco over the original clapboard siding, where later 1920s stucco repairs added reinforced wire mesh and a hard portland stucco mix. The original siding remained underneath.

The floor plan of the original house was modified at that time, converting the original four-room plan into one side, becoming a single sitting room. The room included fireplaces on either end, and the other side became a dining room and library. With each modification, the original design received more contemporary features. The interior and exterior designs are modest, with a simple elegance to the fenestrations and interior moldings. 

Heritage was contracted to repair, restore, and modify the exterior, while the primary elevations remain unchanged. Exterior work included extensive repairs and restoration, including a roof replacement. In addition, we repaired the wooden gutter and fabricated and installed new third-floor casement windows. 

The interior work was extensive. The back end was gutted entirely, including the compromised floor systems. We then installed a custom kitchen with a master bedroom and bathroom above, including a new third-floor stairway, private entertainment room, and master closet. New systems had some radiant heat with a high-velocity HVAC system and a new electrical and sound system. The intent was to improve the building while maintaining the house's simple elegance for over 190 years.

1819 Christ Church Episcopal - Steeple, Sharon CT

The steeple was an incredible timber frame structure with various period details, including reeded moldings, arches, and crown moldings. The steeple timber frame is unique, with a center post that runs from the base of the cross through the steeple frame towards the deck of the pedestal.

The lower part of the steeple timber frame was rotten due to moisture and insect infestation. Other steeple features were failing, including the base copper roof, steeple asphalt roof, and the support column bases. There was also a considerable amount of paint, where many of the details became obscured. 

The existing bell was a superb bronze MeNeely Bell from Troy, NY. Over time, heavy use had caused the yoke pin to wear out the housing, making the bell wobble in its stand. The other cast iron parts had multiple layers of paint.

The methodology for the project scope was to balance cost, longevity, and serviceability.

1670 Rhodes House - 2008 & 2010 Projects

The client first came to Heritage Restoration to replace 17 1980's replacement windows. The previous owner gutted the interior, adding 2×3 walls, batten insulation, a layer of plastic, new sheetrock, and new moldings. The plastic caused the frame to rot since there wasn't an exterior air barrier, like tar paper. The neglected exterior and structure, coupled with trapped moisture, required the sheathing and frame to be replaced. 

 Heritage completed the removal of two layers of exterior siding, rotting material, and installation of new white oak sills and sheathing. After sheathing, Heritage installed the new plank frame windows with tar paper splines, copper drip caps, a tar paper vapor barrier, new shingles on the sides and back, and clapboard on the front. We also made a quarter-sawn white oak board and batten door, complete with new lock sets, a traditional thumb latch handle, and weather stripping.

1885 Leroy King House- 2010 Doris Duke Award

The homeowners were proud recipients of the distinguished Doris Duke Historic Preservation Award in August 2010. Heritage was recognized for the “window restoration and devoted attention to innumerable details.”

The LeRoy King House is a McKim, Meade, and White design built-in 1885, featuring a brick, granite slate, and pebbledash exterior, with a grand central oak hallway and staircase and countless signature details. The house was initially conceived as a classic shingle style, although before construction, the decision was made to use more substantial materials. 

Heritage was contracted to restore 97 windows, with an expanded project scope to include the manufacturing and installing several more sash and interior storm windows. In addition, we repaired and refinished the floors back to their original splendor and restored all of the door and windows hardware. Heritage was also responsible for providing long-term care and maintenance of the house.