It's been a couple of years since Cambridge and Somerville relaxed their zoning ordinances regarding living space in basements. It's now far easier to increase the floor-to-ceiling dimension far beyond the 7-foot mark, which defines living space, without running afoul of FAR (floor area ratio) regulations. "You can dig to China if you want to," was how a building inspector in Somerville responded … [Read more...] about Want More Living Space? Lower Your Basement!
Stay or Go? Living in a Construction Site
It's one of my favorite Clash songs. But it's also the subject of this month's letter because I'm referring to the decision many owners face when renovating their home. Along with other questions we typically ask people, today it is more important than ever to know whether an owner or family intends to stay in their home during a renovation. Living in a work zone, or right next to one, is never … [Read more...] about Stay or Go? Living in a Construction Site
Child Safety With High Rise Buildings & Balconies
It is the job of small children to test limits, and their parents’ job to keep them safe. During a 7th floor renovation in a high-rise building in Cambridge, our client was concerned over the fascination their active 22-month-old had with the windows and railings. The child was fascinated with the four double sash horizontal sliding windows. Each had an A/C … [Read more...] about Child Safety With High Rise Buildings & Balconies
How to Build a Hatch Door in a Deck?
Sometimes the master carpenter is like a musician, exhibiting the technical skill to make complex moldings turn a corner, leaving a perfect joint, one too tight to get a hair or a razor into. And sometimes they are there to solve deceptively simple but stubborn problems, like basement access that is so awkward and inconvenient that it can’t be used from year to year. The stick is backup, not … [Read more...] about How to Build a Hatch Door in a Deck?
Geothermal Heating & Cooling With Hot Water Wells
Yes, you can drill for free energy in your own backyard, without fracking or contributing in the slightest to your carbon footprint, by sinking a geothermal well. This technology enables you to tap into the earth to provide heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. Outdoor temperatures change with the seasons but below ground, they remain steady. About four feet below grade (in … [Read more...] about Geothermal Heating & Cooling With Hot Water Wells
Finding the Carpenter in the Craftsman Style
he Craftsman style is familiar to us all, and is still with us in a way that the Victorian is not. We are often called upon to apply Craftsman style detail in very un-Craftsman buildings. The Craftsman sensibility endures because it has a humane feel to it, as it retains the visible presence of the hand of the craftsperson (carpenter, mason, metalworker, etc.) that made it. The Craftsman … [Read more...] about Finding the Carpenter in the Craftsman Style
Reproducing Historic Spaces With Veneer Plaster
After a century and a half or so of building settlement and aftermarket alterations, the walls of any wood framed structure will be somewhat misaligned. When those walls are behind a mansard type roof, and intentionally tilted inward, then the forgiving virtues of a skim coat veneer plaster wall system becomes a critical tool for rendering wall planes in a faithful and consistent way. As … [Read more...] about Reproducing Historic Spaces With Veneer Plaster
Happy Accidents in Historic Restoration
Change happens to every building, as styles and standards evolve. Where to draw the line between preservation and evolution is a matter of judgement and taste. An example of this was the abatement of asbestos floor tile from a concrete floor in a classic mid century modern residence, by the noted architect Samuel Glaser. Mid century concrete floor. Materials go in and out of style, as … [Read more...] about Happy Accidents in Historic Restoration