Week 3 at Sunnybrook

With a great crew and a few extra helpers, the farmhouse is almost gutted.
We have left the frame, the exterior siding, the plastered ceiling in the 2nd floor, one chimney, one plumbing vent and the hardwood floors downstairs.

We have also left much of the back-plastering that was done on the inside of the exterior sheathing, which are 1x wide pine/spruce.

We are now working on completing the design of the space and the energy systems. The energy work will be done with the mentorship of Andy Shapiro.

One of the highlights of the past week was finding a post card announcing the art opening of a friend and neighbor from 1982! I was able to return the card to her delight.

The frame was mostly in very good condition except for the basement ceiling. There is quite a bit of powdering of the spruce timbers. Amazingly, the timbered sill that sits directly on a granite foundation is mostly in great condition. I found only one spot where there is rot where it abuts an exterior porch that sat on original granite footer. The original posts are apparently gone with steel lolly columns that have inadequate bear plates and one column is in such a state of decay that is has crumpled at its base. The only section of frame that was in obvious need of repair were 3 joists underneath the bathroom tub/toilet. Other sections may need extra support/replacement.
The roof is in good condition with only an old rotten remnant of a chimney opening, long taken out. The original wood shingles lie under asphalt shingles, soon to be covered with standing seam.

The management of materials has been a good challenge. We did not order a dumpster and instead are using a trailer to haul to the local transfer station. This makes us more aware of what we are throwing away.
We are saving all framing lumber from walls to be reused as dried wood will have the least impact on an old frame as we rebuild.
We are using the old plaster, broken bricks as the base of an earth berm to shelter from the nearby road.
All of the old lathe is stored for kindling-probably 10 years worth.
Any unpainted wood that will not be reused will make up a summer bonfire.
Unuseable painted wood is hauled away.
Decent wood trim will be saved until we know if we can use it or not. Including door jambs and kitchen counters.
We saved a few built in cabinets to be reused.
All light fixtures, tub,fridge, washer,dryer, dishwasher, stove, oil burner, hot water maker, woodstove, kitchen counters, pergo flooring and baseboard heating will be either sold or sent to the ReStore in Barre.
We will reuse the sinks, any good romex/electrical fixtures and much of the old copper plumbing.
All of the old wiring, including knob and tub, will be recycled.