On Track for March
November 29, 2004
Contributed by Richard DeWolf, Founder, Arciform LLC

The rain delayed us two days, but we ended up with beautiful skies for the removal of the old roof and for the installation of the recycled tire "slate" roof. The installation went smoothly without any surprises. Eddy and Chris were able to lift the sagging eves and support them with new brackets that were made custom by Arciform. Instead of using felt under the shingles, we used an ice and water shield protection made by Grace. Four Star Roofing did an excellent and timely job of the roof replacement. The owner and project supervisors were on hand at the last Saturday event answering questions about the product as well as helping people choose other alternative roofing systems. Even in a time when people sell their homes more frequently, it's nice to know that the owner of this house will never have to replace the main roof in their lifetime.

We passed our electrical inspection last week and will cover some of the interior walls, getting ready for plaster to start in the upstairs bedrooms this week. Plumbing permits should be ready for inspection later this week, and we are moving ahead positively. The calendar says we are ahead of schedule, but I am starting to feel the pressure of time. With a team like Arciform, I shouldn't have any concerns.

A special thanks to the very talented team that have done to-date an excellent job on the house:

• Arciform Crew: Chris Fritz, James (Eddy) Peterson, Danielle Tomicich
  
• Milo (Power Plumbing)
  
• Jerry Moyer (Master Tech Electric)
  
• Steve Philips / Steve Hart & the Four Star Roofing crew!
  

Just in time for Turkey Day!
November 23rd, 2004
Contributed by Melissa Fryback, writing on behalf of Arciform LLC

Looks like the roof got put on the house just in the nick of time last week! This weeks hard rain makes it a good time for the crews to now be indoors. And as one neighbor exclaimed, "The house is certainly a hive of activity!"

I'd say Richard would be the better candidate to update the details of construction this week, but he's so busy with the coordination of the teams out at the house and other Arciform projects, that I'm the one given the responsibility to providing this weeks update. (If you're reading this, please bear with me as I attempt to bring you all up to speed based on my observations.)

Four Star Roofing had a team of 8 out at the house last week for 3 days - it might have been 2 if not for the rain showers that intermittently occurred. It was amazing to me how effortlessly they walked around up there each doing their individual jobs yet working as a team to get the job done. Steve Philips, Steve Hart and Bruce (sorry I don't know his last name) oversaw the project and last Saturday answered a lot of questions regarding this new roofing material. Out front we had 7 tires that represented the amount saved from landfills based on a "square" of rubber roofing. (A square, if I haven't mentioned it before equals a 10' X 10' area.) And on this roof, that means 91 tires!!!

On the final day, a beautiful full rainbow appeared "on queue" arched over the house signaling the projects completion. As Anne mentioned before, the Hi-Tek Rubber roof is beautiful. (Richard called it a "sexy" roof - I have to concur. It is sexy!) It so unique, given it's made of recycled tire rubber and looks so much in appearance like slate! For installation, they admitted it was pretty slick to move around on, but from where I stood, they seemed to tackle it without any difficulty - I suppose that's why they are the professionals! Under the slate-style tiles, Grace Ice & Water Shield was applied. This adhesive backed material acts as a membrane and when punctured (with a roofing nail for example) the material tightly seals around the nail it not letting any moisture underneath it. I was told that the use of this material 2 feet from the eaves on roofs will soon be code up in Washington and Oregon is soon to follow. Well we're very pleased that it's ALL over our roof! With a great installation, under protectant, and the durability of the rubber composition itself, it's certain to last the 100+ years that the Hi-Tek Rubber roofing claims! (This roof has a double 50 year warranty - transferable to later owners as well!)

As the roof came to completion our JELD-WEN Custom Wood Windows arrived on site. The first two to go in were the side bedroom ones. They are 2 double sash windows. Very nice looking. Richard even chose the hardware lock detail to be a dark gray finish to mimic the look of old windows. They immediately transformed the bedroom windows to the architecturally appropriate style inside and out. (New photos to follow after my next trip to Costco to get them developed.) They used another Grace product before installing the new windows that creates a moisture barrier around the opening. (Again, the house is getting sealed up tighter than a tick!) The most incredible window to go in last Friday, that I unfortunately missed was the front dormer window. Simultaneously Eddie and Richard each climbed a ladder and synchronized holding the window, while another Arciform employee hoisted it into place from the inside. What I a sight it was I am sure! What I do know is that this new larger window and the now installed front living room window combined created a whole new historically appropriate facade for the house!!! And of course being they are Lo-E, are going to improve the energy efficiency as well! A side note here: When installing the new upstairs dormer window, two discoveries were made. One, that when the aluminum window was installed, the original window size was scaled back and the two side windows boarded over. And two, under the eaves and accessed from the upstairs a 1920's dark green leather ladies shoe was found... a very unusual spot for a shoe!

There are a few more new windows to go in and the leaded glass details to mimic the original one in the front room and dining room still need to be installed.

OK, now into the house... Gary's Vacuflo completed the installation of the vacuum system (it's even piped into the basement for whoever might want to finish it someday!) Home Comfort Zones put in the tubing throughout the duct work for their wireless room by room temperature control system, Milo with Power Plumbing is updating all the pipe (much of which was rusted through) and installing in areas where there are new needs for it - the kitchen, upstairs bath suite and laundry. It appears to me that Jerry Moyer of Master Tech Electric, Inc. has completed his part to wire the house last week. And today, I saw new duct work being installed by First Call.

Eddie and crew continue to finish up the framing, but for the most part are done with that and getting ready to put the last few windows in.

The remaining moulding, that hadn't been removed for paneling way back when, has been removed and stored and Richard met with our EXCEPTIONALLY talented plasterer Christian Wolstencroft this week to finalize what needs to be done once insulation has been done. Christian has a trip back home to Europe planned for the holiday's, but Richard's hopeful a couple of rooms might get done before he leaves.

Now let me see... (sorry this is a novel!) did I forget anything else?

I suppose in summary, as an observer, I can't believe how much has happened! Just from day one on October 1st, it's a far cry from where it was and now it's becoming easier this week to see where it's headed. The house is awaiting its Tyvek House Wrap and James Hardie Siding.

It's a good thing we're taking a bit of break for Thanksgiving as things will progress even more rapidly come Monday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
November 18th, 2004
Contributed by Anne DeWolf, Co-owner & Designer, Arciform LLC

Richard just called me from the job site and said the roof looks beautiful. I can not wait to see it. I guess it really looks like slate. How exciting! This Saturday should be a good program on the house's roof.

On Monday Eddy was working on the upstairs bathroom roof and it was decided that we need to integrate a support beam since the roof sagged 2" from each wall to the center of the space. So that meant back to the drawing board for me. I came up with an archway that separates the tub/sink space form a nook type space at the window. I think it almost improved the design. The exterior wall of the bathroom had to be reframed in its entirety since it was rotted out. There was a two inch sag in the ceiling. So Eddy fixed that also. This house structurally, as we are discovering, was built poorly back in 1909... You can almost hear it whispering "thank you" as we replace rotted and sagging parts.

Now for the fun stuff... Michael a historic color consultant with Eterne has come up with a beautiful color scheme for the exterior of the house. He has chosen them from Miller Paint's Historic Color Collection. Here's their location on the 1909 House:

Miller Paint is creating a color swatch sheet just for this house that people will be able to pick up.

That's it for now.
I hope to see you on Saturday!

Our Best Saturday Turn Out Yet!
November 15th, 2004
Contributed by Anne DeWolf, Co-owner & Designer, Arciform LLC

Last weekend was great - obviously a subject people are hungry for information on.

We had Jeff Eldridge, a representative from the Portland Bureau of Development Services, there who answered all kinds of questions with regard to when you should pull permits, who should pull which permit and why working with professionals like electricians and plumbers is so important. It was great to be able to ask questions when the project was right there. Since this is such a large project there were examples of almost all questions asked. Jerry with Master Tech Electric, Inc. answered all kinds
of questions with regard to knob and tube wiring and grounding and how and why to add new circuits and so on. Milo with Power Plumbing was there to offer answers to plumbing questions.

We had the biggest turn out yet.

Many Decisions Finalized...
November 11, 2004
Contributed by Anne DeWolf, Co-owner & Designer, Arciform LLC

Front of house: Well, we have the go ahead to add a staircase to the center of the porch. This will change the approach to the house and center the front door. I love it because now we have even more space in the living room.

Living room: The entry and living room will be detailed by Richard. He has some dramatic ideas for the woodwork like the partition between the entry and the living room and the mantel. This whole space will be stain grade to be in keeping with the standard detailing of a bungalow.

Dining room: I have designed a buffet cabinet which will lend a more formal feeling to the space. It will be stained grade as well and tie into the living room.

Kitchen: The bids for the flooring by Lansing Linoleum and the slatescape counter by NuArt are currently being put together. Melissa McCall (A talented designer here at Arciform) and I are working on the tile back splash and are looking at some beautiful Arts and Crafts style patterns. A-Boy has put the plumbing package together for us and the order has been placed. We are going with a double basin apron sink by Fanke and a very nice rubbed bronze faucet by Hamat. Scott at A-Boy on NW Vaughn Street was a great help.

Downstairs Bathroom: Melissa McCall put together a very turn of the century tile package for this space. We are using hex tile floors and subway tile wainscoting. Here the plumbing is supplied by A-Boy also. We are going with fixtures by Chatsworth like a claw foot tub, pedestal sink and a toilet with a mahogany toilet seat.

Upstairs Hall: We purchase the laundry machines which will be energy efficient front loaders by Frigidair supplied to the project by Standard TV and Appliance. I think I will put a linoleum counter into the laundry closet. Into the linen cabinets we are installing a built in ironing board provided by Gary's Vacuflo.

Upstairs bathroom: A-Boy is supplying us with an Air Tub by Jason. This tub has small air jets which softly massage sore muscles. We are installing faucets and sinks by American Standard and a Toto toilet. The tile pattern is still being worked on. We are going for an elegant look up there.

General:
The structural problems have been taken care of by Arciform Project Manager Eddy (aka James Peterson). He is currently jacking up the eaves of the house and installing new and stronger brackets. There was a bit of "activity" out at the house today while that was going on... as the old brackets were being taken off, over wrought with the extreme weight they've been holding (3 layers of composite and the original shake) - a real structural mystery to be sure! They creaked and cracked and the eaves suddenly sagged down with a groan about 2 inches! A second of breath holding by all there, but they stayed on. The ridge at the top though shows the extreme forces that were at work as a 3 inch division in the ridge exists from where the two sides are slipping down. The new brackets couldn't have come at a better time! This was all caught on tape by our project videographer... great footage... but a scary moment up on the scaffolding!

Monday the roof comes completely off, 1/2" cdx plywood goes on, then the Grace Ice & Water Shield self-adhered membrane roofing underlayment for added protection and then our Hi-Tek Rubber slate roofing heaved up top by Stoneway Roofing! It will be amazing and the house will certainly "sigh" again as it is saved from the stress it's been under up top. November 20th will be the roofing event out at the house- check the calendar for details!

In the Walls:
The central vacuum system has been provided and installed by Gary's Vacuflo. Jerry, our highly talented electrician with Master Tech Electric, Inc. is has started work this week to replace the knob and tube wiring. Plumbing provided by Milo of Power Plumbing is on the horizon... this weekend (11/13) they'll be out at the house to answer questions.

The landscape designers Amy and Kathryn from The Garden Design Studio met with me yesterday and have come up with a great "green" concept that incorporates native plantings. I especially like the ideas for the back yard.

The exterior of the home will start to come together quickly now and like the new rendering I've included, visitors will really start to see dramatic changes!

"Enter" a Reborn Home - Dramatic Changes on the Horizon
November 5th, 2004
Contributed by Anne DeWolf, Co-owner & Designer, Arciform LLC

The most noticeable item last week was that the front door was moved over. (See item #7)

To give you more to chew on week to week, I offer you the following laundry list of what is coming up:

1. A little half bath was put into a walk-in closet of a small bedroom upstairs. We are converting this space as well as the bedroom into the main bathroom for the home. It will have a separate toilet room, a large bath tub, two sinks within a long vanity cabinet and a radiant towel warmer which will heat the space. An additional entry from the bathroom to the master bedroom will be added.
2. The downstairs bathroom has been entirely deconstructed and will be remodeled by exchanging the plumbing fixtures with more vintage looking models like a claw foot tub and pedestal sink. We are planning on installing hexagon mosaic tile floors and 3x6 white subway tile as wainscoting.
3. The kitchen is the biggest challenge due to the ceiling height change that occurs within the space. A previous owner had lowered the ceiling throughout the whole room with acoustic tile. We have taken those out and are planning to install bead board ceilings at the lower section of ceiling to give the space the sense of being an old back porch. The area will be used for a secondary eating space and will be separated from the kitchen by a wood island which will house the stove. The fridge will be tucked next to the chimney into the south east corner of the room. The prep counter as well as the dish storage will be oriented along the north wall of the kitchen. The cabinets will be painted in a soft green and we will install a linoleum floor. The counters will be made of Slate Scape.
4. The dining room we would like to leave as original as possible. A large structural beam had been installed along one opening and we are wrapping this beam to make it part of the architecture. We are also replacing the buffet and will restore or replace the base, casing and picture molding.
5. We have removed the vinyl siding and had hoped to find the original siding below it, but it was not to be. So we will install Hardi-Lap siding on the lower half of the house and Hardi-Shingles on the upper half and the dormers. The will be separated by a belt course. The center porch column will be moved about three feet to one side and we will install a fourth column which will flank the new front porch stairs. The front dormer will have new and larger windows.
6. In the back of the house we are also enlarging most of the windows. We are replacing almost all of the windows of the house with JELD-WEN, Low-E wood windows.
7. The front door has been moved to the center of the house to create better circulation flow at the entry and living room. This also provides space for a grouping of tree windows which will echo the grouping of windows at the bay window.
8. Now that the door is moved there will be comfortable space to lay out living room furniture. This space and the entry as well as the new buffet in the dining room will be finished with stain grade wood to give a more formal arts and crafts feel to them. We had hoped to be able to keep the brick mantel but when we removed the paneling, the brick mantel just fell off. ³Very strange!²
9. The den to the right of the entry needs some straightening. The windows have been installed out of plumb and to hide this the woodwork was cut at a slant or installed out of level. We will fix this as much as possible. We have not determined what we will do with the floor below the carpet, but we hope to be able to refinish the wood.
10. Since we had to lift and support different parts of the house and due to popcorn textures and paneling the walls and ceilings are in pretty bad shape. We will have our plasterer come through the house and apply a veneer plaster throughout. At this time we are planning on a light sand textured ceiling with a slight tint to the plaster so it does not have to be painted and smooth painted walls.
11. The bedrooms upstairs are going to stay the same shape. As we are doing throughout most of the house the windows and doors will be replaced, the walls and ceilings will be fixed and the trim will be reinstalled to match the rest. Under the carpeting we found fir flooring which we will refinish. In one of the bedrooms we found a 1960¹s linoleum rug which is still in pretty good shape. If possible we will leave it and paint the floor around it.