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2nd Foundation in cellar?
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Within the cellar of our 1801 Gambrel we have found a brick foundation app. 40 inches from the current granite foundation. It runs the length of the granite (current) foundation and is about 20…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by evan j andriopoulos Oct 30, 2009.

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evan j andriopoulos replied to Jennifer D.'s discussion 'Sagging floors in 140 year old home'

Make sure the engineering company is experienced and focuses on homes of that age otherwise they will apply "new age" construction knowledge to the old house. We had a expert come in and instruct us on how to properly build lolly columns…

Oct 30, 2009

evan j andriopoulos replied to evan j andriopoulos's discussion '2nd Foundation in cellar?'

Hi. We have in New London,CT many homes from the 18th and early 19th century with brick foundations and ofc. brick chimineys and lolly columns. The brick wall we found in the basement is seemingly either a support wall for a previous berm that may…

Oct 30, 2009

jane replied to evan j andriopoulos's discussion '2nd Foundation in cellar?'

north of you, (in rural area and north of Boston on the seacoast, where I know construction the best,) brick isn't used for foundations at all - brick chimney bases, brick columns, brick floors in basements, brick cisterns in the 1900's,…

Oct 29, 2009

evan j andriopoulos replied to evan j andriopoulos's discussion '2nd Foundation in cellar?'

Had thought about that as well however when checking out the land records there was no structure there prior to 1801. The road was opened in 1787 and the neighboring house lot was purchased around that time and a house built in 1792-95. Our lot was…

Oct 27, 2009

evan j andriopoulos replied to evan j andriopoulos's discussion '2nd Foundation in cellar?'

Thanks. This I had not heard before but it does make sense. We originally thought that it may have been to store coal but checked the brick and there were no signs of coal , coal dust etc...

Oct 27, 2009

Sean Maher replied to evan j andriopoulos's discussion '2nd Foundation in cellar?'

Another possibility was that the house was moved. Moving houses around used to be very, very common, so it's possible you are seeing the remnants of where the house used to be, an old outbuilding, or a previous house. Granite is fancier than…

Oct 26, 2009

David Harris replied to evan j andriopoulos's discussion '2nd Foundation in cellar?'

I am not exactly clear on the design you describe but it was common for early houses to be build without a basement, just a crawl space. Much later someone had the money and inclination to build a basement so it would be dug out by hand, The…

Oct 26, 2009

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2nd Foundation in cellar?

Discussion posted by evan j andriopoulos Oct 25, 2009

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evan j andriopoulos is now a member of My Old House Online Oct 25, 2009

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Tell us about yourself:: A CT.Yankee living in Norway. Owner and caretaker ofthe historic Richard Douglass House in New London,CT.

Tell us about your old-house experiences and dreams:: Owner and caretaker of the Historic 1801 Richard Douglass House on Green Street in New London, Ct. Restored a house that was slated for demolition.