Part of an 1891 designated historic house in James Bay, this elaborate porch column was rotting from the inside due to bad roof drainage. We repaired the roof, restored the upper section of the post with epoxy and replaced the completely rotted lower portion of the post with a new turning. It was a surgical procedure and the repairs are undetectable. Good for another 130 years!
The owner of a 1907 house here in Victoria, BC, approached me to renovate their enclosed porch. My response was to suggest a transformative approach – removing the enclosure entirely to reveal the original open porch and the original woodwork. After demolishing the existing mishmash of cobbled together old windows and aluminum storm door, I asked the owners to pause and appreciate the newfound openness of the original porch. To my delight, it took them only two days to decide on the complete restoration of the porch to its former glory.
The restoration involved milling new matching mouldings and trim, turning new column capitals and bases, and reconstructing the solid balustrade. The result is a porch that not only recaptures its historical charm but stands as a testament to the timeless beauty of a thoughtful historic restoration.
A few of the progress photos:
Before:
