- October 22, 2016
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- Posted by Paul Burdette
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Church of Telford
These posts will document the conversion of the Telford project, a church being converted into a single-family residence
CHURCH OF TELFORD
Demolition time!
In order to bring the COT up to current residential building code, much of the old needed to come down to make room for the new. Lovett Deconstruction did the demolition in two phases. First, the interior of the structure was stripped down to bare studs, joists, and rafters. All partition walls, flooring, HVAC ducting, electrical wiring and conduit, insulation, and plumbing was removed and sent to the landfill, or the Rebuilding Center if salvageable. Vinyl siding peeled back to reveal the original wood siding.
The lower roof covering the extended footprint of the the 1939 basement addition was deconstructed, leaving only the ceiling joists for the lower level, which will become the rafters for the flat roof that will sit under a wrap-around deck.
Fir wainscoting was carefully removed and will be re-used if possible. The windows came out, with one reserved and sent to a custom window builder as a template for new, energy-efficient replacements.
After testing negative for asbestos, the lathe and plaster ceiling came down, bringing the old blown-in fiberglass insulation with it. The ceiling joists will remain as a work platform until the new roof is built
Laid bare, the “bones” of the church breathe again for the first time in almost 100 years.
The plaster was retained to be restored in the apse that was once housed the preacher’s pulpit and is currently the entrance to the main level.
With the lower level gutted, more of the history of the structure was revealed: A piecemeal slab floor was poured to different levels at different times.
More of the structural history became visible as well: In 1939 when the basement level was added, the builders used a large fir beam, spanning the center of the lower level, to support the smaller upper level. 2″ x 13″ floor joists were sistered to the original 2″ x 10″s and extended to the new foundation walls.
This roof needs to go! We’re not sure it was doing much any more, but the low-sloped roof covering the larger downstairs was stripped and the rafters deconstructed.
The remaining shiplap will be replaced with CDX plywood to ensure a flat, level surface for the sloped foam system that will provide drainage for the new “flat” roof. At only 1/4″ rise per horizontal foot slope, a flat starting point is important!
With demo completed, it was time to get started on the structural upgrades! Stay tuned for the next installment…
