The Hearth of our Our Home

Certain tasks loom over you when you take on a renovation, and with our seasoned past it is easy to come up with a punch-list of jobs left to do, especially the major things.  The fireplace hearth was removed last Spring when the fireplace was re-pointed by our professional brick mason.  Greg wanted to finish up the hearth himself, of course.   All tasks must be done in light of our new hardwood floors being installed.  Hanging the remainder of the rough-sawn shiplap on the end that faces Congress Street, preparing and staining our heart-pine rafters, finishing the ceiling edge of the kitchen ceiling, painting our farmhouse trim are a few checks off the list.  These pictures give an idea of how the cottage appears.  Please note all the walls and ceiling need finish paint.  I have changed the color to Sherwin Williams Drift of Mist, a white in the gray scale.

This weekend has focused on pouring the firebox and lining it firebrick, and laying a bluestone hearth.  All of these proceed what we anticipate to be our most exciting part of our transformation, our Govenor’s Estate Distressed hardwood flooring. 

Original view with firebox torn out before repointing 

The hearth turned out even better than we hoped, highlighting the antique fireplace and finishing the edge.  The kitchen firebox will be decorative, used for lanterns and candles.  The living room firebox will have natural gas logs.  The small size of the house does not warrant two working fireplaces.  Greg sealed the brick and the exposed beams with a matte solution to reduce the porous surface and make for easier maintenance.  The downtown streets are lined with bluestone and after examining a local supplier stock, Greg is contemplating laying our house steps and rear patio out of the material. 

I am happy to add pictures of the completed hearth next week.  It is emotional as we see these show-stopping projects completed.  The fireplace cleaned up and is a center-piece in our cottage.  A treasure for years to come.

Greg begins to fill the box floor with cement

Bluestone is set and firebrick will be installed next time

My book, A House With Holes, Mountain View Press, releases on Amazon October 15, 2019 with more in-depth detail on our relationship to each other, this life of renovating in Charleston, and our Westside community during our years of renovation.  Much of this blog documented our journey of completing this renovation, saving this Charleston Cottage, and joining with this diverse community.  The heart of our home lies within us as yours does with you, and we as difficult as it has been seeing it through, I get emotional considering it nearly done.  We are a few months away from free weekends again.   

 By inputting your email address at my website, you will be entering to win a free weekend in stay in this cottage.  Please see full disclosure of rules for The Weekend Give A Way at www. denisebroadwater.com

Re-pointing Our Fire

The exterior is ready to be sided spring 2019

I don't know where the time has gone, during the winter months, Greg retreated inside to our last room renovation. We demo-ed it in the summer months, so the room was ready for framing and insulation.  Greg spent a few weekends insulating the entire ceiling and walls.  With each batt of insulation, the house seemed to become warmer. Our house has been 5 years, part house and part workshop.  I forgot what it means to own the whole house. What a never ending journey for both of us.  Thanks for taking the time to follow along with us.

Greg has to fit each sheet to fit into the rafters.  He's fast at hanging gypsum and uses ceiling cleats to do it alone, and it requires a great deal of measuring and precision.  The rafters are the highlight of the center of our house, as we see them now taking shape and the space opening up, we are filled with resolve.  Folks, we are seeing the last 10% of the project ahead of us and we couldn't be happier.

Original pic of the fireplace

Because he works most weekends and doesn't get enough rest, we take it slow on Saturday mornings. Our routine is drinking our coffee and munching on breakfast, planning the day and watching the TV series This Old House on PBS.  Greg respects the workmanship of Norm, Tommy, and Richard.  These men recently did a house project in the downtown of Charleston in the Elliotborough community.  This Old House is committed to training young men and women desiring to learn the trades.  They partnered in Charleston with American College of the Building Arts located near us.  I broached Greg with the possibility of emailing this college about re-pointing our fireplace and examining our wrought iron fence and gate.  Greg could do the fireplace, but it would move the project along to hire it out, so I construct an email through their website.  Within a week, ACBA contacted Greg.  Mason Professor Staley dropped by to give us an estimate on having their students do some work for us while learning their craft.  He took a tour of our house and placed his hand on Greg's shoulder.  "I like this Greg, it's old school building.  You don't see this much anymore."

What the fireplace started out prior to repointing and pressure washing.

This is a pic of the hearth tore out before the re-pointing is done.

Prior to re-pointing is complete

Notice the plastic curtain on the opposite side of the fireplace.  This dust brought us back to what we used to deal with when the floor system was open.  

Greg did his best to keep it out of our living space, but it was a depressing mess to say the least.  The mason ground out the old mortar creating huge dust clouds.  Vacuums only handle so much.  The bottom line, we had to work through it.  We kept our bedroom doors shut and covered the kitchen in sheets of thin plastic, wiping down everyday after work in the evening. It was a huge imposition, and I was ready to be done.  The last day, Greg opened the floor system up into the foundation, and they pressure washed the brick returning it to its original 1929 color.  We are so please with the way it turned out.  It is a center, two-sided antique fireplace to be up-fitted with gas logs, a focal point for our cottage.  Exciting days to see our project come together.

Representatives also examined our fence, which they dated in the 1950's.  The top of our gate is hand molded much in the style known here in Charleston.  We will sandblast and paint it in spring/summer of 2019.  Our family and friends remain our focus even in the midst of such a project as this, in the end they are what we keep with us.  We hope you have life to share with those you love.