DIY Network

1885 Victorian Porch-Repair: Introduction From "Restoration Realities" episode DRTR-105

	Today's project: Replace missing shutters and ornamental trim-brackets on the porch of this 1885 Victorian home in Wilmington, NC. The house was built in 1885 and rebuilt in 1898 following a fire.
	Media Watch a video recap of this project

In this episode of DIY's Restoration Realities, we visit Wilmington, North Carolina and the home of Doug and Karan Witt. Located in the main historic district downtown, their Victorian-style home is unquestionably impressive but, as with most renovation homes, a work in progress. Today's projects include some repair work on the ornate ginger-bread trim and shutters on the front-porch of the home. Both the shutters and trim were previously damaged by a hurricane. In this first segment, we are introduced to the Witts and their historic home.

Materials and tools used in this episode:

For shutter repair
Airless paint sprayer
Disc sander
Belt sander
Paint scrapers
Extension ladders
Cordless drill with pilot bits and screwdriver bits
Pliers (to remove brads and install wire staples)
Oil-based primer
Gloss or semi-gloss paint
Paintbrushes
Rags
Polyurethane glue
Wood filler
Sandpaper (assorted grits, 40 - 220)
Utility knife
Shutter hardware
For porch brackets
8-quarter poplar stock
MDF (medium-density fiberboard) for template
Drafting paper
Band saw
Scroll saw
Drill press; sanding bit
Finish-nail gun
Clamps
Polyurethane glue
Silicon caulk
Rasp
Compass
Straight-edge
Pencils

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	Homeowner Doug Witt.
	Homeowner Karen Witt.

Doug is a historic-renovation contractor and carpenter, and is known informally as "the mayor of Old Wilmington." Karan was a flight attendant for eighteen years, but now she's an antique dealer. She's a master in the kitchen, but knows little about carpentry.

Both Doug and Karan are passionate about preservation, have been involved with local historic organizations and have even led protests and efforts to save old buildings in Wilmington from destruction. Doug previously worked in a traditional white-collar role for a hotel chain, but started this restoration company to take these old neglected grand homes and turn them into the jewels they are. He wants the buildings he restores to be around in another hundred years. However, Doug rarely finds time to work on his own home.

Figure A

Their house was in fairly good condition when they bought it. Mostly it needed general maintenance and painting. "It was built in 1885 and there was a fire and it was rebuilt in 1898," says Doug. " It had a complete renovation in the early 80's before we bought it, but we did do a lot of work on it" (figure A). But then in 1966, Hurricane Fran damaged many homes in Wilmington -- including Doug and Karan's.

Figure B

When our hosts Bill Click and Chris Babcock arrive, Doug and Karan are asking for help with two projects:

• Repair and re-install shutters blown off and damaged by the hurricane (figure B).
  

  	Figure C
  	Figure D

• Re-create and install missing and damaged decorative porch brackets -- also damaged in the hurricane (figures C and D).

The Witts retained the old, damaged shutters and stored them in their basement. The windows now have storm windows, so some customizing may be required to reinstall the shutters while still retaining the storm windows.

The specialized designs of the existing brackets are not available for purchase and need to be re-created from scratch.

Figure E

Work gets underway with Bill and karan assessing the damage to the shutters and cleaning away the dirt that accumulated on them during storage under the house. The wood in the old shutters is soft and dried out, and absorbs water easily, so care is taken to clean them without using too much water, allowing them to dry quickly (figure E).

Note: This is a summary of steps included in the procedures shown in this episode of Restoration Realities. There may be variations in procedures for your particular restoration project based on the types of materials you select and the nature or extent of your particular project. Always follow proper safety precautions, and read and follow manufacturer's guidelines, diagrams and safety notices that come with materials or products that you select.

In the segment that follows, work gets underway on fashioning porch brackets to replaced the ones that are missing or damaged.

RESOURCES :

Victorian: American Restoration Style
Model: 0879058870
Author: Joan M. Brierton
Publisher: Gibbs Smith Publishers
Order this title from Amazon.com.

Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes
Author: George Nash
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561585351
Order this title from Amazon.com.

Renovating and Restyling Older Homes: The Professional's Guide to Maximum Value Remodeling
Author: Lawrence Dworin
Publisher: Craftsman Book Company
ISBN: 1572180293
Order this title from Amazon.com.

Selecting and Renovating an Old House: A Complete Guide
Author: United States Department of Agriculture
July 2000
Publisher: Dover Publications
ISBN: 0486409562
Order this title from Amazon.com.