Undertaking a "living" preservation of their home meant that the Flemings needed space for such modern conveniences as an eat-in-kitchen on the first floor, and a sitting area, walk-in closet, laundry room and a master bath on the second. Where to find room for modern life in the confines of historic downtown Savannah? Remove the dilapidated back porches flanking the rear of the house and send up an addition that would both expand and enhance their home.

To create the new addition, the crew first removed the house’s termite-ridden back porches. Then they replicated the brick bump-out on the right side of the house on the left. In between, Mark Fitzpatrick and his crew framed bay windows rising up two stories, using engineered lumber where possible. The engineered lumber allowed the workmen to run new pipes through the joists, saving time and money. Cantilevered out from the main building, Fitzpatrick and his crew carefully constructed the addition according to an engineering plan that the lumber company supplied. They used pressure-treated lumber for the ledger board that connects the addition to the house because it won't rot when exposed to the dampness of the masonry house.

The exterior of the new addition was paneled with medium-density overlay board that was ideal for exterior painted surfaces because it is so stable. The rails and stiles of the bay windows were built from flat stock to relate to the old windows. With historically-correct, single-pane windows in place and fresh coat of paint, the addition boasts old looks and accommodates modern needs. Insulation Solutions
Good, Old-Fashioned Modern Windows
A Southern Kitchen
A Master With Class